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

Artificial sweeteners are considered safe

Sweeteners are considered to be safe for human health, as many studies have already shown, and they’re very efficient in giving flavor to foods and beverages, explained Caroline Apovian, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at Boston Medical Center.

“Non-nutritive sweeteners are far more potent than table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. A minuscule amount produces a sweet taste comparable to that of sugar, without comparable calories. Overstimulation of sugar receptors from frequent use of these hyper-intense sweeteners may limit tolerance for more complex tastes,” explains Dr. Ludwig.

Five artificial sweeteners are approved by the FDA: saccharine, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose. Stevia, a natural low-calorie sweetener is also approved. However, how our bodies and brains respond to these sweeteners is a very different story.

Moreover, some research suggests that saccharine is linked to cancer in rats and mice, but there’s no evidence yet in humans. Aspartame is also linked to some health risks, as study shows, but there are also studies that suggest it is a safe sweetener for the general population.

“High intensity sweeteners are used as sugar alternatives because they are many times sweeter than sugar and contribute little to no calories so you can use less much less to get sweetness. In order to be in the food in the US they must be considered safe,” Apovian said.