be low calorie and sugar free this makes crystal light a popular drink for people who are trying to lose weight or ensure that they get enough water throughout the day some of the ingredients in crystal light follow since crystal light is sugar free another sweetener may be added the main sweetener in crystal light may be aspartame aspartame was the subject of several studies to determine if its consumption could raise a person 39 s risk of developing cancer the united states national cancer institute reported that a 2006 study showed no increase in brain cancer lymphoma or leukemia among the study subjects who used aspartame other sweeteners that may be present in crystal light include corn syrup solids maltodextrin and acesulfame potassium corn syrup solids may be concentrated amounts of corn syrup that contain 10 percent or less water maltodextrin is a starch sweetener made from rice corn or potato acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener that is much stronger than sugar and often paired with aspartame citric acid is an ingredient in many flavors of crystal light this ingredient adds a tart flavor and also is a preservative to help crystal light have a longer shelf life natural and artificial flavors give crystal light certain tastes however the amount of these ingredients is generally less than 2 percent of the total mixture some varieties of crystal light contain juice solids as well to keep crystal light powder fresh many flavors contain bha butylated hydroxyanisole sodium benzoate also helps maintain the product 39 s freshness.