Consuming Less Sugar and More Sweeteners Is Not Necessarily A Good Thing, Experts Say

Believe it or not, sometimes sugar is a better option. Here’s why.

The most popular source of sugar and sweeteners in America are beverages, such as sodas, fruit drinks, energy drinks, teas and coffees, as research shows. In foods, the most popular sources are ice cream, yogurt and granola bars.

As Taub-Dix said, sugar is fine in moderation, all of the above are, but not if products like these represent most of your diet. “It’s not whether it’s artificially sweetened or not, it’s about whether a food is something that’s devoid of any nutritional value,” she said.

If you feel like eating something sweet once in a while, sugar can be a better option, as some research shows, artificial sweeteners have been proven to increase hunger and cravings, which eventually defeats the purpose of using them to cut calories.

“Let’s not forget that when we choose food, taste rules,” Taub-Dix said. “A small amount of sugar could satisfy more than a whole mountain of artificial sweetener. It really depends on you, your family, and your taste buds.”

“Sugar-containing foods in their natural form, whole fruit, for example, tend to be highly nutritious—nutrient-dense, high in fiber, and low in glycemic load. On the other hand, refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large amounts rapidly increases blood glucose and insulin levels, increases triglycerides, inflammatory mediators and oxygen radicals, and with them, the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses,” explains Dr. Ludwig, an obesity and weight-loss specialist at Harvard-affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital.