Artificial sweeteners have become a staple since the discovery of saccharin in the 1800s and the rise of aspartame in the 1980s. There was a time when the general public believed artificial sweeteners were better than real sugar, hence the popularity of diet sodas. But more research has revealed that artificial sweeteners might not be the best choice for your health — and, unfortunately, they are also a main ingredient in a lot of snacks available today. So the best thing you can do is avoid artificial sweeteners when you can, but to do that you’ll need to know a few key facts found here.