Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes. As sugar consumption in the United States has increased, so has the consumption of artificial sweeteners. Commonly used sweeteners include:

• Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet) is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. After consuming this product people have reported experiencing everything from headaches to brain and mood disorders, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and memory loss among many other symptoms.
• Cyclamate (Sucaryl) is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar. Banned in the US since 1969, it is still used in some non-US markets.
• Saccharin (Sweet ‘n Low) is 350 times sweeter than sugar and is used in many dietetic foods and as a sugar substitute.
• Acesulfame Potassium (Ace K, Sunnett, Sweet One) is 200 times sweeter than sugar and is widely used around the world. Two rat studies suggest that this sweetener causes cancer.
• Sucralose (Splenda) is 600 times sweeter than sugar.