We’re a sweet-toothed nation, eating far too much sugar for our own good.
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 2020.
Part of the solution includes reformulating foods with sugar replacements.
Artificial sweeteners give a sweet taste with few or no calories.
But are they healthier?
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 about nine cubes of sugar – more than an adult’s daily allowance – 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.
Source: BBC news
