Level 4: Noncalorically Sweetened Beverages

The noncalorically sweetened beverages (diet sodas and other “diet” drinks) are preferable to calorically sweetened beverages because they provide water and sweetness, but no calories. FDA-approved noncaloric sweeteners are considered safe, although other than FDA surveillance data there is no evidence from long-term studies in humans available to this panel. Beverages sweetened with noncaloric sweeteners were associated with weight loss when ingested in amounts similar to calorically sweetened beverages, where weight gain and increased blood pressure occurred. A new literature is emerging that seems to suggest that the high sweetness in these beverages may contribute to conditioning for a high preference for sweetness, and thus these noncalorically sweetened beverages would be less desirable than water, tea, or coffee.

The panel recommends 0-32 fluid ounces of noncalorically sweetened beverages daily (could substitute for tea and coffee with the same limitations regarding caffeine).

Calories and Caffeine Content of Noncalorically Sweetened Beverages