The artificial sweeteners most used are saccharin, aspartame and sucralose. They are sold under the brand names Sweet N’ Low, NutraSweet, and Splenda. To some they are just the pink, blue, and yellow packets.
Artificial sweeteners seem to be in the news quite a bit. They cause cancer. Nope, nevermind, they don't. They are toxins. Nope, we take it back. They are completely safe. When so many new studies and information are coming out, it is hard to keep up with whether or not a product is recommended or even safe.
My take, along with the take of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is that artificial sweeteners are safe... as long as you follow the FDA guidelines.
The FDA has recommended aspartame's safe level (ADI-acceptable daily intake) as 50 milligrams per kilogram of weight, or the equivalent of 18 to 19 cans of diet soda. (However, I do not recommend drinking anywhere near 18 cans of soda daily.)
For saccharin, the safe level is 5 milligrams per kilogram, or the equivalent of 9 to 12 packets of the sweetener.
For sucralose, the safe level is 5 milligrams per kilogram, or the equivalent of 6 cans of diet pop.
Artificial sweeteners are called non-nutritives for a reason: they do not add nutrients to your diet. They simply add sweetness without the calories of regular sugar. While they may be beneficial in weight loss efforts, they should not be used to replace healthful foods with vitamins and minerals. And like with anything, moderation is key.
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