Artificial sweetners

Thought this would be of interest.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to the sugar replacers xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol, D-tagatose, isomaltulose, sucralose and polydextrose …

From http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2076.htm

Most relevant:

“On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of foods/drinks containing xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol, D-tagatose, isomaltulose, sucralose or polydextrose instead of sugar and reduction in post-prandial blood glucose responses (without disproportionally increasing post-prandial insulinaemic responses) as compared to sugar-containing foods/drinks.”

The paper doesn’t address cravings, which I find to be a real problem. While artifical sweetner will not bump my blood glucose, it sets me off craving an oreo cookie or chocolate eclair, and for three days its all I can do not to go and get one. After three days without sweet things calm down.

As they say YMMV