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“Artificial sweetener” is often used misleadingly. Natural sweeteners, the most common being sucralose, are not healthier. I had an unpleasant realization from

“Artificial sweetener” is often used misleadingly. Natural sweeteners, the most common being sucralose, are not healthier. I had an unpleasant realization from eating a low-calorie yogurt which advertised “no artificial sweeteners!” only to read sucralose on its ingredients list. I’d guess that >90% of protein bars/drinks contain sucralose (which is ironic because carbs from sugar would be more useful to athletes than the emptiness of sucralose). Instead of artificial sweeteners, people have to avoid low-calorie sweeteners in general. This is difficult - there are dozens of different low-calories sweeteners besides sucralose. They are often low on the ingredients list because a small amount packs a ton of sweetness (which is why they’re low calorie. E.g. sucralose is 1000 times sweeter than sugar in the same amount). To the point - low-calorie sweeteners do not help with weight loss, and do not have any added health benefits. [1] Mere sweetness has a profound effect on body functions. I’m not sure whether DouxMatok would be classified as a low-calorie sweetener, since it just extends the sweetness of real sugar. However, it definitely creates the same problem - it emulates the sweet taste of sugar when there is none (or less). There is no shortcuts, no magic pill for health. Eat a balanced diet, with fruits and vegetables, and moderate consumption of sweets. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313893/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313893/

byproxy 7y ago
Did you read the conclusion of that article you linked? >Most health outcomes did not seem to have differences between the NSS exposed and unexposed groups. Of the few studies identified for each outcome, most had few participants, were of short duration, and their methodological and reporting quality was limited; therefore, confidence in the reported results is limited. Future studies should assess the effects of NSSs with an appropriate intervention duration.
samatman 7y ago
Sucralose is emphatically not natural. It's sucrose with the hydroxylmethyl groups replaced with chlorine. The most common natural sweeteners are steviasides, extracted from the stevia plant, and sugar alcohols such as xylitol, which occur naturally in foods but are normally synthesized (thus 'natural equivalent' rather than 'natural'). Recently mogrosides extracted from monkfruit are becoming popular, though I haven't tried them myself. I despise sucralose, for what it's worth. I find the flavor cloying and, though this could be nocebo effect, I don't enjoy my body's response to it either.
pochamago 7y ago
CICO, if the zero calorie sweetener is the push that gets you under your daily metabolic rate, then they will help you lose weight. Sweetness may have other effects that are negative, but weight is just thermodynamics
- otabdeveloper4 7y ago
  > ...but weight is just thermodynamics Of course not. Your body is not a furnace; metabolism is very complex and not just based on energy output of burning food.
surround 7y ago
For future reference: I have realized that some of the information in my comment is factually incorrect. I wish I could delete it.

byproxy 7y ago

Did you read the conclusion of that article you linked? >Most health outcomes did not seem to have differences between the NSS exposed and unexposed groups. Of the few studies identified for each outcome, most had few participants, were of short duration, and their methodological and reporting quality was limited; therefore, confidence in the reported results is limited. Future studies should assess the effects of NSSs with an appropriate intervention duration.

samatman 7y ago

Sucralose is emphatically not natural. It's sucrose with the hydroxylmethyl groups replaced with chlorine. The most common natural sweeteners are steviasides, extracted from the stevia plant, and sugar alcohols such as xylitol, which occur naturally in foods but are normally synthesized (thus 'natural equivalent' rather than 'natural'). Recently mogrosides extracted from monkfruit are becoming popular, though I haven't tried them myself. I despise sucralose, for what it's worth. I find the flavor cloying and, though this could be nocebo effect, I don't enjoy my body's response to it either.

pochamago 7y ago

CICO, if the zero calorie sweetener is the push that gets you under your daily metabolic rate, then they will help you lose weight. Sweetness may have other effects that are negative, but weight is just thermodynamics

otabdeveloper4 7y ago
> ...but weight is just thermodynamics Of course not. Your body is not a furnace; metabolism is very complex and not just based on energy output of burning food.

surround 7y ago

For future reference: I have realized that some of the information in my comment is factually incorrect. I wish I could delete it.