Artificially Sweetened Drinks Can Have a Place in a Healthy Diet
There are, in general,
three approaches to weight loss and weight
management. The three approaches are lifestyle
modification, including diet and exercise, weight
loss surgery, and obesity drugs. Diet, with
exercise, is often the first approach to weight
loss. And some people use artificially sweetened
drinks as part of their diet, since reducing the
calorie intake is almost always a key factor in any
attempt to lose weight. But artificially sweetened
drinks are not always deemed appropriate for weight
loss.
There are reasons why artificially sweetened drinks are not always deemed appropriate. Among the reasons is that sugar substitutes are sometimes considered to be dangerous. In fact, one article suggests that five of the substitutes are dangerous and have been approved for consumer use. The sweeteners are "saccharin, neotame, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, and sucralose. Of the five [sweetners], sucralose and aspartame are the most pervasive and dangerous substitutes found in products on store shelves today."
Moreover, at least one study links weight gain to artificial sweeteners. In a 2008 Purdue study, researchers concluded that 'sweet foods may prompt the body to get ready to take in a lot of calories, but when sweetness in the form of artificial sweeteners is not followed by a large amount of calories, the body gets confused, which may lead to eating more or expending less energy than normal.' And this could lead to weight gain.
Finally, some rat studies indicate that at least one artificial sweetner causes cancer. A 2006 Science Daily article concluded that "A statistically significant increase in the incidence of malignant tumors, lymphomas and leukemias in rats exposed to varying doses of aspartame appears to link the artificial sweetener to a high carcinogenicity rate.."
On the other hand, "according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems."
And a recent study shows that sugar sweetened drinks are no more harmful or helpful than sugary drinks. Indeed, 'It’s looking like there’s not good scientific support to make really strong conclusions about the role of the diet beverages in either helping people or potentially causing harm.'
Like everything else, the use of sugar sweetened drinks should be done in moderation and with prudence. Further, under the right set of circumstances, in the right diet, artificial sweeteners can be a useful tool for weight loss as part of a healthy diet.
There are reasons why artificially sweetened drinks are not always deemed appropriate. Among the reasons is that sugar substitutes are sometimes considered to be dangerous. In fact, one article suggests that five of the substitutes are dangerous and have been approved for consumer use. The sweeteners are "saccharin, neotame, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, and sucralose. Of the five [sweetners], sucralose and aspartame are the most pervasive and dangerous substitutes found in products on store shelves today."
Moreover, at least one study links weight gain to artificial sweeteners. In a 2008 Purdue study, researchers concluded that 'sweet foods may prompt the body to get ready to take in a lot of calories, but when sweetness in the form of artificial sweeteners is not followed by a large amount of calories, the body gets confused, which may lead to eating more or expending less energy than normal.' And this could lead to weight gain.
Finally, some rat studies indicate that at least one artificial sweetner causes cancer. A 2006 Science Daily article concluded that "A statistically significant increase in the incidence of malignant tumors, lymphomas and leukemias in rats exposed to varying doses of aspartame appears to link the artificial sweetener to a high carcinogenicity rate.."
On the other hand, "according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems."
And a recent study shows that sugar sweetened drinks are no more harmful or helpful than sugary drinks. Indeed, 'It’s looking like there’s not good scientific support to make really strong conclusions about the role of the diet beverages in either helping people or potentially causing harm.'
Like everything else, the use of sugar sweetened drinks should be done in moderation and with prudence. Further, under the right set of circumstances, in the right diet, artificial sweeteners can be a useful tool for weight loss as part of a healthy diet.
(Please leave a comment by clicking on the "COMMENTS" link at the lower right part of this blog post. SUBSCRIBE to this blog by scrolling to the bottom of this page and entering your email address.)
-------------------------------------------------------
Tags: , ,
posted by Information Uncover at
10:09 AM
Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home