Hi Debbie,

Is artificial sweetener bad for you? My friend says it's better to have real sugar even though it's got calories in it. Is that true? And is brown sugar better for you than white? I usually have the artificial stuff but she's been telling me it can give you cancer. I also drink diet coke - is that bad too?

Thanks,

Rachel

UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:

Hi Rachel,

There is no doubt that over the years artificial sweeteners have found their way into most of our diets. Whether we like it or not, they are to be found in many ordinary processed foods, as well as the more obvious 'low calorie' foods and 'diet' drinks. Add to that, the armies of people who add them to coffee and tea. All of this is done in the name of calorie counting and, presumably, losing weight, but the truth is that a teaspoon of sugar only contains 15 calories in the first place. So, how many calories are you saving by using these products?

Whether sweeteners actually cause harm is a different question, and a much more complicated issue. In spite of the fact that they have been around since 1879 when saccharin was discovered, the jury is still out. Campaigners around the world claim all sorts of side effects and potential dangers. Government agencies have from time to time restricted their uses and, on occasion, banned one or two of them, but they nevertheless continue to be used in our foods.

There are five different kinds of artificial sweeteners, all of which have come under scrutiny at some time or another.

Sucralose, sold under the name of Splenda, is made by chlorinating sugar. With about one eighth of the calories and carbohydrates of the original product, it tastes 600 times sweeter than sugar and is used in soft drinks, desserts and confectionary. Campaigners worry that the chlorinating process may result in the sort of problems seen with chlorine pesticides - things like birth defects, cancer and reproductive disorders, but as yet, there is no evidence to back up these fears.