A new study points the finger again on light drinks and in particular on those that use these two artificial sweeteners
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousLe sugar-free drink they do more harm to health than you could have imagined. They are zero calories, but new research shows how some additives are present in the artificial sweeteners they can increase the risk of developing breast cancer e obesity. (Read also: How aspartame and artificial sweeteners increase cancer risk, according to a French study)
The food industry uses artificial sweeteners as an alternative to added sugars, however, the safety of these food additives is questioned by numerous experts as their carcinogenicity has been suggested by several experimental studies, even if solid epidemiological evidence is lacking. Let's learn more about what the results of the study published in the academic journal PLOS Medicine tell us.
A systematic review
The research analyzed nutrition and health data from 102.865 French adults over a period of approximately 8 years and examined how the consumption of different artificial sweeteners affected the risk of various types of cancer.
The study found that two types of sweeteners in particular, Aspartame e acesulfame-K, had a higher risk of breast cancer and obesity when consumed in large quantities.
- Aspartame is an artificial sweetener consisting of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and is characterized by a higher sweetening power than sucrose, which is why we find it among the ingredients of snacks, carbonated drinks, yogurt, ice cream and chewing-gum.
- Acesulfame K ("K" as the chemical symbol of potassium) has a sweetening power 200 times greater than that of sucrose and we find it above all in baked pastry products, long-life foods and carbonated drinks.
Previous studies had linked aspartame with the increase in blood sugar levels and with the risk of insulin insensitivity, however acesulfame K has previously been linked to cancer andintolerance to glucose. However, the researchers wanted to remember that there is no real certainty between the causal relationship of these sweeteners and the development of cancer. Many of the patients who participated in the study also had other diet-related factors, such as not eating a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and, in addition, consuming much more sugary, processed and salty food.
Limiting the intake of sugar and artificial sweeteners is always the correct choice, especially to avoid the development of chronic diseases. Drinks like juices and smoothies are definitely healthier and still thirst-quenching alternatives.
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Photos: Plos Medicine
On artificial sweeteners you may also be interested in:
- No more aspartame in Pepsi Cola
- Aspartame: the damaging neurobehavioral effects in a new study
- Artificial sweeteners are more dangerous than you think, new study shows side effects on the gut microbiome as well
- Sweeteners, a terrible new side effect on the gut discovered
- Diet drinks are no better than sugary ones. Both increase the risk of heart disease
