Food colourings
February 5, 2020
Syrups
February 5, 2020
A group of independent experts met at the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) Conference, to discuss scientific tests conducted into the benefits of ‘low-calorie’ and ‘zero-calorie’ sweeteners based on different studies.
The main conclusions of this scientific meeting were collated into a Consensus Statement on the benefits of ‘low-calorie’ and ‘zero-calorie’ sweeteners published in ‘Nutrition Bulletin’, the British Nutrition Foundation’s a scientific journal.
According to ‘Salud’ the health supplement published by newspaper La Razón, these are the main benefits of these substances:
The five benefits of sweeteners:
- They don't increase appetite and have no noticeable impact on the feeling of fullness.
A sweet tooth is something we are all born with, but scientific studies do not suggest that sweeteners don’t stimulate the appetite. In fact, they can satisfy cravings for something sweet and help with weight-reducing diets. - They help to reduce calorie intake.
‘Low-calorie’ and ‘zero-calorie’ sweeteners are possibly more beneficial in drinks (where sugar is the main or only source of energy) than in foods, where other macro-nutrients are needed to replace the sugar and provide fibre. Ad libitum energy intake tends to be lower with low-calorie and zero-calorie sweeteners because people only partially offset the missing calories. This offsetting depends on many factors related to the format and quantity, as well as the period of time and personal factors. - They can help with weight loss when used as part of a weight loss programme.
Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have concluded that using low-calorie and zero-calorie sweeteners to replace sugar can result in modest weight loss (<1kg over several weeks). According to a recent randomised study, drinks with low-calorie and zero-calorie sweeteners can lead to superior weight loss over three weeks compared to water. - They have a beneficial effect on postprandial glucose and insulin in healthy individuals and people with diabetes. The European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) recently acknowledged that low-calorie and zero-calorie sweeteners help to reduce the postprandial glycaemic response.
Maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for the proper control of diabetes, so low-calorie and zero-calorie sweeteners can also make it easier for diabetics to control their weight. - They are also beneficial for oral health when used in food and drinks. The EFSA has approved the statement that low-calorie and zero-calorie sweeteners can reduce tooth demineralisation.
More information about sweeteners?
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