I have a huge sweet tooth and I'm not afraid to admit it. I tend to go for treats made with real sugar, but I know many people watching their calorie intake like to go for sugar substitutes (so they can have their cake and not wear it too).

There are so many artificial sweeteners out there, it's hard to keep them straight. Here's a list of some of the most popular ones.


Type of Artificial Sweetener General Info Pros Cons
Sucralose (Splenda)
  • Contains maltodextrin to bulk it up
  • It's 600 times sweeter than regular sugar.
  • Has zero calories.
  • You can bake with it.
  • After 110 studies, the FDA concluded that sucralose has no toxic or carcinogenic effects, and poses no reproductive or neurological risks to people.
  • The bulking agents add about 12 calories per tablespoon of Splenda (although the nutritional info doesn't list these calories.
  • Adds an artificial taste when you bake with it.

Want to see the rest of the list? Then read more

Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)
  • It's 300 times sweeter than regular sugar.
  • Is a molecule made from petroleum.
  • The FDA proposed a ban on it in 1977 when lab rats that were fed huge amounts contracted bladder cancer. The ban was never enacted though, and the warning label was dropped in 2000.
  • Has zero calories.
  • You can bake with it.
  • Since 1981, government reports list it as an "anticipated human carcinogen." Male smokers may be at risk of cancer if they consume large amounts.
  • Little studies have been done regarding its effects on children, so they should consume it in small quantities, or not at all.
  • Pregnant women are advised to use saccharin sparingly.
Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal)
  • It's 180 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar.
  • 70 percent of all aspartame is used in sodas.
  • The FDA has set the acceptable daily intake (ADI) at 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. That translates to about four (12 oz.) cans of diet soda per day (that's a lot of soda).
  • One gram of aspartame contains 4 calories.
  • In 1996, the FDA approved its use in foods and beverages.
  • It's approved for consumption by pregnant women, as long as they follow the FDA's guidelines.
  • You can't bake with it.
  • Some people may have a sensitivity to aspartame, and may experience headaches, dizziness, mood changes, or skin reactions after consuming it.
Acesulfame-K (Sunette or Sweet One)
  • It's 200 times sweeter than regular sugar.
  • The body can't break it down, so it's excreted from the body unchanged.
  • It has zero calories.
  • It's approved by the FDA.
  • It doesn't increase the risk of cancer, or affect blood-sugar levels.
  • You can bake with it.
  • It's approved for consumption by pregnant women, as long as they follow the FDA's guidelines.
  • It has a bitter taste on its own.
  • The consumer group, Center for Science in the Public Interest, believes that studies on this sweetener were poorly done and didn't test its potential cancer-causing risks.
Sorbitol, Mannitol
  • These are sugar alcohols that occur naturally in fruits, and are commercially made for use as sweeteners.
  • FDA has designated them as "Generally Recognized As Safe."

  • They're absorbed slowly.
 Some parts of these aren't absorbed at all, so consuming these in large quantities may cause diarrhea. This laxative effect can happen if you consume more than 49 grams of sorbitol, or more than 19 grams of manitol.

Fit's Tips: After hearing all those bad things about sugar substitutes, and knowing that one packet of real sugar contains only 11 calories, I think I'll stick to the sugar. What about you?

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