Artificial Sweeteners May Be the Weight Gain Culprit!

Artificial Sweeteners May Be the Weight Gain Culprit!

03/02/08

Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium (also known as ACK, Sweet One and Sunett), Sucralose (also known as Splenda), and Neotame (similar to aspartame)… seems everyone has their favorite low-calorie sugar substitute.

However, controversy continues to surround these artificial sweeteners. But this time it's not the question of a cancer link. Most calorie–conscious people have accepted the industries claims of the safety of these sweeteners. Even the National Cancer Institute states that "there is no clear evidence that the artificial sweeteners on the market in the United States are related to cancer risk in humans." Of course, time will tell if that is in fact the case. So if not cancer, what’s the problem now?

The Obesity Culprit
A recent study published in the Behavioral Neuroscience indicated that artificial sweeteners may be linked to the steady rise in obesity rates. That's right! That low/no-calorie artificial sweetener could be making you fat!

It is speculated that over time, artificial sweeteners condition the body to disassociate sweetness from calories. This is believed to disrupt the body's ability to accurately assess caloric intake, which leads to overeating and weight gain.

Granted this was a small study, conducted on only 27 rats, however, that's no reason to disregard the implications. According to researcher Susan Swithers, Ph.D., "If this is the case in rats, there is little reason to think that humans don't have this same response... It is possible that consuming these products interferes with one of the mechanisms that helps to regulate weight."

This isn't the first time artificial sweeteners have been linked to weight gain. A previous study by the same researchers indicated that artificial sweeteners may also "blunt the energy expenditure mechanism as well." Swithers noted that the "saccharin-conditioned rats had slightly lower energy expenditures after eating a high-calorie meal containing sugar."

The steady increase in obesity rates coupled with a rapid increase in our appetite for low-calorie products containing artificial sweeteners certainly gives added credibility to these studies.

A Safe, Natural Sugar Substitute
Studies such as these have already encouraged the food and beverage industry to look for safe and natural non-caloric sweeteners, including stevia. Stevia has long been the sweetener of choice by many diabetics and those looking to reduce their caloric intake. But in recent years it has also caught the attention of the food and beverage industry. Celestial Seasonings uses stevia in one of its iced tea mixes and in May 2007, Coca-Cola and Cargill announced that they've been developing a new stevia-based sweetener to be used in their beverages and foods.

So there's still hope for those who want to cut calories without giving up their favorite foods and beverages. Perhaps in time, stevia will replace these artificial sweeteners and we'll all be able to have our cake and eat it too!

Be well,
Medicine Plants

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