Do Sugar Substitutes Do More Harm Than Good?
People should not use sugar substitutes if they are trying to lose weight and keep it off, according to new guidance from The World Health Organization. A review of available evidence suggests the use of nonsugar sweeteners “does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children,” according to a 210-page report released from the global public health agency last week.
“While results of randomized controlled trials have generally suggested nonsugar sweeteners may have little impact on glucose metabolism and result in lower body weight when coupled with energy restriction in the short-term, there is no clear consensus on whether nonsugar sweeteners are effective for long-term weight loss or maintenance,” WHO wrote about the review from nutritionist and epidemiologist Magali Rios-Leyvraz and scientist Jason Montez, both with the international health agency. Here’s what we know.
What to know about sugar substitutes: Sweeteners are low or no-calorie and common ones include aspartame, saccharin, stevia, acesulfame potassium, sucralose and saccharin, among others.
Excerpted from USA Today
