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Sweeteners
Though it contains empty calories, sugar is safe during pregnancy for most women. In fact, you need to pump up your calorie intake during pregnancy and it's OK to get some of those extra calories from sugar. (Enjoy this time -- you'll be going back to counting sugar calories soon enough when you try to lose the post-baby weight.)
Some women, however, will cut out sugar during pregnancy, only to replace it with artificial sweeteners. Depending on which sweeteners you choose, this can be the less-healthy route.
Safe Sweeteners
These artificial sweeteners are safe during pregnancy if they're consumed in moderation:
- Acesulfame potassium (Sunett): This chemical is usually added to baked goods, frozen desserts, and sugar-free gelatins as a sugar substitute.
- Aspartame (Equal or NutraSweet): The FDA says aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. It should be avoided by people who have a metabolic disorder known as phenylketonuria, or PKU.
- Sucralose (Splenda): This noncaloric sweetener, made from sugar, is added to baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, and chewing gum. It has no effect on blood sugar and is considered safe by the FDA during pregnancy.
Sweeteners to Avoid
These artificial sweeteners should not be consumed during pregnancy:
- Saccharin (Sweet 'N Low): The FDA considers saccharin safe for the general public. However, studies show that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in the fetal tissue. The effects are unclear, so for now it's best to avoid saccharin.
- Stevia: Derived from a South American shrub, stevia has not been approved by the FDA as a sweetener. It can be sold as a "dietary supplement," but its safety has been questioned as a food additive and should be avoided by pregnant or lactating women.
- Cyclamate: This sweetener has been linked to cancer and is currently banned in the United States.
Safety Note
Sugar isn't safe for everyone. Women with carbohydrate intolerance, such as gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus, or insulin resistance need to seriously monitor their use of nutritive sweeteners such as sugar. Nutritive sweeteners are those that contain calories and include sucrose, dextrose, honey, corn sugar, fructose, and maltose.
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