2006-06-29 03:04:31 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Artificial sweeteners activate the "sweet" areas of our taste buds, but do not have caloric content because they are not digested by the body for energy.
The human body is very specific about the stereochemistry of the compounds it recognizes and uses for "food". Many, if not most nutrients have stereoisomers -- the chemical can be seen to be right-handed or left-handed. IIRC, the chemicals that can be used for food by the human body are generally the "left-handed" stereoisomer. This is the secret behind Splenda -- the new sugar substitute. It is exactly the same chemical composition as sucrose, but in the right-handed configuration. So the body cannont digest it, and therefore it is sweet without containing any useable calories.
2006-06-29 03:18:44 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your body takes food and breaks apart the chemical bonds for their energy. That's what a calorie is. It is the amount of energy your body gets from breaking the bonds in food.
In the case of artificial sweeteners, the product passes through your body without being metabolized(broken down). Your body does not recognize it as a "food, " so it simply passes through your digestive system in the same form as when it came in, without being broken down.
Some people say that small amounts of these chemicals are actually absorbed and not excreted by your body and should be considered hazardous. Use your best judgement on that.
There is a wealth of information available on the web, just be sure to use your best judgement when reading articles, as some CLEARLY have an agenda in mind and not just information.
2006-06-29 10:17:11 · answer #2 · answered by Super science teacher 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CALORIES ARE BURNT WHEN WE EAT SUGAR AS THEY HAVE A COMPLEX CHAIN OF CARBOHYDRATES & WE ALL KNOW CARBOHYDRATES GIVE OUT ENERGY IN THE BODY BUT ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER MAY TASTE SWEET BUT HAVE PROTEIN CONSTITUENT WHICH GIVE OUT A NOMINAL ENERGY IN THE BODY
2006-06-29 11:29:51 · answer #3 · answered by joypinkmail 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is a chemical that fools your taste buds. Just like, theoretically, you drank windex or bleach. No calories, just chemicals.
2006-06-29 10:08:36 · answer #4 · answered by esobel6 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
aspartame
This website descibes a little more. But ALL diet pops have no calories b/c of aspartame. Crazy... I know!
2006-06-29 10:08:49 · answer #5 · answered by Amanda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's artificial, How can grass be green?
2006-06-29 10:13:52 · answer #6 · answered by J.D Buggs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the body doesn't see them as real sugar so it just passes through
2006-06-29 10:38:11 · answer #7 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this on for size. http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=0007F523-93FA-1CE2-93F6809EC5880000&catID=3&topicID=4
2006-06-29 10:10:48 · answer #8 · answered by Gray Matter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they're chemicals
2006-06-29 10:08:24 · answer #9 · answered by scrdudie7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋