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(NC)-Imagine eating sweets without having to think about all the calories you're taking in . . . Believe it or not, it's a reality! Tabletop sweeteners are powerful sugar substitutes used in food products as an alternative to white sugar. Since they contain very few calories, these agents provide a sweet taste without the added energy - much to the delight of people watching their caloric intake.

In addition, tabletop sweeteners are also suitable for people who are affected by diabetes and who need to limit their sugar consumption in order to control their blood glucose level. So when they feel like indulging in a sweet treat, they can reach, for products sweetened with aspartame!

There are two main sugar substitutes on the market: aspartame and sucralose. A number of foods claiming to be "light" or "diet" - such as juices, cereals, yogurt, chewing gum, desserts, breads, pastries and soft drinks - contain aspartame (sold under the brand names NutraSweet and Equal) or sucralose (marketed as Splenda). Both products have a pronounced sugary taste: aspartame is 180 times sweeter than white sugar, while sucralose is 600 times sweeter.

Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of the McGill University Office for Chemistry and Society, devotes an entire chapter to aspartame in his new book That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles. He stresses that aspartame has undergone numerous studies, and it is currently found in thousands of products. Health Canada approved its use over 20 years ago, in 1981. Over 70 million North Americans regularly eat or drink products sweetened with aspartame and that consumption is growing steadily.

So, what will you choose to sweeten your coffee in the morning, sugar, sucralose or aspartame?

- News Canada