There are different types of sweeteners, including natural ones like stevia, and the most commonly consumed artificial sweeteners are Aspartame, Ace K, Saccharin, and Sucralyze.

Artificial sweeteners are used to reduce calorie intake and prevent large peaks and dips in blood glucose, which are associated with unfavorable health effects.

They can also have a positive effect on oral health, but concerns about cancer risk and effects on glucose control and the microbiome are not strongly supported by evidence.

Dr. Sarah Berry mentions a recent paper from the Wiseman Institute showing that sucralose and saccharin impaired blood glucose control, while aspartame and a control had no effect.

Changing from full sugar drinks to low calorie alternatives with artificial sweeteners will have either no effect or only a small effect on energy intake and body weight, according to Dr. Sarah Berry.

Studies tend to show that over a 24-hour period, energy intake remains the same irrespective of whether full sugar drinks are swapped with artificially sweetened drinks.

Dr. Sarah Berry emphasizes the need to reduce sugar intake, as adults in the US consume an average of 77 grams of sugar a day, well above the recommended amount.

She suggests replacing sugary drinks with water or milk, but acknowledges that people often prefer alternatives with the same taste and consistency, such as artificially sweetened drinks.

Jonathan Wolfe raises concerns about the failure of the scientific experiment to reduce sugar with sweeteners, as obesity rates continued to rise. He also highlights the hidden nature of sweeteners in many foods.

Both agree that the impact of artificial sweeteners on health and weight management is not fully understood, but consider them a better alternative to full sugar drinks. They emphasize the need for more evidence and the rapidly changing nature of the science in this area.