Complete abstinence is not necessary

Nobody has to give up sweets completely. Everyone can do something themselves to limit their sugar consumption. For example, the amount of sugar specified in recipes can usually be easily reduced when cooking or baking without having a significant impact on flavour. Researchers are also looking for substances that are able to enhance the flavour of sugar. If you want to reduce your sugar intake today rather than tomorrow, you should above all avoid ready-made products, which often contain large amounts of sugar. The best way to achieve a healthy sweet intake is to eat a balanced diet with fresh products. It ensures a sufficient intake of fibre, so that blood sugar spikes that fuel the craving for sweets are avoided.

Many consumers are not happy with sweeteners as sugar substitutes. They not only activate the sweet receptors, but also some bitter receptors. This is the reason why they often have a bitter aftertaste. However, some sweeteners even act as bitter blockers, as Behrens’ Taste & Odour Systems Reception working group found out. Researching the effect of individual sweeteners in more detail could help to find the optimal sweetener mix so that sweets give us a sense of well-being even without sugar and calories.