Sugar substitutes are artificial compounds used to replace sugar. They can be used to sweeten drinks, or they can be added to foods to reduce their calorie and sugar content.
Artificial Types
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved four artificial sweeteners for use in diet products: Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), Saccharin (Sweet'N Low), Acesulfame K (Sweet One) and Sucralose (Splenda).
Natural Sugar Substitutes
Stevia is the only sugar substitute that is directly derived from a plant. It is also the only one that doesn't seem to have any impact on glucose (blood sugar). The FDA considers it a nutritional supplement.
Features
Sugar substitutes are usually highly sweet (up to 300 times more than sugar in the case of Stevia) and only a small amount is needed to replace sugar.
Considerations
Sugar alcohols (maltitol and sorbitol) are not actually classified as sugars, but they do have a sweetening effect. They are often used in low-carb foods, as they don't raise blood sugar as regular sweeteners.
Controversy
Studies have shown that sugar substitutes may actually lead to weight gain in some instances. This is because real sugar seems to increase calorie burning, while sugar substitutes do not. Artificial sweeteners may cause hunger spans and cravings as well, causing the taker to eat more.
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