It’s official, sugar is bad for your health. This is why more and more people are avoiding using sugar and replacing it with artificial sweeteners. These replacements for sugar are made from chemical substances that stimulate the tongue’s sweet taste receptors and give the user the feeling of taking sugar. Most artificial sugars have zero calories. For this reason, they are used in weight loss friendly drinks.
Do artificial sweeteners cause belly fat? Even with all the hype around artificial sweeteners, it is believed that they can cause belly fat.
How Artificial Sugars Are Making You Fat
According to studies, people who take diet soda record a steeper rise in the waist circumference when compared to people who do not take diet soda. The reason artificial sweeteners cause belly fat is that they shift friendly bacteria assortment in the gut. In turn, this affects the effectiveness of the body’s metabolism and leads to weight gain. This is because most of the sugars in the body are stored as opposed to being excreted.
Another study was done on samples of abdominal fat gotten from people who regularly consume artificial sweeteners. It was found that there was an increase in the amount of glucose transported to cells. This causes an increase in blood sugar levels. When excess glucose finds its way into the cells and is absorbed into the bloodstream, it raises the sugar levels in the body. This leads to the storage of fat in the abdomen. This is what causes belly fat.
Disadvantages of Artificial Sweeteners
1. Associated with Diseases
Do artificial sweeteners cause belly fat? Yes, and cancer as well. According to studies, some diseases are linked to the use of artificial sugars. There is the possibility of developing some cancers even though it is recognized as a safe product.
2. Contain Chemical Compounds
Artificial sweeteners are made from chemicals that are commercially processed. Prolonged use can cause health issues in your body since your body cannot handle high amounts of industry manufactured chemicals.
3. Heightens Sugar Craving
Sweet food, even if they have zero calories, will trigger the release of insulin just like you’d eaten sugar. Spikes in insulin levels increase cravings for sugar.
4. Hormone Problems
Research has shown that artificial sweeteners prevent the production of the GLP-1 hormone. This is the hormone that controls blood sugar levels and gives you feelings of satiety after you’ve eaten. Consequently, you will feel hungrier and eat a lot more. Thai will definitely have a negative effect on your belly fat.
5. Metabolic Syndrome
Studies have shown a greater risk of metabolic syndrome among those who consume diet soft drinks. This is a cluster of medical conditions that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, increased belly fat and high cholesterol. All these occur at the same time increasing your chances of getting heart disease, stroke other lifestyle diseases. Further studies have shown that those who consume artificially sweetened beverages are twice more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome than those who did not.
6. Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease
Do artificial sweeteners cause belly fat? Yes, and even worse. Studies have shown that women who consume more than 2 artificially sweetened beverages in a day have a significantly higher chance of suffering from coronary heart disease. Those who consumed at least one artificially sweetened drink per day showed a higher risk for hypertension.
7. Weight Gain
There’s evidence showing that those who consume artificially sweetened beverages had a greater risk of weight gain and obesity than those who did not. Artificially sweetened beverages have also been shown to increase body mass index in both male and female adolescents.
Healthy Alternatives to Artificial Sweeteners
Make sure to always check the amount of artificial sweeteners on the package and limit its consumption. Here are some natural alternatives you can use.
- Honey
Raw honey is one of the most popular natural sweeteners. It contains antioxidants, zinc, calcium, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, phosphorous, potassium, iron and enzymes. These ingredients help neuter free radicals and promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. A tablespoon of raw honey contains only 64 calories. While you can use pasteurized honey, the process it goes through makes it lose a lot of the health benefits associated with raw honey.
- Maple Syrup
Map-le syrup has tons of benefits. It’s derived directly from plant sap and contains more than 50 antioxidants.
- Erythritol
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that contains only 0.2 calories for every gram. It is a white powder that occurs naturally in a myriad of fruits. While it is not as sweet as sugar or artificial sweeteners, it does not cause tooth decay and other negative effects of sugar consumption.
- Stevia
This is a natural plant found indigenously in Brazil and Peru. Stevia is made with very little or no chemical additives. It has no effect on blood sugar and can help improve your sensitivity to insulin. This improves your body’s use of glucose for generating energy.
- Coconut Sugar
It tastes a lot like brown sugar and contains plenty of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. It has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar meaning it will keep your insulin and blood sugar levels more steady.
Are There Benefits of Artificial Sweeteners?
Do artificial sweeteners cause belly fat? Yes it does, but does it have any advantages?
1. Sweetness Without Using Sugar
These artificial sweeteners have the ability to offer the same sweetness offered by sugar without the need of having sugar.
- Zero Calorie Benefits
When compared to real sugar, artificial sweeteners have low or no calories. It is advisable for you to check the nutritional value before purchasing your artificial sweetener.
- Ideal for Diabetics
Artificial sweeteners are used by diabetics because of their low impact on the level of blood sugar. For this reason, they are also a better alternative to actual sugar if you want to manage your blood sugar level.
- Good for Your Teeth
Some artificial sweeteners are created to prevent tooth decay. Sugar is the leading cause of tooth decay. Since artificial sweeteners do not have actual sugar, they can be a great option if you want to take care of your teeth.