There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about low- and no-calorie sweeteners. To help clear the air, here are three FACTS about these sweeteners:

1. Low- and no-calorie sweeteners don’t make you crave sugar

In a 2009 review in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Richard Mattes and Barry Popkin found that low-calorie sweeteners did not increase appetite. Additionally, they found that low-calorie sweeteners did not increase the liking of sweets or cause people to eat more sweet

2. Aspartame is one of the most studied substances in the food supply

With more than 100 studies supporting its safety, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has deemed aspartame as safe.

3. Sweeteners can help with weight loss

A 2014 study showed that participants who drank diet beverages as part of an overall weight loss program lost significant weight, even over those participants who drank water only.

America’s beverage companies provide a wide selection of zero sugar and less sugar beverages, plus a great variety of portion sizes, all to support consumers’ efforts to find balance. To learn more about these low- and zero-calorie beverages and the sweeteners they contain, visit balanceus.org.