He assured that “people need to reduce the consumption of free sugars and replace it with foods that naturally contain sugars.”
By iProfessional
16/05/2023 – 14,20hs
The World Health Organization (WHO) advised against the use of sweetenersand warned that it was found that its prolonged consumption over time is not effective for weight loss but, on the contrary, increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetescardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults.
In the directive published on its website, the international health agency highlighted the importance of reducing sweets from people’s diets, from an early age, to enjoy better health.
In this sense, he pointed out that “replace free sugars (refined and natural ones present in fruits, honey and others) by sweeteners does not offer any long-term benefit in terms of reducing body fat in adults or children.”
In addition, it advised against the consumption of specific products that contain acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and its derivatives. Here are included the synthetic, natural or modified sweeteners“that are not classified as sugars found in industrial foods and beverages” or that are sold separately to be added by the consumer.
“People need to consider other ways to reduce their intake of free sugars, such as eating foods that naturally contain sugars, such as fruit or non-sweet foods and drinks“, indicated the director of nutrition and food safety of the global agency, Francesco Branca. This recommendation applies to all people, except those with pre-existing diabetes, he specified.
On the other hand, the WHO clarified that its position in relation to sweeteners does not apply to personal care or hygiene products that may contain them, such as toothpastes, skin creams or medicines. It also does not imply low-calorie sugars or sugar alcohols, since these are derivatives of sugar and contain calories, so they are not considered sweeteners.
WHO authorities also advised against the use of the stevia-based sweetener
Sweeteners and the consumption of Argentines
According to official statistics, each Argentine consumes an average of four times more sugar (114 grams) than recommended by the World Health Organization, in foods such as soft drinks, sweets and infusions.
A fact that generates alert among health professionals, due to the risk that this entails. A recent French observational study, published last September in the British Medical Journal, warned that sweeteners could be associated with a increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Due to the harmfulness of added sugars, artificial sweeteners are used as alternatives in thousands of foods and beverages to reduce the amount of sugar and associated calories, while retaining a sweet taste.
People who consume the most sweeteners, especially aspartame and acesulfame K, have a higher risk of cancer, according to work published by researchers from four institutions, including the national institute for medical research (Inserm) and Sorbonne Paris Nord University.
