One of the things I am questioned about most as a nutrition professional and health coach is sugar substitutes. Artificial sweeteners are man-made products that are no better for us than real sugar. But many feel it’s a healthier alternative. But some – notably aspartame and acesulfame-K – have been linked to cancer.
Sugar alcohols like sorbitol are poorly broken down by the body, which just ends up feeding the bad bacteria in the large intestine. And what you may not know is that artificial sweetener – and many other ‘natural sweeteners’ that find their way into so-called healthy food –behave in the body the same way as actual sugar by raising your blood sugar levels.
The very best scenario of all is that you wean yourself off sweeteners of any kind as this helps you appreciate natural sweetness of real food. If you continue to eat sweet things, your taste buds will always want sweet things. It’s as simple as that. If you need a sugar fix, find it in real, natural foods.
It’s also worth considering phasing out these products. If your diet has traditionally been quite high in the white stuff, the first few weeks can be a little tricky as your body (and brain and taste buds) starts to adjust.
Sugar addiction is a real!!In fact, in 2018, a study at Connecticut College found that Oreo cookies were just as addictive as cocaine for lab rats!! That how powerful sugar is on the bodies systems. Sugar triggers the brain’s pleasure and reward centres – areas in the emotional centres of the brain responsible for the release of the “feel good” neurotransmitter called dopamine. The same brain areas are stimulated by cocaine, nicotine, opiates like heroin and morphine, and alcohol. Persevere it really will be worth it.