Health
Artificial Sweeteners are Not Recommended for Children
By
Feb 5, 2008, 18:26

Artificial sweeteners have had their share of controversy over the years. Saccharin was close to being banned, but got a reprieve.

Instead of banning saccharin it was decided to put a warning label on all products that contained the artificial sweetener. Since that time it has been determined to be safe for consumer use.

Aspartame has been scrutinized as well, and it was believed to have some troubling side effects.

It is easy to understand why some people will not use any artificial sweetener. It has been recommended that children not use them.


Saccharin

In the 1970's saccharin was the source of heated debate. Scientific studies had just linked saccharin use to the increased cases of bladder cancer in male rats. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made an attempt to ban its use.

The food industry came to the rescue of the saccharin and convinced the FDA to continue the use of saccharin as long as the products it was used in contained a label stating the product contained saccharin and that saccharin may cause cancer.

However in the year 2001, the FDA lifted the warning requirement, and changed its standing on the results of saccharin use by claiming that saccharin does not cause cancer in humans.

Still the American Medical Association (AMA), does recommend limiting the amount of saccharin consumed by pregnant women and by children. It may be the smartest move just to avoid the saccharin altogether.

Aspartame

There are side effects linked to the use of Aspartame. In fact there are at least 92 side effects linked to the use of aspartame including headaches, psychiatric disorders and low blood sugar. Most regulated drugs do not have that many reported side effects.

Unlike most artificial sweeteners, aspartame dissolves quickly and can end up being absorbed by organ or body tissues. This can mean problems for adults, but it can be a much bigger problem for children, whose bodies are not fully developed yet.

Other Artificial Sweeteners

Saccharin and Aspartame have been among the most controversial artificial sweeteners, but many others have been associated with side effects similar to those mentioned above. Little testing goes on, and it is difficult to determine what, if any, problems can be lying ahead with their long term use.

Children Do Not Need Artificial Sweeteners

Why would a parent consider giving an artificial sweetener to a child? There doesn't seem to be any good reason to do so.

If your child is overweight it makes more sense to teach them how to eat proper meal portions and foods than it does to give them artificially sweetened products.

It is far more important to teach an overweight child, any child for that matter, how to develop healthy eating habits that will last them a life time.

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