What Is Artificial Sweetener Made of?

Many use artificial sweeteners in coffee.

A variety of artificial sweeteners is available on the market, each of which has its own unique makeup to act as a no-calorie substitute for sugar. Know your body as you choose which sweetener will work best for you.

Aspartame

Aspartame is made from a combination of phenylalanine and aspartic acid. These two amino acids are 220 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame is available on the market under the brand names Equal and Nutrasweet.

Saccharin

Discovered in 1878, saccharin is a chemical compound that acts as a no-calorie sweetener without the use of glucose. Mostly composed of carbon, the ionically bonded compound also contains elements of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. It is found under the brand name Sweet'N Low.

Sucralose

Sucralose is unique in that it is the only no-calorie sweetener derived from sugar. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar, and made by substituting chlorine atoms for hydroxyl groups on the sugar atom. It can be found on the market under the brand name Splenda.

References

• NLM: Sweeteners
• Calorie Control: Sucralose
• Cary Academy: Saccharin