What you should know about sugar substitutes

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Artificial sweeteners are seen on the tables in restaurants in different colored packages. Many people use them in their home and they are many times sweeter than table sugar.  These sweeteners are sugar substitutes and made with both natural substances and chemicals. Many drinks and foods are sweetened with these sugar substitutes because they offer sweetness without the calories that sugar offers.

 Most light, sugar-free and reduced calorie drinks are sweetened with an artificial sweetener. In the US, there are many names for these sweeteners such as: Aspartame, Sucralose, Saccharin, Stevia, Acesulfame K and sugar alcohols. If you don’t want artificial anything in what you eat, including artificial sweeteners, read the label of those items you purchase.  The choice is yours, real sugar or fake?  Research tells us that there sweeteners are safe as long as you use them in moderation. 

People who should avoid aspartame are those with phenylketonuria (PKU.)  These people are unable to metabolize it because of their health condition.  The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that it is safe for pregnant women to ingest aspartame, as it will not effect their developing babies.  Stevia and saccharin do not have enough medical research to say they are safe for pregnant women.