More and more people want to reduce sugar – in everyday life, in the office, during sports. But terms like sugar-free, reduced sugar, or no added sugar often confuse more than they help. At the same time, new sugar substitutes and sweeteners constantly hit the market, claiming to make everything better.

But what is really behind this? And which choice is sensible for your workforce in the long term?

1. What exactly is sugar?

"Sugar" is a collective term for various sweet carbohydrates. Traditional household sugar (sucrose) provides energy and gives the typical sweet taste. However, it is also suspected of promoting obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental problems when consumed excessively – risks you want to minimize in a healthy working environment.

2. What are sugar substitutes and sweeteners – what's the difference?

Sugar substitutes are sweetening agents that mimic the taste of sugar – but contain fewer or no calories.

3. Sugar Substitute vs. Real Sugar – Pros and Cons

As a person responsible for employee health, you must weigh the arguments:

Advantages of Substitutes:

• Reduced calorie intake: Substitutes provide hardly any or significantly fewer calories and can help with weight management in the short term. [2]

• No strong blood sugar spike: Relevant for employees at risk of diabetes.

• Cavity and tooth-friendliness: A plus for health care in the company.

Critical aspects & disadvantages you should consider:

• Long-term benefits disputed: The WHO explicitly advises against recommending non-sugar sweeteners for long-term weight management. A clear advantage in the long term is not proven. [1], [2]

• Possible metabolic risks: Studies have found associations between high sweetener consumption and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. [3] There is also new evidence for some sugar alcohols indicating increased risks for heart problems. [4]

• Gut flora & appetite: NNS can affect the gut microbiome. Additionally, the sweet taste without calories can disrupt the appetite system, leading to the so-called "justification effect." [5], [6]

• Psychological effect (compensation): When you consume light or zero products, you may feel that you have "saved calories" and eat or drink more elsewhere. This compensation can negate the health benefit. [6]

4. Does sugar substitute lead to cognitive decline? Focus on workplace productivity.

Especially in the office environment, cognitive performance is crucial. High sugar consumption is associated with poorer memory and thinking functions.

But caution is also advised with sweeteners: A recent large study associated high consumption of low-/no-calorie sweeteners with faster cognitive decline. [7]

Safety: Most sweeteners are considered safe in the EU in permitted amounts. Nevertheless, research talks about associations, not causality. [7]

5. Navigating the terminology jungle

As a buyer or responsible person, you must know what the labels mean.

These distinctions are essential to correctly classify advertising for Beverages without sugar.

6. What does this mean for your conscious consumption in the office?

Your best strategy is transparency and control. Whether sugar or substitute – the total amount and frequency count.

Your action recommendations for the office:

• Establish a basis: Offer water and unsweetened drinks as clear standard options.

• Choose sweetness consciously: Help your team reduce the habit of sweet tastes.

• Regulate amount and frequency: Communicate transparently: Sugar-free is not a free pass.

Conclusion: Only with transparency, conscious handling, and real freedom of choice can sugar consumption be reduced risk-free without forgoing enjoyment.

This is how you succeed with the healthy Beverages mix in the office:

At Re:Drink, we focus on natural fruit sugar and eliminate sweeteners and flavor enhancers. We create the opportunity for everyone to decide how much of it goes into the drink.

With Re:Drink, you keep an eye on sugar consumption and decide how sweet your drink should be – from mild to intense in 5 stages. Try it out and customize your drink at the touch of a button according to your taste!

🔍 Sources (Endnotes)

[1] World Health Organization (WHO): Recommendation against the long-term use of non-sugar sweeteners (as of May 2023). https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/themen/internationale-gesundheitspolitik/global/who.html

[2] Mayo Clinic; World Health Organization (WHO): Studies on short-term benefits vs. long-term unclear benefits. https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials

[3] BMJ: Review of associations with cardiovascular diseases. https://www.bmz.de/de/mitmachen/studierende-16516

[4] European Heart Journal / Nature Medicine: Studies on increased risk from Xylitol and Erythritol. https://reposit.haw-hamburg.de/bitstream/20.500.12738/7245/1/Kristina_Roos_BA.pdf

[5] PMC/BfR: Indications of effects on the gut microbiome. https://www.hirslanden.ch/de/hirslanden-klinik-aarau/centers/institut-fuer-gastroenterologie/darmflora-interview-mit-stephan-teyssen.html

[6] Mission Health: Note on the "justification effect" and the resulting compensation. https://www.missionhealth.org/patient-resources

[7] Medical News Today / Neurology: Large study on the association of high consumption of low-/no-calorie sweeteners with faster cognitive decline. https://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/was-passiert-bei-einer-neurologischen-untersuchung.html

[8] IARC / cancer.gov / Harvard Health: Classification of aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic," but safe in approved amounts. https://www.gutefrage.net/frage/quellenlinks-in-word-einfuegen

[9] MDPI / Thieme: Reviews associating high sugar consumption with poorer memory and thinking functions. https://www.sf.mpg.de/2078461/Wie-beeinflusst-Zucker-unser-Gehirn