Pregnancy is a time when it is especially important to be conscious of what you put into your body. There is a lot of information out there about what you should and shouldn’t consume, and it can be confusing, especially if you have a condition that mandates some dietary restrictions. One area of concern is whether or not it’s all right to include artificial sweetener when pregnant. This is of extra concern to women who have conditions like gestational diabetes and need to curb their intake of sugars of various kinds.

If you are wondering if it’s safe to use artificial sweetener when pregnant, there are some things you should know about them in general. There are two categories of sweeteners: nutritive, and non-nutritive. Nutritive means that they include calories, while the non-nutritive types are calorie-free. Nutritive sweeteners, like regular table sugar, contain empty calories, and should be consumed in moderation since they can contribute to weight gain. They are however, considered quite safe for pregnant women to consume. Other nutritive sweeteners include sucrose, honey, dextrose, corn sugar and fructose.

Non-nutritive sweeteners are added to all kinds of food and beverages in small amounts. Since many women choose to cut back on sugar either for weight control purposes, or because they have gestational diabetes or insulin resistance, they need to know if it’s safe to include artificial sweetener in their diet while pregnant. Fortunately, there are a number that most medical professionals agree are safe for pregnant women to consume.

If you need to use an artificial sweetener when pregnant, here are some good choices for you to consider. One common artificial sweetener is Aspartame, which is found in Equal and NutraSweet. It can be found in soft drinks, gelatin, desserts, dairy products and breakfast cereal, among other things. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that Aspartame is safe for pregnant and lactating women, but should be consumed in moderation.

If you wish to include artificial sweetener in your diet, another one that the FDA considers to be safe is Sucralose, also known as Splenda. Splenda is made from sugar and is used in wide variety of foods and beverages. It can also be used for baking, or as a substitute for table sugar. It has no calories and does not impact blood sugar in any way.

If you want to use an artificial sweetener when pregnant, you need to be aware that some are not considered safe for consumption. Saccharine, also found in Sweet ‘n Low, is not recommended for pregnant women, since studies have shown it can cross the placenta barrier and remains in fetal tissue.

Another one to avoid is Stevia, since it has not been approved for use as a sweetener by the FDA, and its effects on pregnant women are unknown.

If your diet is going to include artificial sweetener, there are several that are safe for you to use in moderation. As usual, if you are wondering if, in your case, it is safe to use artificial sweetener when pregnant, be sure to talk to your doctor.

You can find helpful information about include artificial sweetener and everything you need to know about artificial sweetener when pregnant at Aha! Baby.

Article Source: Is it Safe to Use Artificial Sweetener when Pregnant?