Bittersweet Study — Can Fake Sugars Make you Fat?
5 CommentsIt all started in 2004 with a group of scientists who studied the effects of sugar substitutes, specifically saccharine based lo-cal sweeteners, on rats. 
In this controlled study, with findings reported and published this month in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, 2 groups of rats were given yogurt — one group with the sugar substitute and the other group with regular white table sugar. The group given the lo-cal sugar substitute gained weight while the other group that was given white table sugar did not.
The really interesting part to me, as cited in the journal, “…found that the calorie-free artificial sweetener appeared to break the physiological connection between sweet tastes and calories, driving the rats to overeat…” This is where we have to focus and get back to real food and how it works in the body. The body naturally craves sugar. But the fake sugar, or lo-cal substitutes, satisfy the initial taste need, i.e. Gee, my coffee tastes sweet… However, that doesn’t really quell the bodies innate need for sugar. So, you’re eating more and more to satisfy that need. The Los Angeles Times did a great, in-depth piece on the study as well as Time.
Personally, I’ve never been a fan of sugar-substitutes. They always felt too “chemically” to me and left a funny aftertaste. But - take a little test and see for yourself. (It’s the year of the rat, yet we are not rats…) If you use lo-cal sweeteners, drink diet sodas and still can’t lose weight, go off the fake sugar for awhile and substitute real sugar, honey, agave, or cane sugar. If some stubborn pounds shed with the switch, I’d take note.
And you know me — natural is better. (For my readers who might be managing diabetes or regulating sugar levels, please don’t make any switches before consulting your doctor.) If you take the switch, please report back and let me know how you fared.
Namaste,
Right on, Michelle. Natural is always better. Just remember moderation.
Agave Nectar is a great substitute and is perfect for baking. Simply substitute 2/3 cup Agave for 1 cup sugar. I make Banana Bread that way and it tastes wonderful!
Great! Now I can switch back to Hagen Daaz original. I just have to remember to eat less per serving…
[...] I wrote my post on the study citing the potential of fake sugars (saccharine) making you gain weight and not help lose or maintain weight, my friends started subtly [...]
Wow, Michelle, thanks for the info.
I never liked substitute sugar because of its after taste but never knew that it actually make you gain weight. I even cut out the white sugar and sitch to organic as much as I can. But cutting down on sugar consumption overall is my goal.
That’s great, Karen. Bottom line, white refined sugar we should definitely try to cut out/limit.