Deadline 13, Classification Rough Draft

Sweet or Sour
Consumers today are more health conscious than ever before. They like to know what they are putting in their bodies and how nutrients and additives will affect their health. High quality foods that also taste good are the preference of most shoppers. The option to select products according to individual needs and wants is of extreme importance to customers. Manufacturers of sweeteners are aware of the diversity of consumers and provide goods to please a wide range of buyers. The three main types of sweeteners on the present market are sugars, natural sweeteners, and artificial sweeteners.
Whether in refined or natural form, sugar has remained the most common type of sweetener throughout history. It can be purchased in granular, powdered, and syrup varieties. Refined sugar products on the market include white beet sugar, white and brown cane sugar, confectioners or powdered sugar, fructose, raw or turbinado sugar, and corn syrup. Popular natural sugar products available are honey, barley malt syrup, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, and fruit juice. Sugar does more than just add sweetness to food and beverages; it provides nutrition, serves as a preservative, and allows ice cream to freeze at higher temperatures than without sugar. Unfortunately, sugar has its drawbacks too. It contributes to dental caries, insulin imbalance, type 2 diabetes, blood clotting, heart disease, and aging.
An alternative to using sugar, especially for the health conscious, is making use of one of the many available natural sweeteners on the market. These are plant based and can be found in many health food and grocery stores in powdered or liquid forms. The natural sweeteners sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, and mannitol are all derived from the sugar alcohol of trees and other plants such as fresh mushrooms and marine algae. All four of these sweeteners have been approved by the FDA. Although not approved by the FDA for use as a sweetener, stevia, made from the sweet leaves of the stevia plant, is another natural substance that is gaining popularity as a sweetener. Stevia reduces cravings for sweets and has many health benefits as well. It has antibacterial properties, balances blood sugar, and is used in the treatment of candidiasis and autoimmune disease. Each of these natural sweeteners contains few to zero calories, can be used as part of diabetic diets, and help reduce the incidence of tooth decay. The main drawback found with these natural sweeteners is a laxative effect when taken in excess, and with stevia, a bitter after taste is sometimes noticed.
In pursuit of sweet tasting food and beverages without the sugar or calories, many people turn to the highly marketed artificial sweeteners. These may be found in local grocery stores in granular, powdered, and liquid forms. Aspartame, acesulfame K, saccharin, and sucralose are the currently popular types of artificial sweeteners, and are sold under the names, NutraSweet, Sunette or Sweet One, Sweet’N Low and Splenda, respectively. The only real benefits of using one of these artificial sweeteners is the absence of sugar and calories, along with the illusion of a sweet taste, as they trick the brain into believing the body is ingesting something sweet. No food value is present in these substances. Numerous health problems have been associated with artificial sweeteners such as liver toxicity, hypoglycemia, tumors, respiratory illness, and various cancers. Irritability and psychiatric disorders such as panic attacks, depression, and mania have also been attributed to the use of artificial sweeteners. In addition to these side effects, aspartame, the most dangerous of all the sweeteners, has been shown to cause headaches, seizures, optic nerve damage, blindness, and obesity.
Choosing a sweetener can be a harrowing task in the current age. Flavor and convenience are not the only factors to consider. Existing and feared health issues now also play a role in deciding on a sweetener. Some sweeteners boast health benefits, while others pose serious health risks. Particular types preserve foods as well as adding sweetness. The availability of sugars, natural sweeteners, and artificial sweeteners offers consumers the chance to decide which products best suit their needs.