Artificial Sweeteners And Weight Gain

The word ‘diet’, ‘low-fat’ and ‘calorie-wise’ may make you think that the food you are eating will help to keep your waistline slim, but is that really the case? Research into artificial sweeteners indicates that sugar substitutes might be causing more harm than good.

Part of the reason artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain is psychological. Most people tend to overindulge when having ‘low-calorie’ or ‘fat-free’ foods. This can lead to overconsumption of calories and eventual weight gain.

Artificial sweeteners can also alter the way your body processes food. Normally when you eat something sugary, the tongue signals the brain to produce more insulin to digest sugar. When you eat something with artificial sweeteners, the same process occurs, but there is no sugar for the insulin to digest. This can cause a signal to the brain to make you feel more hungry, which can lead to craving more sugar. Not only does this process lead to more eating, it confuses the body and how it reacts to sugar, which can eventually lead to diabetes.

Another reason why artificial sweeteners are bad for you is that they can alter your gut bacteria. This

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makes it more difficult for your body to digest foods and can lead to digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Next time, rather than reaching for the ‘no-fat’ or ‘low-fat’ food product promising empty calories, try something nutritious. More fat and less artificial sweetener can be the right choice for a healthy diet and can help you avoid chronic disease in the future.

Eat Whole, Eat Healthy!