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Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer: Does Crystal Light or Diet Soda Cause Cancer?

February 10, 2008 By Julie Lanford MPH, RD, CSO, LDN

Splenda.  Saccharin.  Asparatame.  Acesulfame K.  Stevia.  Sugar alcohols.  When it comes to cancer, there is a lot of controversy over artificial sweeteners.

In the last two posts (part I and part II), I talked about sugar and cancer. A large portion of sugar intake in America is from our fluids. In response to this, many people have chosen to take in fluids that are calorie free, but have sweet flavor from artificial sweeteners.

What’s Wrong With Drinking Something Sweet?

I have mixed feelings about artificial sweeteners. In general, I think that the less “food-like substances” we consume, the better. I also think that drinking artificial sweetened drinks keeps people accustomed to sweet tastes. This is sometimes called sweetness acuity.

Research regarding taste buds suggests that the more you eat a certain flavor, the more you desire it and the less you appreciate other flavors. This means that if you are accustomed to sweet things, you will not appreciate the subtle flavors of other foods. So, if you drink a lot of sodas, regular or diet, then the subtle flavors of fruits, vegetables and whole grains don’t have a chance!

What Do We Know About Artificial Sweeteners?

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the safest sweetener is Splenda. Sugar Alcohols are safe, but can cause diarrhea in large amounts. Aspartame is categorized as probably safe. Stevia and Acesulfame K were inadequately tested, while they determined Saccharin to be unsafe.

Here is a short list of artificially sweetened drinks and which sweeteners are used. If your favorite diet soda is not on the list, you can tell which sweetener is used by looking at the ingredient list on the beverage you are considering.

Saccharin: Sweet and Low
Aspartame: Crystal Light, Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke, Diet Mountain Dew, Equal
Aspartame + Acesulfame K: Coke Zero, Pepsi Jazz
Splenda: Diet Rite

Should I Avoid Artificial Sweeteners Completely?

Everything has to be kept in perspective. Is having an occasional diet soda (or a regular soda for that matter) going to cause a problem?

No.

So now you want to know where to draw the line, right? For that answer, you’ll have to stay tuned for Friday’s post, where I will address how much and what type of fluids to have for best health!

– Julie

Reference: Sweet Nothings: Not All Sweeteners are Created Equal. Nutrition Action Newsletter, May 2004

Fluids and Cancer: What Should I Drink?
Does Sugar Feed Cancer? Part II

Filed Under: Beverages, Does Sugar Feed Cancer?, Myth Busting Tagged With: soda

This post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product, Cancer Services, Inc. will receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. We use these proceeds to support cancer patient direct services and community education in the Triad area of North Carolina. For more information, view our disclosure policy.

Comments

  1. Jose says

    March 19, 2018 at 9:30 pm

    I am trying to loose weight see myself drinking diet Coke crystal light so really will appreciate your help if u could tell me what to drink that will be a little healthier I know water

    • What is a healthy sweet tasting drink says

      November 3, 2018 at 5:09 pm

      What is a healthy drink

    • John H says

      November 26, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      Water

  2. Robert says

    May 15, 2019 at 10:17 pm

    If you don’t have regular access to lemons or fresh fruit, and you want something to put into your water every day to increase pH, what can be added to water to make it more alkaline? I am a merchant mariner, going to sea for 2-3 months at a time, and in the past have added one crystal light packet to every 1.5 liter bottle I drink, drinking 2 or 3 of them a day. Is there a better product I can pack in my luggage that will 1) Make my water tasty and 2) make the water more alkaline to prevent cancer?

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