Bitter Truth about Non-Sweeteners

May 22, 2023

According to experts, consuming an excessive amount of added sugar might be harmful to your health. While minimal amounts of sugar can be part of a healthy diet, a high intake of added sugars is associated with a number of health problems. Sugar consumption is linked to weight gain, an increased risk of chronic, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, as well as tooth decay, poor nutrition, and energy crashes, all of which can impair productivity and daily physical and mental performance.

Non-sugar sweeteners are used by persons who cannot live without sweet flavor but do not want the negative effects of sugar. Non-sugar sweeteners, on the other hand, have been demonstrated in research to be unsafe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued a new non-sugar sweetener (NSS) recommendation, which advises against using NSS to regulate body weight or lower the risk of NCDs.

Acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives are examples of common NSS.

The suggestion is based on the findings of a systematic evaluation of the existing research, which indicate that using NSS has no long-term benefit in terms of lowering body fat in adults or children. The review’s findings also imply that long-term use of NSS may have unintended consequences, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in adults.

Except for people with pre-existing diabetes, the recommendation applies to everyone and includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars and are found in manufactured foods and beverages or sold separately for consumers to add to foods and beverages. It does not apply to NSS-containing personal care and hygiene products.

According to Francesco Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety, NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value, and people should consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as eating foods with naturally occurring sugars, such as fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.

It’s worth noting that naturally occurring sugars in whole fruits and other unprocessed foods are often seen as healthier alternatives to added sugars found in processed foods and beverages. It is best to restrict your intake of added sugars and focus on a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

SOURCE: WHO

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