The WHO says we shouldn't bother with artificial sweeteners for weight loss or health. Is sugar better?
Date
2023
Authors
Mantzioris, E.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Website
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised that “non-sugar sweeteners should not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases” such as diabetes and heart disease. Artificial sweeteners are either natural compounds or synthesised compounds that taste sweet like sugar – and are are up to 400 times sweeter by weight – but provide no or negligible energy. As a comparison, sugar has 17kj (or four calories) per gram, so one teaspoon of sugar would have 85 kilojoules. Several types of artificial sweeteners are used in Australia. Some are synthetic, others are extracted from foods such as monk fruit and the stevia plant.So, what do the new WHO guidelines mean for people who have switched to artificial sweeteners for health reasons? Should they just go back to sugar?
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2023 the author. This publication is available under a Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/)