Do artificial sweeteners stop you losing weight?

noodlesno
noodlesno Posts: 113 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey,

I was wondering if any one can shed some light on this? I have read some good and some bad things about artificial sweeteners? What is the truth?

Thanks
«13

Replies

  • Lexandrea
    Lexandrea Posts: 56 Member
    I'd stay away from them and use real sugar in moderation instead like honey and fruit. Artificial sweeteners are dangerous and can cause a lot of complications. It effected me for a while and you feel horrible with that stuff in your system. Plus, after awhile, it does and will make you crave sweets more since it has no calories and is sweeter than sugar. Your taste buds get use to it so once you come off of it, you use more real sugar than you should be causing you to consume more calories and too much sugar. I say learn to use the real stuff in moderation and your taste buds won't need things to be so sweet. Plus, honey (especially raw) and fruit have benefits and vitamins while artificial sweeteners don't...sure, they may help you lose weight, but it's temporary. You shouldn't be using it and replacing real foods with it for sweetness. I don't even use sugar or anything in my coffee or tea anymore, I'm use to it. I don't think the risks of sweeteners are worth it. I felt like complete crap using it. Sometimes I want to use them again but then I remember how I felt when I used them...
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    Hey,

    I was wondering if any one can shed some light on this? I have read some good and some bad things about artificial sweeteners? What is the truth?

    Thanks

    No they do not.

    They have zero calories and have zero insulin response.

    Impossible for them to do anything :o))
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    No. I use them every day.
  • jdad1
    jdad1 Posts: 1,899 Member
    They have no bad effects. They are fine.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I use some every day in my coffee and feel fine.
  • rabies
    rabies Posts: 62
    Not directly, no. Some are, however, quite bad for your digestive system, which in turn can make you eat more. But no, they don't have any effect on your insulin levels, as the amount is just much too small.
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    Nope. Eating an excess of calories will prevent you from losing weight.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,613 Member
    I have a big red zero or crystal light a few times a week, and I'm still losing:) I don't think they're healthy, but I'll take them over the regular soda.
  • allikat93
    allikat93 Posts: 236
    BOOM!!!
  • haroon_awan
    haroon_awan Posts: 1,208 Member
    Hey,

    I was wondering if any one can shed some light on this? I have read some good and some bad things about artificial sweeteners? What is the truth?

    Thanks

    No they do not.

    They have zero calories and have zero insulin response.

    Impossible for them to do anything :o))

    Matt is right. It's one of those things people buy and think "I haven't lost weight because of this". The fact is, you need to be accountable for what you put into your mouth in terms of overall nutrition, not whether you've had a "diet" drink.

    This isn't to say that I am recommending them, I wouldn't do that. A lot of people will say avoid them because it teaches you to say no to other things full of sugar and calories. And personally I don't drink them at all.
  • Lexandrea
    Lexandrea Posts: 56 Member
    I'm trying to learn how to use real food in moderation. When I came off the sweeteners, I noticed I craved sweets more than usual so I'd use more honey in my oatmeal and used more fruit with it like bananas. Bananas are healthy, but mixed with a lot of honey and that's too much....and because of dieting for so long and cutting things out of my diet, eating like I use to made me gain 6 - 8 pounds of pure fat in a short amount of time. I can't burn anything off like I use to be able to.

    This is just me, though. Only trying to give advice and experiences..
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,650 Member
    I have them everyday. The only side effect has been weight loss. I do use Stevia whenever possible, but have no problems with Equal or Splenda.
  • gnrshelton
    gnrshelton Posts: 358 Member
    I use them in my drinks but my doctor said that they make people crave sugar more than they would without it. I do think I agree that they make you crave more sugar. But I guess I figure no calories are better than me downing a ton of sugar. Honey just does not taste the same in drinks. If it works for you use it but if you don't already use it I probably woukdn't start.
  • noodlesno
    noodlesno Posts: 113 Member
    Hey,

    I was wondering if any one can shed some light on this? I have read some good and some bad things about artificial sweeteners? What is the truth?

    Thanks

    No they do not.

    They have zero calories and have zero insulin response.

    Impossible for them to do anything :o))

    Matt is right. It's one of those things people buy and think "I haven't lost weight because of this". The fact is, you need to be accountable for what you put into your mouth in terms of overall nutrition, not whether you've had a "diet" drink.

    This isn't to say that I am recommending them, I wouldn't do that. A lot of people will say avoid them because it teaches you to say no to other things full of sugar and calories. And personally I don't drink them at all.

    I am very accountable for the nutrition I put in my body which has lead me to research the man-made chemicals I am putting into my body 3 times a day. I have read a lot of apposing articles regarding artificial sweeteners. Such as the one below from Harvard University.

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/MY00073

    This includes a lot of research suggesting that they do affect insulin levels in the body.

    I am not sure what is right and what is wrong which is why I asked this community regarding their own experiences of with and without sweeteners in their diet.
  • jdad1
    jdad1 Posts: 1,899 Member
    Hey,

    I was wondering if any one can shed some light on this? I have read some good and some bad things about artificial sweeteners? What is the truth?

    Thanks

    No they do not.

    They have zero calories and have zero insulin response.

    Impossible for them to do anything :o))

    Matt is right. It's one of those things people buy and think "I haven't lost weight because of this". The fact is, you need to be accountable for what you put into your mouth in terms of overall nutrition, not whether you've had a "diet" drink.

    This isn't to say that I am recommending them, I wouldn't do that. A lot of people will say avoid them because it teaches you to say no to other things full of sugar and calories. And personally I don't drink them at all.

    I am very accountable for the nutrition I put in my body which has lead me to research the man-made chemicals I am putting into my body 3 times a day. I have read a lot of apposing articles regarding artificial sweeteners. Such as the one below from Harvard University.

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/MY00073

    This includes a lot of research suggesting that they do affect insulin levels in the body.

    I am not sure what is right and what is wrong which is why I asked this community regarding their own experiences of with and without sweeteners in their diet.

    Well here are two facts then,
    1. Sugar does affect your insulin
    2. Artificial sweetners might affect your insulin.

    So what. They are both fine. Just because something is man made does not make it bad. To much of anything can hurt you. Every scientific study can be proven and then disproven ten years later.

    Your question was "what is the truth?" The answer is that the truth is not going to be from any study except your own. Every person has to do what works for them.
  • noodlesno
    noodlesno Posts: 113 Member
    Hey,

    I was wondering if any one can shed some light on this? I have read some good and some bad things about artificial sweeteners? What is the truth?

    Thanks

    No they do not.

    They have zero calories and have zero insulin response.

    Impossible for them to do anything :o))

    Matt is right. It's one of those things people buy and think "I haven't lost weight because of this". The fact is, you need to be accountable for what you put into your mouth in terms of overall nutrition, not whether you've had a "diet" drink.

    This isn't to say that I am recommending them, I wouldn't do that. A lot of people will say avoid them because it teaches you to say no to other things full of sugar and calories. And personally I don't drink them at all.

    I am very accountable for the nutrition I put in my body which has lead me to research the man-made chemicals I am putting into my body 3 times a day. I have read a lot of apposing articles regarding artificial sweeteners. Such as the one below from Harvard University.

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/MY00073

    This includes a lot of research suggesting that they do affect insulin levels in the body.

    I am not sure what is right and what is wrong which is why I asked this community regarding their own experiences of with and without sweeteners in their diet.

    Well here are two facts then,
    1. Sugar does affect your insulin
    2. Artificial sweetners might affect your insulin.

    So what. They are both fine. Just because something is man made does not make it bad. To much of anything can hurt you. Every scientific study can be proven and then disproven ten years later.

    Your question was "what is the truth?" The answer is that the truth is not going to be from any study except your own. Every person has to do what works for them.

    You make a very fair point. :)
  • leeroxboro
    leeroxboro Posts: 142 Member

    Well here are two facts then,
    1. Sugar does affect your insulin
    2. Artificial sweetners might affect your insulin.

    So what. They are both fine. Just because something is man made does not make it bad. To much of anything can hurt you. Every scientific study can be proven and then disproven ten years later.

    Your question was "what is the truth?" The answer is that the truth is not going to be from any study except your own. Every person has to do what works for them.

    "Every scientific study can be proven and then disproven ten years later"

    Just look at what's been said about eggs and butter over the years, some say eggs are good for you, some say they're not.....some say real butter is better than the fake stuff, some say it's not.....

    I just listen to my body, and since this is my first "get healthy" quest, I've been drinking LOTS of water, and only drink the Diet Pepsi (which I'm addicted to) on the weekends (my "treat") and all I can say is I feel MUCH better the days I stay away from the Diet Pepsi. That's not to say it's the artificial sweetener in it, but there's definitely something in there that makes me feel "not right"...I'm thinking about cutting them out all together.
  • drvvork
    drvvork Posts: 1,162
    Everyone is different but they have side effects.

    http://www.medicinenet.com/artificial_sweeteners/article.htm

    This has information of pros and cons.
  • Kaasie1
    Kaasie1 Posts: 25
    I use artificial sweetners and I'm still losing weight. I think the weight gain issue comes from that some people's appetites increase when they use it but if you can learn to exercise more control then there should be no problems.
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    I am very accountable for the nutrition I put in my body which has lead me to research the man-made chemicals I am putting into my body 3 times a day. I have read a lot of apposing articles regarding artificial sweeteners. Such as the one below from Harvard University.

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/MY00073

    This includes a lot of research suggesting that they do affect insulin levels in the body.

    I am not sure what is right and what is wrong which is why I asked this community regarding their own experiences of with and without sweeteners in their diet.

    You don't need "research" which suggests anything. You need the studies. Unless a sweetener involves partially a carb, it cannot and will not raise insulin. Read on...

    Aspartame
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1946186

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2182973

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9734727


    Saccharin
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7652029
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3046854

    Sucralose
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19221011
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21245879

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