As you may have noticed, there are many controversial topics in the world of nutrition. Artificial sweeteners are no exception. Many food companies and healthcare professionals promote the use of artificial sweeteners, or sugar substitutes, (such as saccharin, aspartame, or sucralose) while others encourage their avoidance.
You can find these chemical sweeteners in everything from soda and gum to yogurt, canned fruit, and even vitamin supplements.
Why do we avoid using artificial sweeteners in our EnergyFirst products? Are they really the miracle ingredient they claim to be (getting all the sweetness you want without any harmful effect on the body)? Are they a reliable way to lose weight? Or is there a valid, science-backed reason to avoid them?
Research does shed light on the consequences of consuming these chemicals. Ironically, this includes weight gain.
What's the worse that can happen?
A study presented at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting (called ENDO 2017) found that artificial sweeteners interfere with the body's normal metabolism and can lead to excessive fat accumulation in people, especially those who are already obese.
Researchers tested sucralose on stem cells from human fat cells by adding a dose of sucralose equivalent to about four cans of diet soda per day.
Researchers report seeing increased expression of fat-producing genes, inflammation-producing genes, and an accumulation of fat droplets in the cells. They also reported that greater amounts of sugar were being delivered into cells, which can lead to the storage of more fat.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal published a research article in July of this year that reviewed 37 past studies that include around 400,000 research subjects. The goal was to compare their artificial sweetener use with their health.
Researchers found that instead of seeing a pattern of weight loss with use of artificial sweeteners, they found patterns of greater weight gain, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The truth most researchers admit to is that the long-term impact of sugar substitutes is simply unknown.
Take control and know what you are feeding your body. Instead of confusing your metabolism with chemicals that can be toxic for your body, choose real foods. If you really want some sweetness, eat a smaller amount of the real stuff or better, try pure stevia (stevia that is not combined with artificial ingredients) and the natural sweetness of fruits.
EnergyFirst's Whey Protein Isolate uses stevia leaf extract for a natural, light sweetness and zero grams of added sugar. Adding protein to a meal or snack that contains carbohydrate can slow down the glycemic response, prevent an insulin spike, and thus contribute to better blood glucose control. This is an effective, real-food way to keep weight under control.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved December 25, 2017, from https://plan.core-apps.com/tristar_endo17/abstract/f7e437ee5c2d999047a0315444ceb516
CMAJ July 17, 2017 189 (28) E929-E939; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.161390