Sweeteners can be a healthier option in some cases
Sweeteners can be a good option for people who want to lose weight, but only in small amounts, Apovian said. “If you have obesity and metabolic syndrome, you should avoid sugar,” she said. “And if you have to have sweetness, any of [sweeteners like stevia, aspartame, and sucralose] are OK.”
However, Dr. Ludwig’s concern is that people who use artificial sweeteners might replace the lost calories with other caloric sources, which will eventually impact weight loss or health benefits. This can happen because usually, people like to fool themselves: “I’m drinking diet soda, so it’s okay to have cake.”
It’s also a good option for people suffering from diabetes and want to keep their blood sugar level under control. “If you have diabetes and it’s replacing sugar, it can be a really good thing,” Taub-Dix said. “If there are foods you enjoy that contain a lot of sugar, artificial sugars can help you have a variety of foods you otherwise couldn’t.”
