This article was published in Prevention and I thought I would share it with y'all.
Artificial sweetners - and the snacks and drinks that contain them are gobbling up ever more supermarket shelf space. Engineered to be much sweeter than sugar, these substances add flavor minus the calories. Here's the lowdown from the FDA and other sources.
Name: Saccharin (Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin, Sweet'N Low Brown,
Necta Sweet)
What is it? Chemical derived from coal tar
Caveats - FDA approved, but a study suggested a link to bladder cancer.
Daily Limit? Yes: 12 packets
Name: Aspartame - NutraSweet, Equal
What is it? Combination of amino acids
Caveats - None
Daily Limit? - Yes: 74 packets, or 22 cans of diet soda
Name: Sucralose - Splenda
What is it? Compound of sucrose (sugar) and chlorine
Caveats - None
Daily Limit? - Yes: 28 packets
Name: Acesulfame Potassium - Sunett, Sweet One
What is it? Combo of potassium, sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen
Caveats: FDA approved, but a few animal studies suggest a link to cancer
Daily Limit? Yes: 20 packets, or 30 cans of diet soda
Name: Sugar Alcohols - sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol
What is it? Sugar combined with hydrogen, which hinders digestion
Caveats - None
Daily Limit? No, but large amounts may cause gas or bloating
Name: D-Tagatose - Naturlose
What is it? Milk-based sugar altered to hinder digestion
Caveats: None
Daily Limit? No, but large amounts may cause gas or bloating