Artificial sweetener is a common ingredient you find in most packed foods or drinks. It claims to quench your desire for sweetness without adding many calories. Does artificial sweetener aid in weight loss, remains an unanswered question amongst many.

The effect of artificial sweeteners on weight gain is a little controversial. With reference to various studies and research –

• Artificial sweeteners may benefit people who want to eliminate their habit of satisfying a sweet tooth.
• It may help a person keep from weight gain.
• Artificial sweeteners may affect hormones, blood sugar, and metabolism. it is not recommended to have it in routine for a long time.
• Can put on fat around the abdomen
• Causes metabolic diseases

With the rise in health awareness, people are more health conscious and they want to reduce or get rid of sugar intake habits. This has led consumers to incline toward artificial sweeteners. There are many products in the market labeled as extracts of natural sugar with zero calories. Some of the common substitutes used for sugar are sucralose and aspartame. You find these substitutes in almost all diet beverages.

People who consume sugary beverages daily carry a lot of belly fat and swapping it with plain water can have a significant result. So artificial sweeteners may support weight gain.

Let us understand the types of sugar and their sweetness

Many artificial sweeteners can give the sweetness your tongue needs. Most of the sweeteners are 100 folds sweet than normal sugar. Some of the common artificial sweeteners include –

• Aspartame (180 times sweeter than sugar)
• Acesulfame- K (200 times sweeter than sugar)
• Sucralose (600 times sweeter than sugar)
• Saccharin (300 times sweeter than sugar)
• Neotame (7000 times sweeter than sugar)

Can artificial sweeteners aid in weight loss?

The studies have found inconclusive results. The different conclusions of the research and studies say that –

• Regular consumption of artificial sweeteners reduces the calorie intake and this causes less weight gain or
• It may have no effect or
• It may result in weight gain.

When you eat sweet the brain craves more for it. This may cause more eating or more drinking and as a result, it adds up to more calorie consumption. Despite sugar-free foods, a person can still gain weight if the food is loaded with calories.

The artificial sweetener may come with zero calories and help in losing weight but its prolonged use can adversely affect your health, especially affecting your metabolism. Poor metabolism is a root cause of overweight or obesity. So, the pleasure of artificial sweeteners does not last long as the results can be bitter.

Substitute artificial sweetener with natural sweeteners

Nutritionists and dieticians recommend natural sweeteners as a healthy substitute for other sugar. Some of the FDA-recognized natural sweeteners include honey, molasses, maple syrup, fruit juices, and nectars. But even natural sweeteners come with various health problems. However, the risk of consuming natural sweeteners is less than artificial sweeteners.

Conclusion

Moderation is the key to avoiding unseen consequences. Artificial sweeteners may aid in weight loss but one cannot solely depend on them. It is observed that food packets labeled as zero calories can still cause weight gain. The research and studies on artificial sweeteners are still not conclusive. So, consult a dietician to know the best ways that can help in weight loss.