Saccharin is an artificial sweetener that contains very few calories and is mainly used to support weight loss and help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Although this sweetener is considered safe as a substitute for sugar when preparing desserts, syrups, or beverages, it should not be used more than the recommended amount.
To learn how to use saccharin correctly as part of a healthy diet, it is best to consult a registered dietitian. For people without diabetes, exploring other ways to reduce sugar intake may be advisable.
Health benefits
Saccharin can be used to:
1. Help with weight loss
Saccharin is a very low-calorie sweetener and is often described as a zero-calorie option. For this reason, it is considered a good alternative for people who want to lose weight but are having difficulty reducing their sugar consumption.
2. Help control blood glucose levels
Saccharin is an artificial sweetener that does not appear to be metabolized by the body. This means that its carbohydrates are not broken down into glucose, unlike regular sugar.
Because of this, saccharin is often recommended to help control blood sugar levels, especially for people with diabetes.
3. Help prevent disease
By helping prevent weight gain and stabilize blood sugar levels, saccharin may help reduce the risk of health conditions like metabolic syndrome.
Nutrition facts
The following table provides nutritional information for 1 tsp of powdered saccharin and 10 drops of liquid saccharin:
To get the most benefits from saccharin, it is important to consume it in moderation while maintaining a balanced and varied diet. Regular physical activity is also recommended.
How to use
Saccharin can be used to replace sugar when preparing desserts, jams, or syrups, and to sweeten beverages. The maximum recommended daily amount is 15 mg of saccharin per kg (2.2 lb) of body weight, as recommended by a dietitian.
However, for people without diabetes, the long-term benefits of saccharin seem to be smaller. In these cases, it may be better to find other ways to reduce sugar consumption.
Also recommended: 13 Healthy & Natural Sweeteners to Substitute Sugar tuasaude.com/en/natural-sweetenersIs saccharin bad for you?
Saccharin is considered safe when consumed within the recommended daily limits. Health risks such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, or changes in kidney or liver function have been observed in animal studies but do not appear to occur in humans.
However, saccharin is often found in processed foods such as candies, toppings, jams, sodas, and chewing gum, which may contain other ingredients that can be harmful to health if eaten in excess.