The first artificial sweetener was discovered by a researcher in 1879. That sweetener was saccharin, now commonly sold as Sweet-N-Low brand sweetener. Since then several other artificial sweeteners have come on the market: acesulfame (Sunnett), aspartame (Nutrasweet and Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and stevia. There are also a few less commonly known ones such as cyclamate which have come and gone due to safety concerns.

 

Artificial sweeteners vary in intensity of sweetness but most are around 80-3,000 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar). Most have no calories, but some have a minute amount of calories. Despite lots of concerns about safety, most of these products have never been clearly shown to have any dangerous effect on human health when used in normal amounts.

 

Artificial sweeteners are useful for those who wish to enjoy the taste of sweetness but without the added calories. Used in reasonable amounts, they can be an acceptable part of a weight loss and weight maintenance program.

 

However, there is need for caution. Interestingly, artificial sweeteners have never been shown to promote weight loss. This seems odd since they have no calories. One theory to explain this is based upon some special receptors in our gut that sense the presence of carbohydrates, just like the taste buds on our tongue. It's just that we can't taste what's happening in the gut. Artificial sweeteners bind to these receptors and "tell" the body that sugar is present. The body releases more insulin and may actually stimulate a cycle of craving which may cause us to eat more food than we would otherwise eat. So while these sweeteners themselves have few calories, the resulting stimulation of food intake offsets any of the gain we might otherwise have.

 

So what's my bottom line? Use artificial sweeteners in small quantities and not more often than necessary. And don't count on them to really help you lose weight.