Short and Sweet…ish
by Ariana Ayu, RN
December 2008

Zero-calorie beverages, sugar-free ice cream, equal, sweet n’ low, splenda…. With all of these options, shouldn’t we be a skinnier nation?

The truth is, diet sodas and artificial sweeteners do not prevent people from gaining weight. Studies (including ones from Purdue and University of Texas) have shown that artificial sweeteners actually trick the body into consuming more sugar and fattening food than we normally would after consuming sugar-containing foods or beverages.

If your body thinks it’s having a drink/snack with sugar in it, it expects to receive a certain amount of calories. When it does not receive the expected calories, it drives your body to consume more, so it gets the calories it was expecting. Not only that, but there’s the psychological ruse convincing us we don’t need to consume in moderation, we can have all-we-can-eat (which leads to unhealthy habits).

One diet soda a day increases your chance for weight gain. And how many other items do you consume with artificial sweeteners? Yogurt? Ice cream? Coffee?

So when you’re planning your holiday feasts, consider using natural (and even better, organic) sugar and practicing portion control. Savor every bite; don’t overindulge simply because you used a sugar-free (or fat-free) recipe. And if you’re diabetic or can’t have sugar, try a low-glycemic alternative like blue agave. It looks like honey, tastes like sugar, and won’t spike your blood sugar.

Let’s be realistic here. How often to you see fit, healthy people consuming diet sodas and fake sugar? It’s typically the overweight people who are downing diet sodas by the case.

Which is the chicken and which is the egg?

References & Links
WebMD
ABC News
Purdue
Eurekalert