Question: I would like to restrict my sugars, are artificial sweeteners OK?
Answer: There are several artificial sweeteners available. Saccharin was used extensively several years ago, but since it was associated with an increased cancer risk it lost popularity. Aspartame is very commonly found in sodas and other low calorie foods. According to the FDA, aspartame is safe to use, however anecdotally, several people claim to be sensitive to aspartame.
Sucralose is the latest artificial sweetener to hit the scene in the United States, but it has been used in Canada since the early 1970s.
Stevia is an herb that is used as a sweetener and it is available in health food stores.
Alcohol sugars are used in a lot of low-carb snack foods, however those snacks still can have a lot of calories.
Personally, I prefer sucralose as an artificial sweetener. It isn't absorbed very well and most of it just passes through the digestive system.
Source: "Artificial Sweeteners" American Heart Association.
