Which sweeteners are safe during pregnancy

Non-nutritive sweeteners are very low in calories or contain no calories at all. Artificial sweeteners: Think the little pastel packets you often see at your table in restaurants. People use them to add sweetness to their drinks and sometimes put them on their food.

Artificial sweeteners are also used in many processed foods and soft drinks. Examples of sugar substitutes approved by the FDA include acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose. Natural sweeteners: Think honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup. Cue image of Buddy the Elf dousing spaghetti in maple syrup. Novel sweeteners: Stevia is the only novel sweetener approved by the FDA. Low in calories, yes.

Some studies even say they can lower blood pressure. What's the catch? The way novel sweeteners are made i. Sugar alcohols polyols : Technically not sugars, sugar alcohols are carbs that occur naturally in certain fruits and vegetables — although they can also be found in many processed foods.

And despite their name, these sugars are non-alcoholic. Food labels may use the general term "sugar alcohol" or list the specific name, such as sorbitol. When eaten in large amounts, sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect. When used in moderation, most pregnant women can safely use any of the eight nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners approved by the U. Still, the truth is that sugar substitutes can be a bit of a mixed bag for pregnant women. Even though they are mostly considered safe, artificial sweeteners in particular may increase your baby's risk of being overweight later on.

Here's what you need to know about the different types of artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes you might see on food and beverage labels. Examples include:. According to the FDA, aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

A packet or two of the blue stuff now and then is fine so yes, a small piece of sugarless gum is safe — just avoid consuming aspartame during pregnancy in large amounts, and steer clear of it altogether if phenylketonuria PKU , a rare genetic disease, is on your medical chart.

Your doctor may also suggest avoiding aspartame if you have high levels of phenylalanine in your blood. The FDA says sucralose is safe for everyone to consume, including pregnant women.

It's sugar, sort of. At least it starts out that way, before being chemically processed into a form that your body won't be able to absorb, making it sweet revenge it's calorie-free.

Sucralose has been approved for use in baked goods, making it ready to fulfill your pregnancy cravings of sugar-free chocolate cake! Before you leap to consume all these tasty treats, remember everything in moderation. Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener derived from a South American shrub. Although experts do say stevia does not pose some of the same dangers of sweet addiction that other artificial sweeteners do it does not raise your blood sugar or have any adverse effects on your taste buds your best bet is to check with your doctor before using it.

Even though the FDA does consider saccharin to be safe to use for the general public, saccharin may pose a risk of increased bladder tumors in children who are exposed to it in utero.

In fact, saccharin has been banned in some countries as an artificial sweetener. The American Dietetic Association ADA says that saccharin can cross the placenta and stay in the baby's tissues, and the long-term effects, if any, are unknown. Although it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many foods and beverages. Pregnant women may want to avoid this artificial sweetener, if possible.

Sorbitol, a nutritive sweetener, is fine for women during pregnancy. Click to see full answer Simply so, what artificial sweeteners are not safe during pregnancy? Just avoid consuming aspartame during pregnancy in large amounts so yes, a small piece of sugarless gum is safe , and steer clear of it altogether if PKU is on your medical chart.

Similarly, are sugar alcohols safe during pregnancy? The American Pregnancy Association recommends that women with gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus, or insulin resistance should limit their exposure to nutritive sweeteners, which include both table sugar and some sugar -free sweeteners known as sugar alcohols such as Sorbitol, Xylitol, Isomalt, and Mannitol. Human studies found that the breakdown products of aspartame cross the placenta. Stevia usage is not on the radar in the scientific world of miscarriage and infertility.

Which sweetener is safe during pregnancy? Category: medical health diabetes. Is Coke safe during pregnancy? Can I drink Coca-Cola when pregnant? The Food Standards Agency recommends that pregnant women shouldn't take more than mg of caffeine a day. What is unsafe to eat while pregnant?

Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella. Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Does caffeine cause ADHD during pregnancy? Does Stevia cross the placenta?

The use of saccharin is not recommended during pregnancy. It is a weak carcinogen that crosses the placenta. Stevia is a sweetener from a plant native to South America. Stevia is safe to consume during pregnancy. Is Mint safe during pregnancy? The following herbs have been rated Likely Safe or Possibly Safe for use during pregnancy : Red Raspberry Leaf — Rich in iron, this herb has helped tone the uterus, increase milk production, decrease nausea, and ease labor pains. What artificial sweeteners are safe?

But taking empty calories during pregnancy is not a good idea. Nutritive sweeteners make you cross the recommended daily intake of calories without filling up. Loading yourself with sugar can harm the baby. Women with diabetes or insulin resistance cannot regulate blood sugar. It reaches the baby and can collect in tissues. When the baby receives extra sugar the insulin production shoots. It is not necessary that sugars are the only source of extra blood glucose and weight.

Fats and proteins in excessive amount also add calories. And vice versa also happens where the extra sugar converts into fatty acids. Natural sweetening substances are honey, lactose, maltose, fructose, sucrose, corn starch, and nectar.

Some sugarless food items have sorbitol, mannitol, and Xylitol. Stevia Rebaudiana plant gives raw materials for the artificial sweetener stevia. It is sweeter than sugar and safe for use during pregnancy.

Stevia is safe for use to avoid pregnancy weight gain. The highest reported calorie content in stevia is 1 calorie. Most drinks, such as vitamin splash, carbonated beverages, and energy drinks have stevia. Canned tea and packed fruit juices also have stevia. Splenda is calorie free and does not put on excess weight. Sucralose does not have an aftertaste. It is sweeter than sugar and safe to use at cooking temperature.

You can have it as your tabletop sweetener. What is aspartame? It is an artificial sweetener containing phenylalanine. It is more than times sweet than sugar. Sweet N Low is not a safe choice during pregnancy. Whether or not it has side effects for your baby is not proven yet. It can lead to disturbance in growth pattern.