India, April 9 -- Who doesn't want to be healthier? We've been told for many years to cut down on our consumption of sugar, and many of us embraced non-sugar sweeteners. But there's an emerging consensus that non-sugar sweeteners are not a healthy option. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines in 2022, advising against using non-sugar sweeteners for weight control or to reduce the risk of diseases commonly linked to obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease.

So, how did we get here and what's the science behind the changing views?

With obesity linked to severe health risks, health experts advised cutting down on free sugars. Around two decades ago, I started to consume soft drinks and beverages containing non...