What are Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are completely unnatural, synthetic, chemical compounds that are used as sugar substitutes in many food and drink. Artificial sweeteners are sweeter than normal table sugar and have less calories. Many people use artificial sweeteners because they have diabetes and want to keep their blood sugar low, or simply because they feel that artificial sweeteners are less ‘fattening’ than sugar.

Unfortunately, the health risks involved with artificial sweeteners are very controversial. Although the FDA has approved saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, neotame and acesulfame potassium, there are still many questions about the safety of these artificially synthesized compounds.