Do Sweeteners Really Trick Your Brain? Science Finally Has an Answer

If there is one thing I hear constantly from well-meaning friends, family, and other parents, it is the warning that sugar substitutes are just as bad as the real thing. We have all heard the rumors that artificial and natural sweeteners trick your brain, increase your appetite, and give you an insatiable craving for more sugar.

Well, it looks like science is finally putting those rumors to bed.

I was reading a fascinating piece this morning, and I had to share it with all of you. According to a new article from Newsweek, sugar substitutes may not be as bad for you as many think.

What the Science Actually Says

The article breaks down a massive review of studies led by researchers like Professor Graham Finlayson at the University of Leeds, in collaboration with the SWEET consortium. They looked at gold-standard randomized controlled trials to see exactly what happens to our bodies and our cravings when we swap out regular sugar for non-nutritive sweeteners.

Here is the breakdown of what they found:

• No Extra Hunger: Swapping sugar for sweeteners does not make you hungrier or artificially increase your appetite.

• The "Sweet Tooth" is a Myth: Replacing sugar with low-calorie sweeteners does not make you crave sugary foods more. In fact, people who used sweeteners were perfectly content and did not increase their sweet cravings at all.

• Better Blood Sugar: Unsurprisingly, replacing real sugar with a substitute helps keep blood sugar and insulin levels lower.

• Real Weight Management Support: People using sweeteners were able to keep off slightly more weight compared to those who completely avoided sweetness.

The Sugar Free Dad Takeaway

As a dad who actively tries to keep added sugars out of our household, this is a huge breath of fresh air. Going sugar free does not mean you have to live a life totally void of sweetness. Sometimes you just want a little stevia in your morning coffee or a zero-sugar soda at a weekend barbecue.

Professor Finlayson pointed out something I have always believed. He noted that simply restricting sugar without offering any substitutes can make a low-sugar diet incredibly difficult to stick to. Sweeteners are not a magic weight loss pill, but they are a fantastic tool to reduce your overall sugar intake while still enjoying the foods and drinks you love.

So the next time someone tells you that your sugar-free treat is secretly making you crave more sugar, you can confidently let them know the science says otherwise!

You can read the full breakdown of the study in the Newsweek article right here.