Question

What are artificial sweetening agents ? Give two examples.

Answer 1

A sugar replacement is a food additive that has a similar sweet taste to sugar but has far less food energy than sugar-based sweeteners, making it a zero-calorie (non-nutritive) or low-calorie sweetener. Plant extracts can be used to make artificial sweeteners, or chemical synthesis can be used to make artificial sweeteners. Sugar alcohols like erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol come from sugar.

Complete answer:
A sweetening agent must be soluble in water and easily attach to a receptor molecule on the tongue's surface in order to function correctly. When the sweetener attaches to the receptor, the G- protein dissociates, activating a neighbouring enzyme and triggering a series of processes in which the signals are conveyed to and processed by the brain. The sweetness of an artificial sweetening agent is determined by the interaction between the receptor and the sweetener. Saccharin is the oldest non-nutritive sweetener, having been discovered in 1879. Sucrose has a harsh aftertaste and is roughly 300 times less sweet than saccharin. It cannot be used in goods that need baking since it becomes unstable when heated. It can, however, be used to sweeten candy, beverages, and toothpaste.
Artificial sweetener is one of the most appealing sugar replacements since it adds little calories to our diet. It may be found in a variety of processed foods, including puddings, dairy products, confectionery, soft drinks, baked goods, jams, and a variety of other meals and beverages. It can also be combined with starch-based sweeteners for usage.

Note:
Artificial sweeteners are always a source of intense discussion. On the one hand, they're thought to raise your cancer risk while also harming your blood sugar and digestive health. Most health experts, on the other hand, believe them to be healthful, and many people use them to cut down on sweets and lose weight. Stevia is probably the healthiest option, followed by xylitol, erythritol, and yacon syrup. Natural sugars like maple syrup, molasses, and honey are less harmful and provide health benefits over regular sugar.