Taking NSS increases the risk of “type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.” This is according to World Health Organization (WHO). To add, the agency “recommends against the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), to control body weight.” Put simply:
They “do not have any nutritional value” and best to avoid them.
Types of NSS include: “acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives.”
To reduce NSS intake, the WHO recommends “consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.”
How I Deal with Sugar and Non-Sugar Sweeteners
I was in my early 20s when I stopped dieting and simply ate what I wanted to (aka intuitive eating). One thing that changed during this transition is I stopped taking NSS. I still ate sugary treats when I wanted to, but didn’t let myself feel guilty about it. When the guilt stopped and I let joy in, I ate sweets less frequently. And eating turned into a fun moment, not a time of stress.
Of course if we can reduce our sugar intake when we can, we should. When I decided to stop adding sugar to my coffee, it took planning and willingness. To this day, every time I have my morning cup, I still thank myself for this decision. When I read studies on NSS, I’m grateful I stopped dieting and focused on eating well instead. Nowadays, when I look at ingredients I stay away from those that promise weight-loss, but those that nourish.
