Are artificial sweeteners bad for you?
In moderation, the answer is no. Artificial sweeteners are not bad for you. However, we don’t know for sure if they have any long-term consequences when consumed in large amounts. Because of this I have a few pieces of guidance when it comes to artificial sweeteners.
Consider this. The maximum daily intake of sugar recommended for a teenager is less than 6 teaspoons a day (or 25 grams). A single 12oz can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar. For this reason I always say that if you’re going to drink soda, drink diet OR limit yourself to one or two a week.
Don’t be tempted to go for the sports drinks as a healthy alternative. A 20oz Gatorade has the same amount of sugar as a can of Coke. Go for the low-calorie or zero calorie option if you must indulge OR limit yourself to one or two per week.
Watch your “coffee” intake as well. A tall caramel Frappuccino from Starbucks has 36g of sugar. You’re probably buzzed from the sugar high rather than the caffeine.
It’s recommended that teenagers drink at least 2 liters of water a day (or more if you’re physically active or ill). If you really don’t care for plain water, artificially-sweetened drinks can help get that fluid consumption up.
When in doubt, drink water.
Why do we even care about sugar? We can dive into this in more detail another time, but there are known, factual negative health effects of consuming too much sugar. (Notice I said “too much.” Some is okay!) Diabetes, dental problems and liver disease are just a few of the reasons why it’s good to keep the amount of sugar you eat and drink in check. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, artificial sweeteners can help!
