Sweet salvation? Scientists at Tufts University have discovered a way to produce a safe dupe for sucrose, AKA table sugar. Better yet, the sweet stuff has significantly fewer calories, minimal impact on blood sugar, and may even have potential benefits for oral and gut health. Unlike artificial sweeteners, tagatose is a naturally occurring sugar found … Read more
A new way to beat back the bald? While over 80% of men and nearly half of women experience significant hair loss, going bald isn’t completely inevitable. One of the most popular treatments, Rogaine, is proven to stimulate follicles. Recent research finds that adding an extra ingredient to the over-the-counter foam can give tresses a … Read more
This discovery might leave a bad taste in your mouth. A new study found that a popular low-calorie sweetener commonly used in sugar-free gum, candies and diet-friendly baked goods may increase your risk of developing a serious liver disease. The chronic illness already affects 1 in 3 American adults and is rising fast among children, … Read more
A household sweetener could hold the potential to create an anti-cancer treatment. New research from Hiroshima University in Japan revealed that stevia leaf extract could help fight pancreatic cancer cells. The leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana) are used to make stevia extract, a naturally sweet substance commonly used as a sugar substitute. The study, published … Read more
No sugarcoating this deflating news. New research in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives is raising concerns about sucralose — a widely used artificial sweetener sold under the brand name Splenda — suggesting it may negatively affect male fertility. New research suggests sucralose — a widely used artificial sweetener — may negatively impact male fertility. Laurentiu … Read more
Step aside, stevia — there’s a new natural sweetener sneaking into the smoothies of the health-conscious. This South American superfruit — once prized by ancient civilizations — has yellow-to-orange flesh and boasts flavors resembling sweet potato, caramel and maple syrup. In the Andean valley of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador — where it originates — it’s … Read more
Not all zero-calorie sugar substitutes are as sweet as they might seem. New research suggests that sucralose — one of the most popular artificial sweeteners on the market — messes with a brain region responsible for controlling hunger, particularly in people with obesity. The finding raises new questions about whether sugar alternatives, used by around … Read more
Nothing is safe, folks, not even toothpaste. A recent study suggests that a low-calorie sweetener found in hundreds of popular snacks, toothpaste and gum may raise the risk of a stroke or heart attack. Low-calorie sugar substitute xylitol was initially hailed as a healthy alternative because the sugar alcohol exists naturally, in small amounts, in … Read more
This news is more sour than sweet. A new-generation artificial sweetener — used in a variety of kids lip balms among other products — might be damaging your gut. Neotame, which can be found in fizzy drinks, chewing gum, ice cream, and flavored lip balms, can trigger IBS or even sepsis, according to new research … Read more
Two food-safety titans are clashing over aspartame, the artificial sweetener found in Diet Coke, sugar-free gum and dozens of other popular products. The World Health Organization said this week aspartame is “possibly carcinogenic,” or a cancer-causing agent. But that listing doesn’t mean that aspartame is definitely a cause of cancer, so it’s not in the … Read more
The artificial sweetener aspartame might soon be declared a “possible carcinogen,” or cancer-causing agent, according to a leaked report from the World Health Organization. Aspartame is used in Diet Coke, Coke Zero, chewing gum, diet Snapple, breakfast cereals, ice cream and many other common food and drinks. It’s also sold as NutraSweet, Equal and Sugar … Read more