Because diet foods taste better, they are gaining more fans and helping us eat healthier, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The key has been improvements in fat and sugar substitutes, like aspartame (NutraSweet), and processing methods, such as beating air into ice cream to drop calories but keep the taste.

But dieters should still be wary in some cases, said the report. Some subsitutes such as Olestra and sugar alcohols can cause cramps and diarrhea.

I can attest to that one. Also, sometimes knowing the food is low-calorie encourages you to eat more. Admit it, you do it too.

Check out the full article and see what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com