In recent news, experts have pointed out that Americans consume too much added sugar on a daily basis, leading many to turn to zero-calorie sweeteners as an alternative to satisfy their sweet cravings.
The US Food and Drug Administration has given approval for six zero-calorie sweeteners to be used as food additives: saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame-K or Ace-K), sucralose, neotame, and advantame. Other options like stevia and monkfruit extract are derived from plants or fruits, while sugar alcohols like erythritol are sourced from carbohydrates.
Despite the approval of these sweeteners for moderate use, recent headlines have sparked concerns about potential links between zero-calorie sweeteners and health conditions such as weight gain, heart disease, and cancer.
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