MNT also posed the same question to Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who was also not involved with the study.
“When possible, I recommend choosing naturally sweet foods, such as whole fruit, which provide sweetness along with fiber and other beneficial nutrients,” he said.
Chen also noted that artificial sweeteners can still have a practical role for people with diabetes because they generally produce a smaller immediate increase in blood glucose than sugar.
“However, avoiding a short-term glucose spike does not necessarily mean that consuming large amounts of artificial sweeteners is beneficial for long-term health,” he said.
“The bigger picture matters: overall dietary quality, portion sizes, physical activity, weight management, and blood glucose control are all important components of cardiovascular health,” Chen concluded.