2023-06-28 18:00:03
This 2023, the WHO published a new guideline that calls for restricting the consumption of sugar substitutes because they do not provide benefits and are even harmful.
Within its harmful effects it generates an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults.
This recommendation applies to everyone except those with diabetes.
In recent times, sugar substitutes have become a trend, although not for something positive. It all arose as a result of a new guideline published by the World Health Organization (WHO). What he mentions is that these types of products should not be consumed with the aim of losing weight because they do not work for that purpose and can even be counterproductive.
In this regard, the recommendation is based on the results of a systematic review of the available evidence. In the end, it was found that the use of non-sugar sweeteners does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.
What are the possible damages they generate?
For its part, the results of the review also suggest that there may be possible undesirable effects of its long-term use. Included in the list is a increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality in adults.
Now, a very important clarification is that this recommendation applies to everyone except those with diabetes. It also includes all synthetic and natural or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars and are found in manufactured foods and beverages or are sold plain for consumers to add to foods and beverages.
Common non-nutritive sweeteners include acesulfame-K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives.
Because the evidence-based link between non-sugar sweeteners and disease outcomes might be confounded by the baseline characteristics of study participants and complicated patterns of use of these sweeteners, the recommendation has been assessed as conditional. following WHO processes for guideline development.
This indicates that policy decisions based on this recommendation may require substantive debate in specific, linked national contexts. For example, within the reach of consumption in different age groups.
The WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners is part of a set of existing and future guidelines on healthy diets that aim to establish lifelong healthy eating habits, improve diet quality, and decrease the risk of NCDs throughout the world. world.
The most popular sugar substitutes
On the other hand, beyond the WHO recommendations, sugar substitutes are quite popular among the global population. In fact, based on research by Statesman those preferred by the inhabitants of the United States were identified,
Splenda it is by far the most popular sugar substitute among adults. More than 54 million Americans opted for this product in 2019. In contrast, approximately 25 million opted for Sweet’N Lowwhile just over 22 million chose the brand Equal.
This occurs after it was found that a chemical compound produced after digesting the popular sweetener Splenda can damage DNA, according to a study conducted by scientists at North Carolina State University.
The findings once again point to potential health risks associated with consuming sweeteners, which are often substituted in an attempt to eat less sugar.
Also read:
Excessive consumption of sugars and its consequences on heart health
Nutritionist analyzes the content of the Christmas punch: “Very tasty but it is a sugar bomb”
Graphic: The countries with the most deaths from consumption of sugary drinks
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