The World Health Organization (WHO) published a new advisory advising against the use of non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight or reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
Based on the available evidence, the WHO suggests that “replacing free sugars with unsweetened sweeteners does not help with long-term weight control” nor does it “reduce body fat in adults or children”.
The review results also suggest that it may also lead to undesirable effects and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and adult mortality with long-term use.
Instead, WHO recommends “considering other ways to reduce your intake of free sugars, such as eating foods with natural sugars, such as fruit, or unsweetened foods and beverages.”
Recommendations
Another explanation regarding sweeteners is that they are not essential components of the diet and have no nutritional value, said Francesco Branca, director of nutrition and food safety at the WHO.
“People should eliminate sweeteners completely from their diet from an early age to improve their health,” Branca advised.
The WHO indicated that the recommendation was based on studies conducted among adults, children and pregnant women and does not include an evaluation of the effect of sweeteners in people with pre-existing diabetes.
The UN health agency also detailed that the sign is on synthetic and natural or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugar that are found in manufactured foods and beverages, or that are added to foods and beverages. Sold alone to mix into beverages. , as such they are commonly used to sweeten coffee and tea.
Most Common Sweetener Products
The most common non-nutritive sweeteners are described as:
- acesulfame K
- aspartame
- advantamo
- cyclmatos
- neotamus
- saccharin
- sucralose
- stevia
- stevia derivatives
Products that will not be affected are toothpaste, skin creams and medicines, nor those that contain sugar and low-calorie sugar alcohols.
