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Short and Sweet…ish
by Ariana Ayu, D.Sc., 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
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040630/artificial-sweeteners-damage-diet-efforts
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4271246&page=1
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2004/040629.Swithers.research.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-02/apa-asl020508.php
To order blue agave online:
https://www.youngliving.org/healerjen
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