Non-Sugar Sweeteners [UPSC Notes]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines that discourage the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) for weight loss or reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In this article, you can read about non-sugar sweeteners and their types. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam health segment of GS paper II.

What are Non-Sugar Sweeteners?

Non-sugar sweeteners, also known as sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners, are substances used as alternatives to traditional sugar to provide sweetness to food and beverages. They are often used by people who are trying to lose weight or control their blood sugar levels.

• There are two main types of non-sugar sweeteners: artificial sweeteners and natural sweeteners.
• Artificial Sweeteners:
  • Artificial sweeteners are chemically synthesized compounds that provide sweetness without the calories associated with traditional sugar.
  • Common examples include aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium.
  • They are intensely sweet, often several hundred times sweeter than sugar, so smaller amounts are required for the desired level of sweetness.
• Natural Sweeteners:
  • Natural sweeteners are derived from plant sources and offer an alternative to sugar.
  • Examples include stevia extract, derived from the stevia plant, and monk fruit extract, obtained from the monk fruit.
  • These sweeteners provide sweetness with minimal or no calories and are considered “natural” due to their plant-based origin.

WHO Guidelines on Non-Sugar Sweeteners

The guidelines, which are based on a careful examination of available information, discovered that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) do not provide any long-term advantages in reducing body fat for adults or children. 

• In fact, the examination revealed that there might be potential negative effects associated with using NSS for an extended period, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that individuals should lower their consumption of free sugars, which include added sugars and sugars naturally found in honey, syrups, and fruit juices. 
• Instead, it is recommended to consume foods that contain naturally occurring sugars, such as fruits, or opt for unsweetened food and beverages.
• These guidelines are part of a collection of existing and upcoming guidelines on healthy diets. 
• They aim to establish healthy eating habits throughout one’s life, improve the quality of the diet, and decrease the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on a global scale.

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