Can Artificial Sweeteners Cause Obesity?

            At first glance, it makes sense that as obesity rates skyrocket, so does the consumption of artificial, no-calorie sweeteners.  Obesity is similar to a U.F.O. sighting; everyone has a different theory.  Some people say it’s too much fat, some say it’s due to too many carbohydrates, and others say it’s all in our genes.  It seems that the dramatic growth in popularity of artificial sweeteners is a side-effect of the rise in obesity but, could it be the other way around?  Could obesity be a side-effect of the consumption of fake sugar?  Look at it this way, if artificial sweeteners were doing anything at all to help people lose weight, why is the obesity rate at an all-time high, despite the increased consumption of these chemical concoctions?

The theory is that sugar substitutes may cause people to overeat by interfering with the brain’s natural ability to measure calories.  Experiments on rats have proved this theory to be correct and the findings were published in February 2007 in a journal titled Behavioral Neuroscience. 

The rats were fed either artificially sweetened yogurt or yogurt sweetened with real sugar, in addition to their normal rodent diet.  The rats fed the artificially sweetened yogurt gained more weight and also seemed to lose their natural ability to keep track of the calories they did eat.  The reduced ability to regulate calories was seen in as little as ten days. 

In nature, sweet tastes are associated with higher calories and the brain uses taste to predict the caloric value of foods.  When a no-calorie sweetener is consumed, this natural mechanism is confused because sweet tastes usually mean higher calories and yet, the sweetener contains zero calories.  Chronic consumption of artificial sweeteners, like drinking a diet soda every day, can permanently deprogram you body’s natural calorie-counting mechanism and lead to chronic overeating and weight-gain.

Bottom line here is to stick with the real thing.  Stevia is an excellent choice for those looking for a natural no-calorie sweetener.  The best sweeteners are raw sugar or raw honey.

You may also want The Truth About High-Fructose Corn Syrup before you go shopping.

Yours in Natural Health,

Viny A. DErrico

Natural Health Expert  
NSP ID# 2183432-7           


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