Artificial sweeteners importance is considered to be a crucial point for discussion in a variety of countries. For a long period of time, many people found it obligatory to contribute the sphere of chemistry and food technology in order to decrease the level of calories not at expense of sweet taste (Ropeik & Gray, 2002).
However, a number of investigations prove that it is not always possible to achieve the required results and succeed in the chosen activities. Of course, more people get a possibility to believe that they can eat and drink and be able to control their weight (Webb et al., 2008). However, the information offered by Linda Bartoshuk (2011) in her article helps to understand that artificial sweeteners continue influencing human bodies in a variety of ways.
To learn better the role of artificial sweeteners in human lives and human bodies, it is very important to consider a variety of existing researches, e.g. basic, applied, correlational, or experimental, and choose those which are more appropriate for the investigations in the chosen sphere; a thoughtful and properly weighted approach will help to understand why people agree to unsafe substitutes just in order to get a hope instead of thinking about more justified and ethically correct activities which may help to improve the quality of life.
The peculiar feature of Bartoshuk’s article is the presentation of information with the help of which it is clear that a variety of scientific approaches in order to gain knowledge about artificial sweeteners may confuse many people, this is why it is very important to identify the priorities and make the necessary conclusions.
Ryan (2011) says that the main disadvantage of basic correlation research is that causality cannot be determined, this is why it is better to rely on applied experimental research with the help of which it is possible to change the variables and introduce some new resolutions to the already existing problems.
In the article under analysis, the Figure 1 introduces the data that proves that in spite of the possibility to influence the development of human body, the presence of artificial sweeteners decrease the number of calories in the body still does not allow people controlling their weight. This is why it is still doubtful to believe that artificial sweeteners’ impact on quality of life is positive only.
The worth of the article lies into the fact that the author discloses the peculiarities of animal model research and the possibility to consider the timing frame using animals as the main variables. Though it is not always possible to apply the achievements gained as a result of animal model research, human mode; research remains to be unpleasant factor. Experiments with rats help to understand that artificial sweeteners influences lives, still, its impact is not always positive, and all participants of the experiment are in danger.
On the one hand, the conditions under which research may take place are not safe, and the outcomes are hard to control. This is why it seems to be reasonable to use animals but not humans. On the other hand, a number of ethical aspects may appear as it has been already proved that animals suffer from pain (Edlin & Golanty, 2009).
It is wrong to use animals as the main substitutes for people in experiments, and there are many defenders of animal rights who are eager to prove that human desire to take control over human body should not become the only reason of why animals have to suffer.
In general, artificial sweeteners is a serious issue for consideration. People are welcome to demonstrate their knowledge and experience to achieve good results in their activities. The article offered for the analysis in this paper clears up a number of points such as the correct choice of research and justification of the methods used. It seems to be very interesting educative and, at the same time, challenging to contribute the development of human life.
Reference List
Bartoshuk, L. (2009). Artificial sweeteners: Outwitting the wisdom of the body?Association for Psychological Science 22(8). Web.
Edlin, G. & Golanty, E. (2009). Health and wellness. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Ropeik, D. & Gray, G.M. (2002). Risk: A practical guide for deciding what’s really safe and what’s dangerous in the world around you. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Ryan, M. (2011). Psychsmart. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Webb, F.S., Whitney, E., Sizer, F.S., & Whitney, E.N. (2008). Nutrition: Concepts and controversies. Belmont: Cengage Learning.