Sweetners Flashcards
What are sweeteners and how are they classified?
A group of substances that are used to add sweetness to food. They can be natural or derived from natural sources sugar as cane sugar or maple syrup. Or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
What are Intrinsic sugars?
Sugars that occur naturally in foods and beverages, such as fruit, also provide other fibre,, vitamins and minerals and phytochemicals.
What are extrinsic sugars?
Sugars added to foods and beverages
What are free sugars?
Monosaccharides and disaccharides that are added to food by the manufacturer, cook or consumer as well are sugars that are naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates.
What are the adverse health effects associated with sugar consumption?
Dental caries, energy dense, nutrient poor foods displacing nutritious foods in diet and leading to nutrient deficiencies
Therapeutic effects of honey?
Honey has cardioprotective, antioxidant and antihypertensive effects. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of honey are attributed to the high osmolarity of honey as it inhibits microbial growth as the sugar molecules attract water leaving insufficient water to support microbial growth. Some of the phytochemicals in honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects as well.
Cautions regarding honey consumption?
If honey nectar has been produced from Rhododendrons plant it is poisonous and can cause vomiting, burning throat and breathing problems. Severe intoxification can lead to bradycardia, low blood pressure and shock. In infants under one it can cause botulism, a blockade of voluntary motor and autonomic functions
What are the adverse health effects associated with fructose?
Epidemiological studies show evidence that sweetened drinks are associated with higher energy intake, increased body weight, and the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders
What is fructose malabsorption? What symptoms are there?
Fructose malabsorption is where some people with IBS cannot digest/absorb it. Fructose loading with a breath hydrogen test can be used to assess fructose absorptive capacity.
Foods high in fructose are
Asparagus, sugar snap peas, apples, cherries, figs, mangos, pears, honey
Advantages and disadvantages of stevia?
When used in its whole natural form is has many therapeutic activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumor and antiviral. Its also 8-300 times sweeter than table sugar, no kJ.
What are the key features of saccharin?
It is absorbed via the GIT is not metabolised and is excreted via urine. Has zero kJ, and ADI is only 5mg per kg of body weight
What are the key features of aspartame?
It consists of compounds of phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methyl group. Provides 16kJ/per gram. ADI is up to 40mg/kg. In the digestive tract enzymes catalyse the splitting of aspartame into its three components. Two amino acids absorb and the methyl group is broken down into carbon dioxide.
What is phenylketonuria (PKU) and do people with PKU need to avoid aspartame?
PKU us a genetic disorder where phenylalanine is not able to be converted into tyrosine and therefore can get a toxic build up of it.
What are the key features of sugar alcohols?
They are a saccharide derivative obtained by replacing an aldehyde group with a hydroxyl group. There is two classifications: hydrogenated monosaccharides and hydrogenated disaccharides. They have limited absorption or some may escape absorption completely, therefore contribute few kJ and have low glycaemic effect
