14 DAY TRIAL // Those looking to lose weight or simply keep fit tend to choose diet sodas over regular ones. By the looks of it, this might not be such a good idea. In fact, it could turn out to be a very ill-inspired one.
Long story short, researchers say that, having carried out a series of tests on mice and even human volunteers, they found evidence that the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas and other similar low-calorie treats are quite harmful.
More precisely, the researchers say that, in the case of some people, these artificial sweeteners get to work reshaping the gut-based bacteria population, Live Science informs.
This, in turn, affects blood sugar levels, in the sense that it increases them. As a result, the body becomes more vulnerable to various metabolic problems, and the risk for adult-onset diabetes is increased.
“Artificial sweeteners were extensively introduced into our diets with the intention of reducing caloric intake and normalizing blood glucose levels without compromising the human ‘sweet tooth,’” the researchers explain.
“Our findings suggest that [artificial sweeteners] may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact [obesity] epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight,” they go on to argue in a paper in the journal Nature.
Mind you, it's important to note that this study does not mean that we should all just stop drinking diet soda and do our best to stay clear of artificial sweeteners for the rest of our lives. More so since such a life change would surely translate into increased actual sugar consumption.
On the contrary, what the scientists behind this research project want us to understand and keep in mind is that, simply because they pack zero calories, sodas made with artificial sweeteners are not necessarily better for us.