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Like most people in the United States, I consume too much added sugar. I really try not to, but it feels like everything I eat has sugar added to it.
Using artificial sweeteners instead of regular sugar is often touted as a “solution” to our sugar woes, but could something with the word “artificial” in it really be good for you? Registered dietitian Kelly Struck gives her expert opinion below. |
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Hope this helps!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
January 20, 2026 • 3 min read |
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| Q: |
Is it safe to eat foods with artificial sweeteners every day? |
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| A: |
Artificial sweeteners, or sugar substitutes, are food additives used to sweeten foods and beverages while contributing minimal calories, carbohydrates, and sugar. They achieve intense sweetness with only a small amount because they are much sweeter than regular table sugar.
When consumed within the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) established by regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), artificial sweeteners are likely safe to eat every day. For the vast majority of people, daily consumption wouldn’t even come close to the ADI for these sweeteners. For example:
- Aspartame (NutraSweet®, Equal®, Sugar Twin®) ADI: about 75 packets for a ~132-pound (lb) (60 kilogram (kg) person)
- Acesulfame potassium or Ace-K (Sweet One®, Sunett®) ADI: about 23 packets per day for a 132-lb (60 kg) person)
- Sucralose (Splenda®) ADI: about 23 packets per day for a 132-lb (60 kg) person
However, long-term health effects of these additives remain uncertain. For this reason, water and unsweetened beverages are still the best choices for hydration and your overall health.
Of course, there are some exceptions where consumption of these additives can cause harm or symptoms. People with phenylketonuria (PKU) must avoid aspartame because it contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that their body cannot break down. And some people may experience gastrointestinal distress from certain sugar substitutes.
Here’s more research on the health effects of artificial sweeteners:
- Diabetes and blood sugar: Artificial sweeteners generally do not raise blood glucose and can help reduce sugar intake for people with diabetes. However, some studies suggest possible long-term metabolic effects, such as changes in gut bacteria and insulin sensitivity.
- Weight management: Evidence is mixed. While replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with artificially sweetened ones can reduce calorie intake in the short term, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises against using sugar substitutes for weight maintenance, citing a lack of research-backed long-term benefits and potential risks (e.g., increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease).
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| Kelly Struck, Registered Dietitian
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
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| What we’re digesting |
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