Sugar Substitutes Are Even Sweeter Than Sugar

Sugar Substitutes Are Even Sweeter Than Sugar

There are many sugar substitutes marketed as healthful alternatives to table sugar, and most are much sweeter than ordinary sugar. The high concentration of sweetness means less is required to flavor food. “Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes and are typically even sweeter than regular table sugar,” Massey says. “In the United States, there are six sugar substitutes that are FDA-approved for use: sucralose, saccharin, stevia, aspartame, neotame, and acesulfame potassium.”

Interestingly, swapping sugar substitutes for table sugar doesn't necessarily add up to weight loss. For example, diet soda sweetened with aspartame has consistently been linked to obesity and risk for metabolic syndrome.