More and more people want to reduce sugar – in everyday life, at the office, and during sport. 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 are constantly coming onto the market, which are supposedly meant to improve everything.

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

1. What actually is sugar?

“Sugar” is a collective term for various sweet carbohydrates. Classic household sugar (sucrose) provides energy and ensures the typical sweet taste. However, it is also suspected of promoting overweight, 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 is the difference?

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

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

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

Advantages of substitutes:

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

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

• Dental friendliness: A plus for health prevention 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 control. A clear long-term advantage has not been proven. [1], [2]

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

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

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

4. Do sugar substitutes lead to cognitive decline? Focus on productivity in the workplace.

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

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

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

5. Orientation in the jungle of terms

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

These distinctions are essential for correctly classifying advertising for Beverages without sugar.

6. What does this mean for your conscious consumption at 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 beverages as a clear standard option.

• Choose sweetness consciously: Help your team reduce habituation to the sweet taste.

• Control quantity and frequency: Communicate transparently: sugar-free is not a free pass.

Conclusion: Only with transparency, conscious handling, and true choice can sugar consumption be reduced risk-free without sacrificing enjoyment.

This is how you achieve the healthy beverage mix at the office:

At Re:Drink, we rely on natural fruit sugar and eliminate sweeteners and flavour 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 customise 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: Evidence 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: Indication of the “justification effect” and the resulting compensation. https://www.missionhealth.org/patient-resources

[7] Medical News Today / Neurology: Large study on the association between 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 harmless in approved quantities. https://www.gutefrage.net/frage/quellenlinks-in-word-einfuegen

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