Can artificial sweeteners cause weight gain?
If you have been consuming foods or beverages with artificial sweeteners to lose weight you may want to think again… Although these foods contain no calories or fewer calories than food with sugar you may be craving more food later.
A recent study by Perdue University’s behavior research center compared rats given foods with sugar with rats given foods with artificial sweeteners. The rats given the artificial sweeteners later consumed more calories and gained more weight than those given sugar.
Even though these foods or beverages do not add calories to your diet, the body is tricked into thinking that it had something sweet, and as a result your appetite can increase.
Try these suggestions to reduce added sugar and artificial sweeteners from your diet:
1. Beverages without artificial sweeteners or added sugar include:
· Unsweetened iced tea with lemon,
· Water,
· Seltzer,
· Flavored seltzer water (Poland spring makes one with no sugar or artificial sweetener)
· Mixing unsweetened fruit juice with water.
2. Blend plain, non fat yogurt with fruit puree such as unsweetened applesauce or add fresh fruit.
3. Limit diet and regular sweet snack foods and snack on fresh veggies, fruit, low fat cheeses.
4. Try adding cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins to oatmeal, cereals.
