Zero drinks are easily found in convenience stores and marts these days, along with drinks that are not completely calorie-free, but less than kcal per 100ml. When it comes to zero drinks, instead of using sugar, which is high in calories, they are sweetened with artificial sweeteners, allowing you to enjoy them without any calorie burden.

It tastes sweet but is not absorbed by the body, making it the best drink for dieters. With the recent hot weather and the rapidly growing interest in health, "Zero" is a hot trend not only for soda and ice cream, but also for alcoholic beverages such as soju and beer.

Are these zero-drink products okay for your body? Recently, the WHO, the World Health Organization, recommended not to drink zero drinks for weight control. In the long run, artificial sweeteners have no diet effect and harmful to health.

There was also a position against this view. The FDA says it is harmless to the human body if you don't consume more than the recommended dose, and it's okay if you don't consume it every day.

If you're going to drink it anyway, it's not bad to choose zero drink. However, the problem is that the possibility of eating more processed foods increases with the idea that "it will be okay because it's zero." Experts stress that food companies should not deceive consumers with over the top zero product marketing. This is because it can lead consumers to the conclusion that zero drinks offer health benefits.

In conclusion, it is challenging to definitely state that artificial sweeteners are beneficial to health. However, there is no harm in controlling and consuming only an appropriate amount of sugar. By choosing zero drinks or sugar-free alternatives, you can effectively reduce your sugar intake compared to consuming the same number of sugar-containing products.

L.L.F reporter Eun-su Kang