We all know that eating too much sugar is bad for us, particularly if we are trying to lose weight or dieting after weight loss surgery. However, recent research has suggested that simply swapping sugar for artificial sweeteners might not be such a good idea.

Artificial Sweeteners and Your Health

Previous research has suggested that using artificial sweeteners could raise the risk of type 2 diabetes in some people. The new research has confirmed that sweeteners can cause these kinds of health problems in rats. Rats that were fed artificial sweeteners were more likely to become obese and to develop type 2 diabetes. Even though the sweeteners aren’t providing any calories, they are clearly still having a negative impact on the body. Further research is needed to understand the effects so that dieters and those having weight loss surgery can make better choices about what they are eating. Although the evidence on the negative effects of artificial sweeteners still isn’t strong enough to say anything for certain, it certainly won’t do you any harm to limit your intake.

Cutting Back on Sweeteners and Sugar

Switching from sugar to artificial sweetener can help you to avoid unnecessary calories, so it can be a good choice if you’re dieting before weight loss surgery. However, it may be better to gradually cut down on the sugar and sweetener you are consuming so that your taste buds can get used to a less sweet diet. Try reducing the amount of sweetener that you add to tea or coffee and looking for products that contain less sweetener. It’s important to check the labels as sugar and sweeteners can often be hidden in foods that seem quite savoury. Cooking your own versions from scratch can also be a good idea as you’ll have complete control over the ingredients. Sweetness is something that should be an occasional treat, not an everyday part of your diet.