Sugar substitutes are synthetic or naturally occurring sweeteners used as alternatives to sucrose -- table sugar. Classified as food additives, they must be approved by the FDA before being sold on the market. Some sugar substitutes offer the advantage of being much sweeter and lower in calories than regular sugar. If you are on a weight loss plan or have diabetes, sugar substitutes are a safe alternative to sucrose. You can find them in a variety of diet, sugar-free, and low-calorie foods and drinks. MayoClinic.com classifies sugar substitutes as artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols or natural sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners are carbohydrate-free.
Saccharin
Saccharin is a no-calorie artificial sweetener that has been around since the 1800s. It's sold as the well-known brand Sweet 'N Low. Saccharin is often used in combination with other sweeteners because, when consumed, it tends to leave an aftertaste. It's approximately 300 times sweeter than sucrose, meaning you can use a lot less of it to get the same sugary effect of sucrose. Once thought to cause cancer, subsequent studies of saccharin sweeteners did not provide clear evidence of an association with cancer in humans, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Sucralose
Sucralose, on the market since 1998, is actually made from sucrose. It contains zero calories and is 600 times sweeter than sucrose. It's sold under the brand name Splenda and unlike saccharin, it doesn't leave an aftertaste. Sucralose is stable when heated, making it useful when baking. It is considered safe to use and produces no adverse health effects.
Aspartame
Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener that's 220 times sweeter than regular sugar. Sold under the brand name Equal, it's often used as a tabletop sweetener because it's taste is very close to that of real sugar. However, it is not stable when heated and, therefore, is not good for cooking or baking. Aspartame also doesn't leave the unwanted aftertaste of other sweeteners. However, If you suffer from a condition called phenylketonuria, you should not take this sweetener. After consumption, aspartame is broken down into its original components, phenylalanine and aspartic acid. People with phenylketonuria lack the ability to metabolize the phenylalanine, resulting in its accumulation and subsequent adverse effects.
Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-k, sold under the name Sunett and Sweet-one, has been on the market since 1988. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than regular sugar and when consumed, may leave an aftertaste. Acesulfame is often used in combination with other sweeteners and may be found in foods, drinks, cough drops and mouthwash. It is heat stable and, thus, may be used as a substitute for sugar, when baking or cooking.
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