Glycemic Index of Sweeteners and Their Effects on the Body

Do you like sweets? Do you often eat food that’s high in sugar? Do you enjoy drinking beverages that are pretty sweet too? If so, then you should equip yourself with sufficient knowledge about the GI of sweeteners and their effects on the body.

We often add sugar to make our food or drinks more delicious and palatable. Although sugar or sweeteners can and do make our food and drinks better tasting and more mouth-watering, they can also be very harmful to our health. Sweeteners like Splenda, Sorbitol, and Stevia are commonly used as food enhancers. They are a form of sugar known to possess empty calories that provide no nutrients to the body or any amount of dietary fiber.

Despite the fact that they are meant to substitute for sugar, Splenda, Sorbitol, and Stevia have a high Glyemic Index rating and contain very little else. One teaspoon of Splenda contains 0.5 grams of carbohydrates and zero dietary fiber. One teaspoon of Sorbitol contains 5 grams of carbohydrates. Lastly, one tablespoon of Stevia provides zero carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
So what are the harmful effects of these sweeteners on the body? Why should we avoid them? Here’s why:

• They have high Glycemic Index (as previously mentioned)
High GI foods can do more harm than good to the body. They can cause a rapid rise in blood-glucose levels; this can trigger the body to produce excessive insulin, which can result in a sudden drop in blood glucose.

• They can cause unstable blood sugar levels
Some of the diseases that attack the body are caused by the food we eat, especially those with high GI. If one suffers from unstable blood sugar levels, he or she is prone to periodic hyperglycemia, hyperinsulimia, obesity, and other insulin resistance syndromes. In addition, one is also in danger of having diabetes and high blood pressure.

• They can cause weight gain
High GI foods like sweeteners can make you gain weight fast. Carbohydrate-sugars like the aforementioned Splenda, Sorbitol, and Stevia are loaded with carbohydrates. Sodas and alcoholic drinks like whiskey, beer, and vodka have high sugar content that can definitely contribute to rapid weight gain.

If you want to lose or maintain weight and have a healthy body, you should start by using sweeteners in moderation or avoiding them altogether. The high GI of sweeteners can have many harmful effects on the body. It can cause unstable blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, and can also make you gain weight fast. So avoid using sweeteners now and protect your body through a low GI diet.