“Sugar-free” might sound healthy, but a new study hints that people who consume a lot of artificial sweeteners may face a slightly higher cancer risk. Experts stressed that the findings do not prove sugar substitutes are the culprit. But they said it is wise for people to limit not only added sugars, but also the processed foods that carry sugar-free boasts. The study, of more than 100,000 French adults, found that the roughly one-fifth with the highest intake of artificial sweeteners were 13% more likely than non-consumers to be diagnosed with cancer. The risks were specifically seen with cancers where obesity is thought to play a role — including breast, colon and ovarian cancers. Over the years, lab research has suggested that artificial sweeteners are capable of promoting cancer — possibly by feeding chronic inflammation in the body, contributing to DNA damage, or affecting the composition of bacteria in the gut. Meanwhile, some studies …