Numerous studies have investigated the supposed link between consuming fake sugars and suffering from these symptoms, but few have found any direct links. Yet accusations that sugar substitutes are the root cause of countless health problems pervade. But is there actually a cause for concern? And how can we be sure? 67 Science-Backed Ways To Lose Weight Sweet Poison? The Need-To-Know Like any flavor enhancer, artificial sweeteners only sneak into snacks, beverages, and other goods after passing a rigorous approval process conducted by the FDA. Based on reviews of its chemical and all existing research into its effects on animals and humans (i.e. whether its toxic, could possibly cause cancer, or could cause the growth of extra limbs), scientists determine how much of a sweetener humans can safely consume on a daily basis—a measure known as acceptable daily intake, or ADI. The FDA (or other regulatory agencies) typically draws this line 100 times below the dose at which a substance could actually cause harm. So not only are we dealing with a huge safety margin to begin with, we’re talking daily consumption over a lifetime—a fair bit more than the amount we could consume during a one-time synthetic sugar binge. Are Six-Pack Abs Worth It? The Contenders There are four artificial sweeteners currently on the U.S. Market: aspartame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, and sucralose. And a new sweetener, by the name neotame, just received FDA approval and will soon join the ingredient lists of many low-cal and diet products. Ordered from lowest to highest ADI, here are the most commonly used artificial sweeteners on today’s U.S. market. Saccharin (Sweet’N Low, SugarTwin) Over 300 times sweeter than regular sugar, saccharin is one of the oldest and most widely studied artificial sweeteners. Chemist Constantine Fahlberg first discovered the stuff in 1879 when, after a long day at the lab, everything he touched at dinner suddenly tasted sweeter. Despite heavy criticism, the FDA has approved saccharin on multiple occasions. Warning labels were placed on all saccharin-containing products between 1997 and 2000 while the substance underwent further FDA review in response to concerns that the stuff could cause tumors in humans. As soon as more research indicated the substance was safe, all warnings were removed.
Where it’s lurking: Chewing gum, diet soda, jams, salad dressings, candy, canned fruit, baked goods, some vitamins and pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.How much is too much? Saccharin’s ADI clocks in at 5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day—the equivalent of a 150 pound person eating nine packets of Sweet’N Low. (Okay, depending on the day, maybe some of us could get to this point…)
7 Popular Fitness Myths—Which Ones Need Busting? Sucralose (Splenda) Over 100 studies have helped affirm sucralose’s safety since it was created in the late 1960s. In one study, rodents exposed to 16,000 mg of sucralose per kilogram of their body weight per day—the equivalent of a human chugging 16,000 cans of diet soda (!?)—showed no significant side effects. Nor did a group of diabetic people who consumed 500 milligrams of the stuff per day.
Where it’s lurking: Yogurt, protein bars, frozen deserts, syrups, baked goods, and diet beverages.How much is too much? Like saccharin, sucralose’s ADI is 5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. So a 165 pound person could (in theory) safely snack on 31 packets of Splenda per day. (Blech.)
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