When it comes to weight loss, we are frequently advised to steer clear of sugar and increase our consumption of artificial sweeteners. This is because studies have shown that these sweeteners are useful in combating weight gain and obesity.
On the other hand, a recent study found that artificial sweeteners have an effect on the region of the brain that is responsible for further stimulating hunger and motivating you to seek more food.
The study, which was published in the journal known as "Cell Metabolism," conducted a comparison of the effects that artificial sweeteners have on the brain in terms of triggering appetite and other aspects. Take a look at it.
After a diet high in the artificial sweetener "Sucralose" made the subjects hungry, researchers from the Charles Perkins Centre and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research at the University of Sydney discovered a new brain system that detects and integrates the sugar and calorie content of the food.
As part of the research, a number of fruit flies were given a diet that contained artificial sweetener for a period of more than five days. At the conclusion of the study, it was discovered that these fruit flies consumed thirty percent more calories than they had before.
The study's findings indicate that the brain's reward centers associate a pleasant feeling with a high energy level. After a while of an imbalance between sweets and energy, the brain readjusts by increasing caloric intake.
Researchers found that long-term use of artificial sweeteners amplifies the sweetness of natural nutritive sugar, which in turn increases hunger pangs.
For a long time, we mistakenly believed that artificial sweeteners were beneficial; nevertheless, this study has shed new light on the matter and emphasizes the need to exercise caution while eating sweeteners in order to maintain a careful weight control regimen.