NEWS: WHO reveals sweet scandal—warns against using Artificial Sweeteners for weight loss

By: Christina Sandra Singh

In a shocking turn of events, the World Health Organization (WHO) has just dropped a bombshell on the dieting world. Brace yourselves, folks, because those zero-calorie non-sugar sweeteners you thought were your secret weapon against excess weight? Turns out they’re about as useful as a chocolate teapot! According to the WHO, natural sweeteners like stevia and erythritol, as well as artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, have been caught red-handed in a grand scheme to sabotage our gut health. Yes, you heard it right, these sneaky low-calorie alternatives are messing with our precious gut microbiome, which is like our own personal superhero fighting off diseases and ensuring proper digestion. Say it ain’t so, sweeteners! Not only are these impostor sweeteners failing to help us shed those pesky pounds, but they’re also wreaking havoc on our well-being. The WHO warns that long-term usage of these sugar substitutes could lead to a laundry list of health issues, including a higher risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular defects, skyrocketing blood sugar levels, and even the dreaded bloating and diarrhea combo. Yikes! Who knew a sweet tooth could be so treacherous? 

Why WHO warns to use artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar? 

Francesco Branca, the Director for Food Safety and Nutrition at the WHO, had some stern words for all you sweet-toothed warriors out there. His advice? Reduce the sweetness in your life altogether! Instead of falling for the false promises of artificial sweetness, he suggests turning to natural fruit sugars or, brace yourselves, embracing the concept of food and beverages without any sweetness at all. Gasp! But fear not, dear sugar lovers, for there is a silver lining. The WHO acknowledges that type-2 diabetic patients, who are trapped in the sugar struggle, may have no choice but to dabble with these synthetic sugar substitutes. Talk about a bitter (or should we say “not-so-sweet”) compromise! Joining the WHO in their crusade against sweet impostors is the American Heart Association (AHA). They’re waving the fruity flag, advocating for the consumption of sweetness found in good ol’ fruits and vegetables. It seems they believe that biting into an apple is far superior to sipping on a diet soda that could potentially turn us into walking sugar bombs. Can you blame them? In the midst of this sweet scandal, one thing is clear: our taste buds have been betrayed. It’s time to read those food labels with the intensity of Sherlock Holmes, my friends. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, the ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, advises us to scrutinize every detail before tossing that deceivingly sweet loaf of bread or that yogurt masked with a sugary smile into our shopping carts. Beware, for added sugars lurk in the most unexpected places! To add insult to injury, even the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are shaking their finger at us. They demand that we limit our added sugars intake to less than 10% of our total calorie intake per day. That’s like telling a kid they can have just one piece of candy from the entire Halloween stash. Cruel and unusual punishment, we say! So, dear readers, it’s time to bid farewell to the sweet illusion of artificial sweetness.

 Let’s embark on a journey of rediscovering the true taste of nature’s sweet wonders, bidding adieu to these sugar substitutes that have duped us for far too long. Remember, life is sweeter when we savor the genuine flavors, one juicy bite at a time. 

Edited and Published by: Ashwin