What is Equal?
Equal is a low-calorie, artificial sweetener that is often used as a sugar substitute in food and drinks. It is made from aspartame, which is a dipeptide composed of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Equal is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, but it contains almost no calories. It is often used in diet foods and drinks, as well as in cooking and baking.
How is Equal Made?
Equal is made from aspartame, which is a dipeptide composed of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame is produced by a chemical reaction between aspartic acid and phenylalanine methyl ester. The resulting product is then purified and crystallized.
Is Equal Safe?
Equal is safe for most people to consume. However, people with phenylketonuria (PKU) should not consume Equal because it contains phenylalanine. PKU is a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down phenylalanine. This can lead to a build-up of phenylalanine in the blood, which can cause serious health problems.
What are the Benefits of Equal?
Equal has several benefits, including:
- It is low in calories.
- It is much sweeter than sugar.
- It can be used in a variety of foods and drinks.
- It is safe for most people to consume.
What are the Drawbacks of Equal?
Equal also has some drawbacks, including:
- It may cause side effects in some people.
- It is not as sweet as sugar.
- It may not be suitable for people with PKU.
Conclusion
Equal is a low-calorie, artificial sweetener that is often used as a sugar substitute in food and drinks. It is made from aspartame, which is a dipeptide composed of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Equal is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, but it contains almost no calories. It is often used in diet foods and drinks, as well as in cooking and baking. Equal is safe for most people to consume, but people with PKU should not consume it.
How many calories are in Equal?
Each 1 tsp of Equal contains 13 calories.
Equal Nutritional Information
Nutrient | Amount per 1 tsp (3.5g) |
---|---|
Calories | 13 Calories |
Protein | 0.1g |
Fat | 0g |
Saturated Fat | 0g |
Cholesterol | 0mg |
Carbohydrates | 3.1g |
Dietary Fiber | 0g |
Sugar | 2.8g |
Sodium | 0mg |
Potassium | 0.0001mg |
Calcium | 0mg |
Iron | 0mg |