Choosing a sugar substitute

This sugar substitute may cause abdominal discomfort.

Sucralose

BRANDS: Splenda^®

COMMONLY FOUND IN: Baked goods, frozen desserts, soft drinks

OVERVIEW: Calorie-free sugar derivative. 600 times sweeter than sugar. Suitable for baking. Not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate. May cause abdominal discomfort.

This sugar substitute has been around since 1879.

Saccharin

BRANDS: Sweet'N Low^®

COMMONLY FOUND IN: Diet sodas, toothpastes, sweetener packets

OVERVIEW: Calorie-free compound. Produced since 1879. 300 times sweeter than sugar. Past studies tied it to cancer in rats, but no evidence suggests human saccharin-tumor connection.

Some people get headaches from aspartame.

Aspartame

BRANDS: Equal^®, NutraSweet^®

COMMONLY FOUND IN: Diet drinks, chewing gum, sweetener packets

OVERVIEW: 200 times sweeter than sugar. Loses sweetness at high temperatures, so not good for baking. Linked to headaches in some people. Should be avoided by those with phenylketonuria.

All natural, no-calorie sweetener.

Stevia

BRANDS: Truvia^®, PureVia^TM

COMMONLY FOUND IN: Sodas, protein drinks, sweetener packets

OVERVIEW: Derived from stevia leaves. About 300 times sweeter than sugar. Pregnant women should talk to a doctor before use.

Tastes similar to honey.

Agave Nectar

BRANDS: Madhava

COMMONLY FOUND IN: Bottled for purchase

OVERVIEW: Contains similar calories and carbohydrates as sugar, but with more sweetness. Similar flavor to honey.

All natural, with half the calories of sugar.

Xylitol

BRANDS: XyloSweet^®

COMMONLY FOUND IN: Frozen desserts, chewing gum, baked goods, chocolate

OVERVIEW: One of several naturally occurring carbohydrates known as "sugar alcohols." May be used in place of sugar or in combination with sugar substitutes. Not completely absorbed by the body, so it impacts blood sugar less than natural sugar.