Is Crystal Light Bad for You?

Crystal Light is a sugar-free beverage that gives people a flavored alternative to water and a noncarbonated alternative to diet soda. Health concerns surrounding the product have arisen because it uses aspartame (sold under the brand name NutraSweet) as a sweetener.

Is Crystal Light Safe?

• Drinking Crystal Light will not hurt you, although it's best to drink it in moderation. It can be consumed safely as part of a weight-maintenance program. The sweetener has only been linked to one rare condition, according to the American Center for Science and Health.

Does It Help You Lose Weight?

• Studies have shown people who consume artificial sweeteners tend to consume more calories than those who use sugar, according to an article in Time magazine.

Why People Think Crystal Light is Bad

• An Internet hoax caused a headache for products containing aspartame. An email claiming aspartame causes cancer circulated around the Internet. Dr. Dean Edell, the American Center for Health and Science, and the Food and Drug Administration have issued statements debunking the myth.

Phenylketonuria

• People with this disease do not process the phenylalanine amino acid properly, according to Aspartame.net. Aspartame contains phenylalanine. Phenylketonuria sufferers should not drink Crystal Light.

Artificially Sweetened Drinks Do Not Cause Diseases

• Many things have been blamed on aspartame. Diseases blamed on this sugar substitute include cancer, multiple sclerosis and lupus, according to Snopes.com.