Edulcorantes naturales

Abstract

Natural sweeteners constitute at present, an excellent alternative for their inclusion in the food industry, although this industry has used chemical products like aspartame, aclsufame-k, saccharine, or cyclamate, the harmlessness of these substances has always been in discussion in the main academic food forums, generating bewilderment among low-calorie consumers, even multiple doubts among the regulatory authorities, especially when we speak about consuming these substances for long periods of time. Referring to medicinal plants, some safer sweetener alternatives have been studied in the last years, and at the same time, keep the index of sweetness in suitable levels for the human consumption. Among the most studied we have thaumatin, monellina or steviosides, which are already part of many food products.