However, eating any particular type of added sugar has no health advantage. Eating too much added sugar, even natural sweeteners, can cause health problems such as tooth decay, weight gain, poor nutrition, and increased triglycerides. By offering the sweet taste without calories, artificial sweeteners appear to be an answer for effective weight loss. An average 12-ounce can of sugar-sweetened soda provides about 150 calories, mostly from sugar.
Same amount of diet soda, zero calories. The choice seems obvious. Sugar-free sugar is a good option if you want to eliminate artificial sugars or reduce the amount of added sugar in your diet. Common sugar-free products include almond milk, iced tea, and applesauce.
Like artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols are created synthetically (usually from the sugars themselves). For example, a chocolate bar and fruit shake may have similar total sugar levels, but one food gets its sugar from candy, caramel, and nougat; the other, from fresh fruits, dairy products, and vegetables.
