Dieters are ditching the sugar and turning to sugar substitutes such as Splenda to sweeten the foods and liquids they consume. Should athletes follow suit? Let's take a look at what Splenda is and what effects it could possibly have on an athlete's body.
Splenda is a branded sugar substitute that primarily consists of a substance called sucralose. Sucralose was accidentally discovered in 1976 by a British scientist as the result of misunderstood instructions. The result was the discovery of an incredibly sweet substance that made its way to the market as a sweetener in 1999.
From a chemical standpoint, sucralose is actually a derivative of sugar in which hydrogen-oxygen compounds have been replaced with chlorine atoms. In simple terms, this process keeps the sweet flavor but provides a calorie-free substance.
While sucralose in its purest form is calorie-free, Splenda does contain a minuscule amount of carbohydrates with the introduction of dextrose and maltodextrin. The final product results in a substance approximately 500 times sweeter than sugar, so very little is needed. This means that whatever carbs consumed would be practically immeasurable.
There are some that suggest that Splenda has very little effect on blood sugar and insulin levels in those that consume artificial sweeteners on a regular basis. However, it's possible that if you've been avoiding artificial sweeteners you could raise both insulin and blood sugars by nearly 15 percent once you begin to use Splenda to introduce some sweetness into your diet.
A rise in blood sugar and insulin when using Splenda has also been linked to those that are overweight or have a history of medical conditions. If you're beginning a training regimen in order to lose a few pounds, you may run the risk of increasing your blood sugar levels by consuming sucralose-based sweeteners.
Athletes and those with training goals in mind should take into consideration their current health before considering artificial sweeteners.
If you're an athlete that wants a sugar substitute in your baked goods or other hot food items, you may want to be aware of what happens when sucralose is heated.
At higher temperatures, the chemical compounds in Splenda begin to break down and bond with other substances to form chloropropanols. These compounds have been linked to elevated cancer risk, so you may wish to avoid consuming prepared foods that utilize Splenda for a sweet taste.
Proper digestion helps an athlete's body utilize the fuel they consume in order to perform. An inefficient digestive system could result in wasted nutrients, lack of energy and intestinal discomfort during training, so it's important to avoid consuming foods that could upset the balance of gut health.
Studies have shown that regular consumption of sucralose sweeteners such as Splenda can have a potentially devastating effect on the good bacteria in the human gut. In a study involving lab mice, the beneficial bacteria that promote healthy digestion were shown to have been reduced by up to 80 percent. Once the sucralose was taken out of the diet of the specimens, the study concluded that these good bacteria levels continued to remain low while harmful bacteria were unaffected.
Avoiding Splenda could go a long way towards keeping an athlete's digestive process functioning properly.
Most athletes and dieters tend to avoid baked goods and sweetened foods, to begin with, but tend to want something tasty when it comes to their beverages. Plain water can be boring and it's possible to neglect proper hydration out of boredom.
If you're avoiding sugar and are wary of the effects of artificial sweeteners, are there really any options to supplement your hydration plan?
A sugar-free sports drink devoid of artificial sweeteners could just be the answer.
With the introduction of our Wild Orange flavor, TapouT now has two sugar-free sports beverage options available. The new Wild Orange and Cherry-Lemonade Blast are both sugar-free and made without artificial flavors or sweeteners. These zero-sugar sports drinks not only offer a delicious way to supplement hydration, they're also formulated to boost performance and aid in post-workout recovery.
Both the Wild Orange and Cherry-Lemonade Blast Flavors contain 240mg of natural sodium. This sodium is necessary to help an athlete's body properly utilize the fluids they consume. Without it, the body may lose excessive fluids via sweat and increase the risk of dehydration.
All Tapout sports drinks contain plenty of vitamins to give you a training edge by keeping your mind alert and your body functioning properly. Our zero-sugar, low-calorie Wild Orange and Cherry-Lemonade Blast contain:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamins B2, B5, B6 and B12
A sugar-free TapouT can also be a prominent part of your post-workout recovery. When you sweat during intense exercise, you burn the electrolytes your muscles require to prevent injury and promote growth. Every bottle of TapouT contains plenty of potassium, magnesium, calcium and chloride to quicken the recovery process after even the most intense training session.