Which is healthier splenda or stevia

Never created a password? Create one here. Already have an account? Log in here. Thanks, but no thanks. No, thanks I'm already a PureWow fan. No, thanks I hate pretty things. The only bad news is that the sugar substitute scene is a tad complicated.

Take stevia vs. And is one better for you than the other? Read on for the full scoop on these alternative sweeteners, including how to use them and which one is healthier. The key thing to know about the stevia plant is that it contains several intensely sweet compounds called glycosides. These compounds can be extracted from the leaves and purified through a process that involves steeping the dried leaves in water, filtering organic material out of the steeping liquid, and then isolating the glycosides to turn them into a concentrated resin.

The result of this process is a popular natural sweetener that is to times sweeter than table sugar and contains zero calories. Splenda is an artificial sweetener and a popular alternative to sugar. However, unlike stevia, Splenda does not occur naturally: This additive is created through a chemical process that involves changing the molecular structure of table sugar by replacing the three hydrogen groups with chlorine molecules. Splenda is the brand name and the most popular variety of a sucralose-based artificial sweetener.

In addition to sucralose which is an indigestible substance , Splenda also contains dextrose and maltodextrin—two readily digestible carbohydrates that contribute a tiny number of calories to the sweetener. How many, you ask? One teaspoon of the stuff contains just 2 calories. Also, you shouldn't use either substitute with abandon, especially if you're hoping to lose weight.

A study published in in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism posted at the National Library of Medicine found that using artificial sweeteners like stevia and sucralose, among others, could lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Researchers continue to examine the potential long-term effects of both sweeteners via Fitday. If you have any questions or concerns about using either or both, you should talk to your doctor about which one might be right for you. Although it's marketed as a sucralose-based product, Splenda isn't just made of sucralose, but maltodextrin and sometimes also dextrose.

Maltodextrin and dextrose are used to dilute artificial sweeteners — essentially making them more similar to traditional sucrose sugar rather than hundreds of times sweeter and enhancing their textural qualities. Read more: Negative Effects of Artificial Sweeteners. Splenda is considered to be a modified form of sugar ; the main difference is that it isn't digested by your body and therefore won't add calories to your diet or provide you with energy. With fewer than 5 calories and less than 1 gram of carbohydrate in each serving, Splenda is considered to be a zero-calorie sweetener suitable for everyone — even diabetics.

The maltodextrin and dextrose it contains mean that it isn't pure sucralose and can be easily used to replace sugar in recipes. Despite these positives, Splenda is made of artificial sweeteners that aren't considered particularly healthy. Several scientific studies, including a study in the Frontiers in Physiology Journal and a study in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology , have questioned the effects of sucralose and similar artificial sweeteners on the digestive system.

The concern is that nonnutritive artificial sweeteners like Splenda can negatively affect the gut microbiome , which in turn affects the gut-brain axis and consequently impacts neuronal function. Splenda — made up of 99 percent maltodextrin and 1 percent sucralose — has only recently been analyzed in this context. According to a study in the Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , consuming Splenda regularly may impact your gut microbiome, increase inflammation and cause digestive system issues, as well as increase your risk of developing Crohn's disease.

However, Splenda may be safe for most people — it's those who were already at risk for these problems or people consuming processed foods who are likely to be most affected.

The jury is still out, as the research on this subject is so new, but if you have gastrointestinal or immune system issues or believe you are at risk for such health problems, you may want to avoid frequent consumption of Splenda.

Stevia is a natural alternative sweetener rather than an artificially created product like Splenda. In fact, the word stevia actually refers to any of the sweet components found within the stevia plant , known as steviol glycosides, rather than a specific product or brand.

There are about a dozen steviol glycosides, which range from 50 to times as sweet as sugar. All of these can be isolated from the stevia plant, Stevia rebaudiana , a type of sunflower native to South America specifically, Paraguay. Natural sweeteners like stevia have become increasingly popular given the health concerns associated with artificial sweeteners, but many are very new to the market.

Stevia has been popular since the s , making it new compared to many other alternative sweeteners. PureWow may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from PureWow's editorial and sales departments. Amazon shoppers are living in these on-sale joggers: 'OMG these are the most comfortable pants I've ever owned!

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