Tag: Sweeteners vs sugar

With the average UK adult consuming twice the recommended 30g of 'free' sugar daily, many turn to sweeteners as an alternative. The question is, how much better are sweeteners than sugar, and what are the real health implications beyond the calorie count?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) should not be used as a means of achieving long-term weight control or reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases. While many people turn to diet sodas and sugar-free products thinking they are making a healthier choice, the debate over whether artificial sweeteners are healthier than real sugar is surprisingly complex, with new research constantly emerging.

While it seems logical that zero-calorie sweeteners would be less fattening than sugar, recent evidence suggests a much more complicated picture. Short-term studies often show modest weight loss, but long-term research and observational data point to potential downsides, including impacts on metabolic health and a paradoxically higher risk of obesity.