The use of artificial sweeteners is a subject fraught with controversy. On one hand, they can be used freely by diabetic patients, they don’t contribute to tooth decay and they have assisted in many people’s weight loss efforts. On the other, there has been recent research indicating that even though sugar substitutes don’t themselves contribute as many calories to the diet, they might actually stimulate you to eat more for your next meal. More recently, there has been some evidence linking use of artificial sweeteners to a poorer ability to regulate sugar in the blood, but this is still developing. For now, recognize that sugar substitutes are safe overall but try to be mindful that they don’t alter your food intake.