- New guidelines from the World Health Organization advise people not to use non-sugar sweeteners.
- Experts say these sugar substitutes don’t provide any long-term health benefits and can actually affect the body’s microbiome.
- They recommend replacing sugary substances with more naturally sweet foods such as fruit as well as unsweetened foods and drinks.
Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) has released
The officials said the recommendations were based on a finding from a review of evidence that suggests non-sugar sweeteners do not provide any long-term benefit for reducing body fat in adults or children.
Additionally, they said there could be adverse health effects due to long-term use, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The recommendations apply to all people except those with pre-existing diabetes and include all synthetic, naturally occurring, and modified non-nutritive sweeteners found in manufactured food and beverages or sold to be added to foods and drinks by consumers.
“I agree that it is essential to focus on reducing the sweetness of the diet overall, starting early in life,” said Dr. Laura DeCesaris, the founder of Heartroot Health, a wellness center in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Rather than looking for ‘better’ sweet swaps, the focus can be to emphasize a more balanced diet full of a variety of whole foods – lean meats, healthy fat, vegetables, fruits, etc. – versus swapping sugar for a non-calorie version,” she told Medical News Today.
Common non-sugar sweeteners include:
“It’s important to note that weight loss cannot be achieved simply by replacing high-calorie foods with low-calorie alternatives,” said Caroline Thomason RD, CDCES, a registered dietitian based in Virginia.
“It is the cumulative effect of our habits and behaviors over time that contributes to…
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