Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) — CAUTION!

Acesulfame potassium (Sweet One®) is also called acesulfame-K. The safety of acesulfame rests on three animal studies conducted in the mid-1970s. Until it is tested more thoroughly, try to avoid it, as it caused thyroid cancer in rats, rabbits and dogs.

Calories:

none

Sweetness:

200 x sugar

Other characteristics:

stable, can be used in cooking or baking

Name brands:

• Sunette®
• Sweet One®

Aspartame — CAUTION!

Also known as NutraSweet®, Equal® or NatraTaste®.
People who have the disease phenylketonuria (PKU) should not consume anything with aspartame. Aspartame causes headaches in some people. In 2007, Italian researchers found that Aspartame caused leukemia and breast cancer in rats. Lifelong consumption of Aspartame probably increases risk for cancer in humans.

Calories:

insignificant

Sweetness:

200 x sugar

Other characteristics:

• flavor may be altered at high
  temperatures
• contains phenylalanine
  (for those with Phenylketonuriaor PKU)

Name brands:

• Equal®
• NutraSweet®

Cyclamate — AVOID!

Cyclamate was banned in the United States in 1970 after researchers proved it caused cancer in animals.

Neotame — SAFE!

Neotame is 8,000 times sweeter than sugar.

Saccharin — CAUTION!

Large quantities of saccharin can cause cancer in laboratory animals, such as rats. In 2003, the National Cancer Institute noted some evidence of "an increased risk of bladder cancer" in heavy users, "particularly for those who heavily ingested the sweetener as a table top sweetener or through diet sodas."

"Heavy" meant "six or more servings of sugar substitute or two or more eight-ounce servings of diet drink daily." Just because saccharin no longer carries a warning doesn't erase the evidence that it may cause cancer in humans. Do not use during pregnancy since this sweetener crosses the placenta!

Calories:

none

Sweetness:

350 x sugar

Other characteristics:

stable, can be used in cooking or baking

Name brand:

Sweet 'N Low®

Sucralose — SAFE!

Sucralose, also known as Splenda®, is made from sugar. Scientists replaced part of the sugar molecule with chloride, a harmless mineral that your body needs. Because the sugar molecule is different, the body no longer recognizes it as sugar, and therefore it does not raise blood sugar or add calories to the diet. Sucralose has passed all safety tests in animal studies and there is no reason to suspect that it causes any harm.

Calories:

none

Sweetness:

600 x sugar

Other characteristics:

stable, can be used in cooking or baking

Name brand:

Splenda®

Rebiana/Stevia® — CAUTION!

Rebiana/Stevia® is obtained from a shrub in South America (yerba dulce). It may promote DNA mutations that lead to cancer (proven in animal studies only).

Calories:

none

Sweetness:

100 x sugar

Other characteristics:

stable, can be used in cooking or baking

Name brands:

• Truvia
• Purevia
• Available at natural or herbal food stores

Sugar Alcohols/ Sugar Replacers: Isomalt, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, tagatose

Calories:

1/2 calories of sugar
(variable between sweeteners)

Sweetness:

9 x sugar

Other characteristics:

1/2 of carbs are absorbed; 1/2 pass through GI tract. Also, this has a LAXATIVE effect, if you eat too much!