To not understand why tons of people believe artificial sweeteners are more harmful than sugar?

[HavelockVetinari]

There is no scientific evidence to back up the various claims that it's addictive, carcinogenic...etc. Yet I'm always reading posts on social media that disparage sugar-free drinks as dangerous and harmful to health, without a shred of evidence being offered.

I do understand that some people dislike the taste (so-called 'supertasters' apparently experienced a bitter aftertaste) but that doesn't make it harmful!

Discover that several artificial sweeteners are personal migraine triggers and you start wondering why anyone thinks they are safe. Also, get angry whenever anyone uses them instead of sugar without telling you that you are about to ingest something that will make you ill.

I'm not convinced that there's no evidence. It just won't have been published. Very powerful lobbyists. Look how long it took with tobacco.

I'm not so-called. I actually can taste it. It tastes like shampoo from the 80s.
So I don't like it and it's now in nearly all drinks

Well they give me the shits from hell so that's enough reason for me, they don't taste nice either.

Same reason there are anti-vaxers and flat earthers.

Migraine inducing and bad for the kidneys.

Migraines, stomach issues, tastes like chemicals and makes my mouth dry. I don’t need “clinical evidence” when my body very clearly tells me it’s poison.

I'm not a "supertaster", but sometimes if I have a bottle of diet coke, I notice my lips taste very sweet and slightly chemically later in the day. Hmm.
In general though, there seems to be a high correlation between anti-sweetener and conspiracy theories memes when I see them in the wild.

I think artificial sweeteners taste vile.

Why do you think there are so many more brands of tonic water? And why Schweppes have brought out a version that is artificial sweetener free? They just kill the taste of a decent gin.

I hate the sickly aftertaste and the diarrhoea I get from artificial sweeteners. In the US they have claims that they cause cancer in rats on the packets.

I don't think there has been enough research to prove that they are completely safe and non addictive.

They taste VILE.

Last year I went sugar free for a few months. After that I treated myself to a can of San Pellegrino orange. First mouthful: that's weird. Second mouthful: I can't drink this any more. Came home and googled: yup, they'd started using artificial sweeteners since I last had one. I don't think I'm a super-taster, but I am not making that up.

One thing that I really hate is how so many squashes are labelled 'No artifical colours or flavourings' but fail to say 'Full of artificial sweeteners'. It's virtually impossible to buy normal squash without them these days. Bloody sugar tax.

They taste disgusting. Really vile.

A two second Google finds a Harvard article that quotes a couple of sources including a study that correlates sweeteners to an increase on metabolic disorders.

Whilst I don't believe all the hype around both sweetners and sugar it's silly to say there is no evidence.

I have several other peer reviewed studies but am on my phone.

Happy to be proved wrong though where is your empirical evidence for saying there are no studies? Or rather no one has proved any negative health link?

www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030

They give my already hyper child even more energy and a stinking headache, and they taste vile. I’d choose natural sugar over man made chemicals every day.

Honestly, I know rationally that there's no conclusive evidence on this and I've heard some rubbish on this (eg pilot's are banned from having it because it impairs brain function....I mean that's got to be bull shit).

But I just can't get my head around something that tastes so rank, so 'chemically' terrible, that gives me stomach ache and I'm never sure hasn't triggered shitty migraines, is ok to consume. Anecdotally I've seen individuals get really stroppy not getting their Diet Coke, people referred to consultants for terrible symptoms only to put them down to 'fake' sugars and its enough to sway me.

I can detect artificial sweeteners in food and drink immediately. I get a very dry throat and a headache-I feel almost like I have a cold coming on. I dont get migraines but the headache will continue to get worse if I keep on taking the sweetener.
I am not a flat earther or anti vaxer - what a ridiculous statement to make. These things make me ill and I dont have to read a label to tell me they are there.
I hate that they are in virtually every soft drink so that my choice is taken away.

Apparently terrible for gut health too. I just don’t get the point if them. They taste vile.

Shinyletsbebadguys you know correlation does not equal causation, right? Modern life has plenty of possible causes of an increase in metabolic disorders, why single out sweeteners?

All sorts of things trigger migraines in individuals. Doesn’t make them dangerous to the general population.

If anyone has a proper, peer-reviewed study they can link to I'll be truly amazed and may even eat one of my less-expensive hats.

I can taste them. I'm not a "supertaster" (if that's even a thing?) But I never had sweetener as a child and now the taste is very noticeable to me.

One gulp of my husbands NAS squash and I can taste sweetener all day, even if I brush my teeth or drink lots of water.

It annoys me that nearly all squash is no added sugar now. Even the ones with sugar also contain sweetener. There are only about 5 types of squash I can stomach and of course they're really expensive.

I read a very comprehensive study a few years ago that found no evidence of risk. I avoid them in a lot of things because I don't like the taste, but guzzle Pepsi Max like it's going out of fashion.

OP I agree with you. Anti AS is all a bit anti vaxx conspiracy theorist to my ears.

Also this constant they taste vile- they all taste different, and most are completely tasteless. Why are do so many people enjoy the taste of sugar cane without side effects but suddenly fall into a disgusted mess when faced with stevia?!

I just dont like the taste and some of them trigger my IBS so I avoid them. The trigger ones are the ones ending in OL.

Well apart from sugar free & artificial sweetened drinks tasting vile & not quenching my thirst, they also give me headaches & make me feel sick!
They also affect my daughter in the same way.

I am pro vaccination & believe the world is round Manclife1

However I would like to point out the diesel debacle. Remember how the government etc encouraged us all to switch to diesel cars as they were far more environmentally friendly than petrol cars? Well now that's definitely been proved wrong by scientific studies (particulates/air pollution/ill health)
I wouldn't be surprised that in the next 10/15 years there will be a backtrack & it will be proved that artificial sweeteners are more damaging than sugar.

How about reversing this and saying AIBU to think the sugar tax on drinks is unscientific and has unreasonably limited my buying choice?

In the supermarket you walk passed aisles of sugar-laden biscuits and sweets, then you get to the drinks aisle and they are all sugar-free. I used to buy about one small bottle of Ribena a month for the whole family. It was a nice treat and had strong associations of coming home after a tiring physical activity like cycling, a long walk or sport. The new tax-compliant version is truly vile. It makes me wretch. It also has six times as much salt. How is that good for anyone?

Sugar is a natural preservative and does not cause health problems if consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet and if teeth are cleaned regularly.