161. Artificial sweeteners linked to increased risk of certain cancers
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame might be associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer. In a new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, French researchers analyzed data from over 100,000 adults. They found that the participants who consumed the most artificial sweeteners in their diets, especially aspartame and acesulfame-K, had higher risks of developing cancer, especially breast cancer and obesity-related cancer. This study doesn’t prove that these artificial sweeteners caused the cancers but were only associated with them. More large-scale studies are needed. Artificial sweeteners have become more popular in recent years with more attention being given to the health risks of excessive sugar. But these researchers argue their findings show that artificial sweeteners might not be safe alternatives for sugar in foods or beverages.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
