Doctor in the House: The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners?

How many of you go to a mamak and order a kopi or teh ais kurang manis? Or maybe you’ve chosen to switch to artificial sweeteners instead. Malaysians have long been warned about the need to cut down on our sugar intake, in a bid to tackle rising obesity rates and to reduce the risk of weight-related illnesses. But just last month, the WHO released new guidelines advising against using artificial sweeteners, as they likely do not help with obesity and could have adverse long-term effects instead. Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by dietitian Huong Ke Lin to break down what these guidelines mean for us and just how much sugar Malaysians need to stop consuming.

Image Credit: Shutterstock