Little Known Weight Loss Secrets: Part 3- Sugar Substitutes

Sugar substitutes such as sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin are typically found in diet foods and sodas which are marketed for weight loss. But when doing the research one may start to detect how these sweeteners can be contributing to weight gain, not to mention other health problems. That would be an ironic discovery since millions of people choose ‘sugar free’ in an effort to make a healthier choice. Let’s take a glimpse at how the body reacts when a sweet taste stimulates the tongue. Then you can decide for yourself what’s best for you.

When the tongue comes in contact with a sweet taste (sugar or sugar substitute) a conditioned reflex of the body occurs. This reflex is called the cephalic phase response, and it prepares the body for the acceptance of new energy. Sugar that is currently in the blood stream becomes stored in fatty tissue. If the sweet taste is sugar then your body will soon have energy from the calories in the sugar. But, if a non-calorie sugar substitute is the sweet taste, the body will not ‘see’ any energy (calories) entering and will stimulate your appetite to search for more energy (more food). [1]

At this point your blood sugar will be low due to the sweet taste triggering storage of circulating blood sugar. [1,4] A common cycle is for people to keep eating the sugar substitute without satisfaction. Essentially you keep eating this non-satisfying chemical imposture of sugar that further bogs your liver with toxins. (Incidentally, your liver is a major organ involved in metabolism.) It’s clear how this cycle can easily lead to overeating.

So how do you overcome this? First, get in tune with your body; start to take note of how you feel following the consumption of a sugar substitute. Do you feel satisfied? Or do you feel a residual hunger? Sure, one can certainly argue that sugar isn’t the most healthy food to be eating either. I would agree. But when given the choice of plain sugar or a sugar substitute, I choose sugar. Turbinado sugar is a better choice as its exposure to processing is limited compared to white table sugar.

Although this article is written for weight loss I feel it pertinent to address the other health issues surrounding aspartame and various sugar substitutes. Many correlations have been made between the use of sugar substitutes and the following side effects: Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, headaches, seizures, strokes, brain tumors, dizziness, short-term memory loss, hypoglycemia, and an overall feeling of cloudiness. [3,2] Many of these side effects are neurological disorders. In the book, Excitotoxins, Dr. Blaylock describes sugar substitutes and their influence on the brain and nervous system. He establishes a strong connection on how these sweet chemicals interfere with the body’s overall nervous system.

So as always the choice is yours. Is it possible these sugar substitutes are contributing to your weight gain… or lack of weight loss? Many can argue the more severe conditions described above. Perhaps you feel fine… and maybe you truly are. I don’t believe everyone who consumes these products is doomed to develop a neurological disorder. Some people are just more sensitive than others. BUT, the question begs to be asked: Why use it if it’s not even doing what it’s supposed to do – which is to control weight? In part 4 we take a look at water.

[1]F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. Your Body’s Many Cries For Water. Vienna, VA: Global Health Solutions, Inc. 1997.
[2]Russell Blaylock, M.D. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills. Santa Fe: Health Press, 1997.
[3]Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World. Sound and Fury Productions, 2004.
[4]Paul Stitt. Beating the Food Giants. Manitowoc, WI: Natural Press, 1982.