Nutrition Q&A: Sweetners

QUESTION: I have a question about diet... well more exactly about green tea, for the past month I have been drinking green tea 3 to 5 times a day with 2 packets of Splenda in each serving, I do know there is no calorie or sugar, but am I hurting my diet by doing this? I heard from a friend that it does effect the way my body stores fat, by raising my insulin levels. Should I not include Splenda in my diet?

Currently I am still trying to shed the last 10 pounds that to have my abs show, please your advice would greatly be appreciated... thank you!

ANSWER: Drinking green tea with Splenda should not have a negative effect on your weight loss efforts. Splenda (generic name Sucralose) is derived from sugar and has no calories. Over 100 studies in a 20-year period have demonstrated its safety as a sweetener. Sucralose actually passes through the body virtually unchanged and is not stored in the body. From a metabolic perspective, it has not been shown to raise blood glucose or insulin levels and has no effect on how the body absorbs and uses carbohydrates in other foods. There is also, therefore, no increase in fat storage due to increased insulin levels.

Be aware, however, that artificial sweeteners may cause some people to experience increased carbohydrate cravings after ingesting them, but this varies among individuals. Many people achieve success with weight loss by incorporating artificial sweeteners such as Splenda into their diets.

As far as the green tea itself, some small studies have shown it to have some weight loss benefit as well.

Deanna Moncrief, MS, CNS
www.wellsourceconsulting.com

Deanna Moncrief holds the highly regarded Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) designation from the American College of Nutrition and a Master's of Science degree in Nutrition. She earned her undergraduate degree in nutrition at the University of Hawaii. She resides in Hawaii with her family.