As work for finals piles high and my free time runs low, drip coffee becomes my best friend. The higher caffeine content gets me through my work longer and, as it doesn’t necessitate steamed milk like many other coffee beverages, I don’t need to wait as long to get my drink—an absolute time-saver, as anyone who’s been to Vondy during the rush hours knows. While I often just drink the coffee black, every few days I add a sweetener… usually Splenda. But is that bad for my body? I’m already self-sabotaging my health by staying up all night to work and stress eating. Do artificial sweeteners just make things worse? I decided to investigate. Here’s what I found:
Sucrose (Table sugar)
via: The Independent
Found in fruits and often used for baking, sucrose is one of the most natural sweeteners to add to coffee. While it does offer energy, it is also quickly digested. This can lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar followed by a sharp decrease, possibly resulting in a mood swing or additional fatigue.
Saccharin (Sweet’N Low)
via: Sweet’N Low
The myth that artificial sweeteners lead to cancer began in the 1970s, after studies focusing on the impacts of saccharin on rats discovered a link to bladder cancer. While later studies proved that the biological mechanism linking saccharin to cancer only appears in rats, the Center for Science in the Public Interest still lists this sweetener on its “avoid” list.
Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
via: Coffee.org
A highly studied additive, aspartame was approved by the FDA in 1981. The most common artificial sweetener, often found in diet sodas and sugar-free ice cream, aspartame has had a contentious history. While the product hasn’t been substantively linked to long-lasting health issues, and can actually benefit people with diabetes or those dealing with weight-loss issues, it should be consumed in moderation.
Stevia Leaf Extract (Truvia, Pure Via)
via: Whole and Natural
Lauded as the “natural” sweetener, stevia was shown in 2012 and 2013 studies to actually fight cancer. Though it may also help manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels, the sweetener has a distinctive, licorice-like taste that isn’t always ideal.
Sucralose (Splenda)
via: Wikipedia
650 times sweeter than table sugar, sucralose has no calories because it passes through the body undigested and unabsorbed. While studies have proven that the sweetener isn’t related to cancer or negative impacts on the immune system, it may be a migraine trigger.
Whatever sweetener you choose, make sure you always know what it is you’re putting in your body and how it may affect you!