Nutrition: Low calorie sweeteners

Updated On Jan 13, 2022

About Low calorie sweeteners

  • Used in foods and beverages instead of sugar to provides sweetness without adding a significant amount of calories
  • Natural and come from plant or fruit
  • Examples include: Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Stevia and Monk Fruit 
  • Reduce and/or eliminate the amount of sugar used in food or beverages, therefore reducing the amount of calories 
  • Provide people with diabetes with the opportunity to enjoy foods and beverages without sacrificing taste
  • But other studies have shown that both sugar-sweetened beverages and LCS beverages were linked with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes 
  • Has been advised by the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association that it is possible to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages without necessarily increasing LCS beverage intake, but can be used temporarily 

 


References:

https://www.ift.org/career-development/learn-about-food-science/food-facts/low-calorie-sweeteners 

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-drinks/artificial-sweeteners/