Aspartame vs. Sugar: Which should you add to your coffee, desserts, or other recipes? The answer depends on a lot of factors. You may be looking for a sweetener with low calories. You may also want a natural-tasting sugar with artificial sweetener.
While sugar has existed for thousands of years, Aspartame was created in 1981 as an artificial sweetener. It existed before Splenda or Stevia, which came out in the 1990s. However, recent evidence suggests that Aspartame is not as good for your health as it once claimed.
This guide uncovers everything you need to know about aspartame and sugar. You'll learn what makes them different, what's better for your health, and what you can make with either. Ultimately, you'll discover that either is a matter of preference, but knowing the difference can help you make a better choice.
Aspartame vs. Sugar: What's the Difference?
As an artificial sweetener, aspartame, aspartic acid, and the methyl ester of phenylalanine. They are also what makeup milk, which gives us protein. One of the best benefits of aspartame compared to sugar is that it doesn't spike blood sugar levels. It doesn't affect your blood sugar at all.
Another unique thing about aspartame is that it doesn't contribute to tooth decay. However, you can find aspartame in diet sodas, gum, and sugar-free desserts. One of the best reasons for aspartame is that it can be used as an alternative to sugar.
On the other hand, sugar has existed for years. It originated in China and continued to spread throughout the world. Now, sugar is a part of regular diets. You'll find sugar in a lot of processed foods. There's also natural sugar in fruits and vegetables. But does this mean sugar is always bad for you? Not necessarily.
Small amounts of sugar are good for you. We need glucose to survive, and it gives us energy. It's also the no. 1 source of food for our brain. Eating fruits and vegetables with natural sugars is excellent for you.
However, too much sugar, especially processed sugar, can lead to weight gain, mood changes, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Moderately consuming sugar can help you avoid the potentially negative effects of eating sugar.
What's the Healthier Choice?
Aspartame may be the healthier choice if you're looking at calories and carbohydrates, but it's also important to recognize that it has some side effects. For instance, it is linked to cancer, migraines, seizures, depression, and insomnia. Health risks should be noted, especially if you consume aspartame all the time.
Apart from these risks, aspartame can be a good artificial sweetener to avoid the calories and carbohydrates of sugars. However, knowing that either of these sugars is good for you in moderation is also important. Choosing when to consume and add them to your foods can drastically change your health.
The Taste Differences
Sugar tastes like sweetness. It's a smooth sweetness that doesn't have any aftertaste. On the flip side, aspartame has a bitterness to it. While a smaller amount of aspartame is sweeter than sugar, it still tends to have a slightly bitter aftertaste.
This is something to keep in mind when you're cooking with either sugar or aspartame. Knowing what either will taste like and how they contribute to the flavor can give you an idea of which one you like more.
Recipes for Both
Sugar and aspartame can often be used interchangeably for recipes. Of course, it depends on what you're making and how sweet you want the recipe.
Here are some of the most popular recipes involving sugar.
- Cheesecake
- Any kind of cookies
- Apple Crumble
- Coffee cake
Here are some of the most popular recipes involving aspartame.
- Granola bites with Aspartame
- Raisin pumpkin muffins with Aspartame
- Pie with Aspartame
- Pumpkin roll with Aspartame
There's no wrong choice with any recipe if you choose Aspartame or sugar. However, you may find that you like one over the other. You'll discover that adding Aspartame may give it a different taste than sugar, but it's also healthier than sugar.
Does It Matter If You Use Aspartame or Sugar?
Does it matter if you use Aspartame or sugar in a recipe? Does it matter for your health? It does matter if you're looking to make small changes that have a powerful impact on your overall health. Eating either one of them in moderation is the key if you want to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Overall, there is no wrong choice between Aspartame and sugar. They both have unique things about them that can help your health or give you the sweetness you're looking for in a certain food.