THE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER

The World Health Organization has recommended against using artificial sweeteners
WHO in a recent report has recommended against using artificial sweeteners to achieve weight loss and prevent lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.
The report emphasized that while there was a need to cut intake of sugar, it should not be replaced by artificial sweeteners.
Many diabetics use the sweeteners in their tea and coffee. However, there is a growing market for packaged foods and beverages using these sweeteners to offer low-calorie options.
WHO suggests that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases.

What WHO has recommended?

Replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners does not help with weight control in the long term.
Artificial sweeteners provide the sweet taste with very little to no calories.
Since artificial sweeteners reduce the number of calories consumed, there could be some weight loss and reduction in body mass index (BMI) in the shorter term.
Analysis have shown that higher intake of NSS was linked to increase in the risk of Type-2 diabetes.
The higher intake of these sweeteners was also linked to increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, including risk of hypertension and mortality in the long run.
It was also linked with a 25% increase in the risk for pre-term birth.
The WHO has made these recommendations for everyone other than those who are already diabetic.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

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