Why is sweetener worse than sugar

A sugary diet can lead to weight gain and health problems such as type-2 diabetes, so none of us should be having more than the maximum seven teaspoons of sugar a day. Public Health England wants our sugar intake from a host of popular foods to be cut by a fifth by Part of the solution includes reformulating foods with sugar replacements.

Artificial sweeteners give a sweet taste with few or no calories. There are lots of different types in thousands of different products, including diet foods and drinks. They all aim to do the same job of delivering sweetness in the place of sugar, meaning fewer calories. Some, such as saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame K and aspartame, are intensely sweet in tiny doses, making them ideal for using in low-calorie soft drinks and sugar-free gum.

Others, such as sorbitol and xylitol, are more bulky, like real sugar, so are useful as a replacement in products such as confectionery. Ask an expert and, frustratingly, most will say it should be down to "personal choice".

Limiting how much sugar you eat is definitely a good thing - helping reduce your risk of diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. When you consider that a regular can of cola contains nine cubes of sugar, having a diet version instead could make a difference. Whether swapping sugar for a sweetener is truly healthy is harder to answer. Certainly, eating low-sugar, low-calorie products is no guarantee that you will stay fit and slim.

They are not a replacement for a healthy diet. Many are synthetic, but some sweeteners may be made from naturally occurring substances. Stevia-based sweeteners are made from the leaves of a plant. By law, food or drink products must be clearly labelled and list on the packaging whether they contain low-calorie sweeteners, allowing consumers to make choices when they buy. Reducing the calories you get from sugar can help with weight loss.

The truth about sweeteners - Eat well Secondary navigation Food and diet Nutrition and food groups Eating a balanced diet 8 tips for healthy eating The Eatwell Guide Food labels Food labelling terms Reference intakes on food labels Starchy foods and carbohydrates Dairy and alternatives Meat in your diet Fish and shellfish The healthy way to eat eggs Beans and pulses Water, drinks and your health Eating processed foods.

Why 5 A Day? What counts? Fat: the facts Salt: the facts Sugar: the facts Top sources of added sugar What does calories look like? Red meat and the risk of bowel cancer What is a Mediterranean diet? How to prepare and cook food safely How to store food and leftovers 10 ways to prevent food poisoning Why you should never wash raw chicken Cooking turkey How to wash fruit and vegetables The truth about sweeteners Sprouted seeds safety advice. Calorie checker. Drink Up. For those of us who mark the change of seasons with food oh, hello everyone , we get extra excited when It seems like almost all of us are suffering from some type of food intolerance—or allergy—these days.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. By: Nutritious Life Editors. Previous Article Next Article. Read the Article. Drink Up Warm Up With 5 Hot and Healthy Drinks For those of us who mark the change of seasons with food oh, hello everyone , we get extra excited when Histamine Intolerance and the Low-Histamine Diet It seems like almost all of us are suffering from some type of food intolerance—or allergy—these days.

Enroll in our Become a Nutrition Coach Program! Get certified. Grow your business. Join our thriving community of wellness professionals. Learn More.