Acesulfame
Potassium (Ace-K) |
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. |
Calories: |
none |
Sweetness: |
200 x
sugar |
Other
characteristics: |
stable,
can be used in cooking or baking |
Where
you would find it: |
- Sunette®, Sweet One®
- Pepsi One®, Diet Vanilla/Cherry Pepsi®,
Diet 7UP®, Diet Snapple® (Apple/Lime
Green Tea)
- Sugar Free Jell-O®, Sugar Free Pudding
- Winterfresh® gum
- DiabetiSweet®
|
Aspartame |
Also
known as NutraSweet®, Equal® or
NatraTaste®.
People who have the disease phenylketonuria (PKU) should not consume anything
with aspartame. Whether aspartame causes headaches is unclear and the most serious
charge — that aspartame increases the risk of cancer — has never
been proved. Aspartame therefore appears to be quite safe. |
Calories: |
insignificant |
Sweetness: |
200 x
sugar |
Other
characteristics: |
- flavor may be altered at high
temperatures
- contains phenylalanine
(for those with Phenylketonuriaor PKU)
|
Where
you would find it: |
- Equal®/NutraSweet®
- Breyers® Light Fat Free Yogurt,
Dannon® Light ‘n Fit Yogurt,
Yoplait® Light Fat Free Yogurt
- Diet sodas: Snapple®, Coke®,
Pepsi®,
Dr. Pepper®, Mountain Dew®
- Healthy Choice® no sugar added
ice cream
- Sugar Free Jell-O®, Sugar Free pudding
- Fiber One® Bran Cereal
- Smuckers® Sugar Free Preserves
|
Saccharin |
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! |
Calories: |
none |
Sweetness: |
300-500
x sugar |
Other
characteristics: |
stable,
can be used in cooking or baking |
Where
you would find it: |
- Sweet ‘N Low®
- Diet Pepsi®/Coke® (from fountain)
|
Sucralose/Splenda® |
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 |
Where
you would find it: |
- Atkins® Endulge Ice Cream
- Dannon® Light ‘n Fit Carb
Control Yogurt
- Diet V8 Splash®, Diet Rite®
- Ocean Spray® Light, Tropicana® Light ‘n
Healthy Orange Juice
- Many sugar free cookies
- Atkins® Morning Start Cereal
- Weight Watchers® Smart Ones
Reduced Fat Ice Cream, Ben & Jerry’s® No
Sugar Added ice cream
|
Stevia® |
Calories: |
none |
Sweetness: |
300 x
sugar |
Other
characteristics: |
stable,
can be used in cooking or baking |
Where
you would find it: |
- granular or liquid form.
- usually available at natural or
herbal food stores.
|
Sugar
Alcohols/ Sugar Replacers: Isomalt, maltitol,
sorbitol, xylitol |
Calories: |
1/2 calories
of sugar
(variable between sweeteners) |
Sweetness: |
9 x sugar |
Other
characteristics: |
If ALL
carb. is from sugar alcohol and total <10,
count as FREE. If >10, count as 1/2
amount carb. |
Where
you would find it: |
- sugar free cookies & candy
- sugar free gum and mints
- sugar free ice creams
- 7-Eleven® Diet Pepsi® Slurpee
Has a LAXATIVE effect, if you eat
too much!
|
