Is It True That Sweetman Without Kalori Is Healthier Than Sugar?

JAKARTA - Produk pemanis nil calori nongulakini semakin populer terutama di kalangan masyarakat yang peduli kesehatan atau memiliki kondisi seperti diabetes.

However, according to nutrition specialist at the University of Indonesia, dr. Thousands of Consistania, Sp.GK, AIFO-K, FINEM, the assumption that all non-masa and zero-calorie sweeteners are automatically healthier is not fully correct.

"It is said to be healthier or not actually for diabetics or for those who do not want to consume a lot of sugar, it may be an alternative, but there are things that need to be considered," he said at the Ravelle speech in Jakarta, Sunday.

This type of sweetener can indeed be an alternative for diabetics or those who want to reduce daily sugar intake. However, not all products that claim 'natural' are completely free from risk.

"If he is really from plants and pure, without any additional ingredients, that's fine. But what often becomes a problem is that many products are mixed with other additional substances that can actually endanger health," he explained.

He reminded the public to remain careful in choosing sweetener products, especially by reading the composition label carefully. One thing to avoid is sucrose, which is a simple and common form of sugar found in processed foods.

"If the label says sucrosa, it means ordinary sugar. It must be limited, especially in large quantities," he said.

While alternative sweeteners can help reduce sugar intake, doctors insist that this is no reason to justify free consumption of sweet foods.

"Don't let us think that all sweet foods are safe to eat just because they use non-maugue sweeteners. We still have to train ourselves to reduce the need for sweet tastes," he said.

In other words, the use of alternative sweeteners can indeed be a solution, but not without conditions. Consumer education to read labels and understand nutritional content remains the key in maintaining a healthy diet.