When you are pregnant, everything you eat or drink, whether it is healthy and nutritious or not, your baby also getting. While this can be a daunting reality, it should also make expectant mothers sit up and take notice when it comes including food additives such artificial sweeteners in your pregnancy diet.
Here are some important facts you should know before you eat anything of the following sugar substitutes while you are pregnant:
Saccharine and Pregnancy
Saccharine (marketed under the name of Sweet n' Low) has been found not to be safe to consume during pregnancy. Saccharine was first used in canned foods in the early 1900s. Since it crosses the placenta and takes longer for the baby to process, saccharine can increase the risk of bladder problems or even cancer in the baby. There is no doubt that saccharine should be avoided during pregnancy.
Aspartame Studies During Pregnancy
Aspartame, (also marketed under the name Nutrasweet or Equal) was first introduced as a sugar substitute and approved by the FDA in 1974. Controversy on the safety of aspartame has followed this sugar substitute since its inception.
Early testing on animals using high levels of aspartame showed a risk of cancer or brain tumors. Even though large scale studies have not shown aspartame to be harmful on adults, a recent little-known Brazilian study (also on animals) discovered that offspring of mothers who were fed aspartame for only three days during gestation had irregularities in their kidneys.
It is disturbing to note that aspartame was FDA approved as an artificial sweetener despite failing numerous tests on animals. Given the facts we have about aspartame, why expose yourself or your baby to this potentially harmful sugar substitute?
Aspartame also contains an ingredient known as phenylalanine, an amino acid that must be broken down in order to be digested. Pregnant women or any person who has PKU (phenylketonuria), a genetic disorder that prevents the breakdown of these amino acids, should definitely avoid using any aspartame or foods that contain this artificial sweetener.
Splenda - Is It Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
Sucralose (also called Splenda) is a non-caloric sweetener that comes from sugar. The FDA considers Splenda to be safe for everyone to consume, even pregnant women. However, bear in mind that Splenda is yet another artificial sweetener that did not receive a passing grade when tested on animals.
The truth is that sucralose is actually a chlorocarbon, formed when chlorine is added to sugar. Believe it or not, the molecular structure of sucralose actually looks similar to pesticides such as DDT. According to experts, this is problematic given that about 15% of the amount of sucralose consumed gets absorbed into your body. Because not all of the pesticide-like chemicals are excreted, eventually chlorocarbons, such as Splenda, will damage the metabolic system and cause organ damage.
New research from Duke University also found that sucralose can reduce the good bacteria in the digestive tract by 50%. Instead of helping you cut calories, eating Splenda can actually make it more likely for you to gain weight.
Though research on growing babies during pregnancy is not yet available, there is enough evidence to assume that Splenda is not the safest choice to add to your pregnancy diet.
Stevia - The Herbal Sweetener
Stevia Rebaudiana is a plant native to South America from which the herb "stevia" is derived. It is sold as a dietary supplement, but you may be surprised to learn that stevia is not yet approved as an artificial sweetener.
Stevia is popular with health and natural food stores in the US and Canada since it is herb-based. Japanese manufacturers have been using stevia in food products for over 30 years; however, specific guidelines for acceptable dietary intake (ADI) for adults, children or pregnant women have not yet been recommended by the FDA. The current consensus on stevia during pregnancy is that it is likely to be safe in limited quantities.
However, as with everything in your pregnancy diet, be sure to keep your eyes open for new research and recommendations on all artificial sweeteners, even those that are based on herbs.
Natural Alternatives to Sugar- Honey and Maple Syrup
If you do not have gestational diabetes and you are interested in substituting sugar with more "natural" sweeteners, you might consider using natural honey and genuine maple syrup in your pregnancy diet rather than artificial sweeteners. While maple syrup and honey are not lower in calories than sugar, they have the benefit of less processing than white sugar and they do not contain the chemicals present in artificial sweeteners.
References:
Abou-Donia, M. "Splenda alters gut microflora and increases intestinal p-glycoprotein and cytochrome p-450 in male rats", Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 2008.
Martins, M & Azoubel, R."Effects of Aspartame on Fetal Kidneys: A Morphometric and Stereological Study" International Journal of Morphology, 2007.
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Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
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