Artificial sweeteners, which are considered a salvation drug for dieters, are facing new scientific doubts. A study published in Nature Medicine shows that sucralose can activate the brain area that controls appetite, causing users to... eat more.
"Sucralose leads to increased activity in the sub-hill area - the hunger control center of the brain," said Dr. Kathleen Page, Director of the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity Research, Keck School of Medicine (University of Southern California), co-author of the study, very Well Health.
In the study, 75 adults aged 1835 were given three drinks: regular sugar (sucrose), sucralose and filtered water. They were then measured for hunger and taken an X-ray to record brain activity. The results showed that people who drank sucralose felt hungrier more clearly than when consuming real sugar.
The brain is "frauded" by its calorie-free sweetness
Sucralose, although not calorie-free, sends sweetness signals to the brain. When the body does not receive the accompanying energy, the brain reacts by asking to eat more.
Dr. Shiara Ortiz-Pujols, Director of Obesity Medicine at Northwell Staten Island Hospital (USA), warned: "I see many people who use sucralose thinking they are controlling calories, but in fact they eat more than they need."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that artificial sweeteners do not help with sustainable weight loss, and may be associated with the risk of diabetes, stroke and changes in the intestinal microflora.
The solution is not to replace sugar with sucralose
I do not recommend replacing sugar with sucralose if the goal is to lose weight, says Dr page page. Think about reducing ultra-processed foods, practice getting used to the natural sweetness of fruit".
Nutritionist Sandra J. Arevalo, Director of Community Health at Montefiore Nyack Hospital (New York), added: "One to two glasses of sucralose drinks per day is enough, but it is better to replace them with filtered water with a few slices of lemon, cucumber or berries to cool and naturally".
