“Sugar-Free” Sweetener RAISES Cancer Risk

Eating too much sugar—in the form of pizza, pastries, sweets, breads, pasta, you-name-it—can contribute to obesity.

And obesity has been linked to more than 13 different types of cancer.

I don’t blame you for wanting to lower your weight OR your cancer risk.

But switching to “zero-calorie” or “sugar-free” options is NOT the way to do it.

Past observational studies have found that using artificial sweeteners is tied to an increased risk of cancer. In addition, animal studies and in vitro studies have suggested that artificial sweeteners are carcinogenic.

Unfortunately, these studies haven’t been strong enough to convince any of the food regulation agencies (either in the US or abroad) to put a ban on them.

Now, in one of the largest studies to date, researchers studied the connection between artificial sweeteners and cancer risk in more than 100,000 adults.

They assessed artificial sweetener intake using results from 24-hour dietary records. The main products that included the sweeteners were sodas (think “diet soda”), yogurts (think “sugar-free” varieties), and table-top sweeteners (the pink, yellow, and blue packets).

Results showed that people who consumed the most artificial sweeteners had an overall increased risk of cancer, compared with those who didn’t consume the stuff.

Aspartame in particular was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and obesity-related cancers.

I’m all for cutting sugar out of your diet.

Just don’t substitute something bad for something worse.

P.S. If you want to stay ahead of cancer, you can start by avoiding lifestyle factors that are proven to send your cancer risk through the roof. Click here to find out more about these lifestyle factors.