\nIn landmark new guidance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a statement advising against the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) for controlling body weight.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nIn a May 2023 press release, the global health organization stated that this recommendation is based on the findings of a large systematic review conducted by WHO researchers, which suggested that the use of artificial sweeteners \u201cdoes not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.\u201d<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nFrancesco Branca, WHO\u2019s Director for Nutrition and Food Safety, cited a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of non-sugar sweeteners in keeping weight off long term, as well as potential adverse health outcomes from their use, including increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality.\n<\/p>\n \nThe WHO statement makes no overarching claims about the safety of non-sugar sweeteners\u2014and isn\u2019t meant to scare people away from their use in general\u2014but is rather a commentary on their impact on weight loss. That said, it\u2019s a surprising shift from previous opinions regarding the role of NSS in weight management.\n<\/p>\n \nHere\u2019s what experts have to say about the new guidance and what it means for the future of weight loss\u2014with or without artificial sweeteners.\n<\/p>\n Getty Images \/ Alina Rosanova<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n \nAs overweight and obesity have become greater concerns for the global population in the last several decades, researchers have sought solutions for helping people maintain a healthy weight.\n<\/p>\n \nArtificial sweeteners have appeared to offer promise.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cNon-caloric sweeteners, also known as non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs), are often used as a strategy for weight loss based on the simple concept that they offer sweetness without the corresponding calorie load of regular sugars,\u201d Kristin Draayer, MS, RDN, told Health<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis would seem, on the surface, to create an obvious path toward weight reduction, and indeed, most short-term (less than one year) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that when NNSs are substituted for caloric sweeteners, weight loss can occur,\u201d she added.\n<\/p>\n \nA 2020 meta-analysis in Obesity Reviews<\/em>, for example, examined 20 studies that lasted at least four weeks, determining that non-sugar sweeteners led to significant weight reduction.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nAnother study from 2014 found that, over 12 weeks, people who drank non-sugar-sweetened beverages lost more weight than people who merely drank water.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the research doesn\u2019t paint such a rosy picture over the course of many years.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe evidence supporting NNSs for weight loss becomes far less compelling when we extend the timeframe and look at long-term studies,\u201d Draayer noted.\n<\/p>\n \nIn fact, the WHO\u2019s systematic review revealed that, though artificial sweeteners frequently helped people achieve short-term weight loss, longer-term cohort data with a follow-up of up to 10 years suggested an increase<\/em> in body fat associated with their use.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThe fact is, for most people, weight loss comes down to far more factors than merely replacing one ingredient (sugar) with another (non-sugar sweeteners).\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe physiology of weight loss is a multifaceted process involving hormonal responses, metabolic adaptations, and other physiological and psychological factors, all of which can impede weight loss maintenance,\u201d Draayer explained.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cAdding NNSs to this mix doesn\u2019t seem to change the fundamental nature of these challenges,\u201d she continued. \u201cThe WHO\u2019s new guidelines suggest that NNSs are not a silver bullet for weight loss as was previously hoped.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Using Artificial Sweeteners May Raise the Risk of Heart Disease, Study Shows<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nBesides highlighting the minimal effectiveness of NNSs for long-term weight loss, the WHO\u2019s new guidance also raises questions about their safety.\n<\/p>\n \nThe May 2023 press release mentions \u201cpotential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.\u201d<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThe systematic review on which the new guidance is based cites multiple studies that associated NNSs with heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and other adverse health outcomes.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nIt\u2019s important to remember that many artificial sweeteners have a long history of safety when consumed moderately. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exerts tight regulations over the food supply, including artificial sweeteners. The FDA currently identifies eight non-nutritive sweeteners as \u201cgenerally recognized as safe\u201d (GRAS), including:<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nSome nutrition experts caution that any potential links between non-sugar sweeteners and health conditions should be taken with a grain of salt.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt is important to be cautious about drawing conclusions from studies that only show an association and not a causation, as many additional factors can come into play when it comes to weight management,\u201d Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES, author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet<\/em>, told Health<\/em>. \n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe same population who is already seeking out the use of NSS is the population that may be engaging in other dietary and lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease,\u201d she explained. \u201cThis does not necessarily mean that NSS causes these conditions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nWhether or not you use artificial sweeteners, limiting sugar is still an important dietary strategy for achieving a healthy weight. There are plenty of ways to do so besides swapping a regular Coke for a diet Coke or adding a Splenda packet to your morning coffee.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cOne of my favorite ways to sweeten foods is to use pureed fruit as a replacement for added sugars in baked goods,\u201d Palinski-Wade advised. \u201cYou can use any pureed fruit such as banana, apples, or even prunes in a one-to-one swap for added sugar to provide all the same sweetness and moisture with no added sugar\u2014while boosting fiber intake as well.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nDraayer suggested upping the flavor factor of dessert foods by experimenting with spices in place of some sugar. \u201cCinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla can enhance the perception of sweetness while adding a ton of flavor,\u201d she said. She also recommended substituting honey or maple syrup for white sugar, as their stronger flavors may allow you to use less of them.\n<\/p>\n \nFinally, remember that, in your efforts to lose weight, there\u2019s no need to demonize any sweeteners, \u201creal\u201d or faux.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cNeither sugars nor non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) are inherently \u2018bad.\u2019 It all comes down to context,\u201d Draayer emphasized.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cFor example, switching from regular soda to a diet version could be helpful in avoiding the blood sugar spikes and crashes associated with sugary drinks,\u201d she concluded. \u201cOn the other hand, choosing a sugar-sweetened cookie over a \u2018diet\u2019 cookie might be the better choice if it means more satisfaction and fewer feelings of deprivation, which could lead to overeating later on.\u201d\n<\/p>\n This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Sugar<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The World Health Organization (WHO) recently advised against the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) in regard to weight management. Non-sugar sweeteners are often used in weight loss efforts simply because of their ability to offer sweetness without the corresponding calories of sugar. Experts emphasize the importance of understanding how sweeteners\u2014both sugar and artificial\u2014impact the body. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[410,933],"tags":[116,934],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17203"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17203\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.health.com\/thmb\/QuukWyz1s-35y6zPYSO8-BMxllo=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/GettyImages-1159564599-dea86214f04a4008bcb7cb94c4cd2daa.jpg\")
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\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Complex Relationship Between Artificial Sweeteners and Weight Loss <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners Safe? <\/span> <\/h2>\n
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Limiting Sugar Without Artificial Sweeteners <\/span> <\/h2>\n