PCOS Tip: Low-Calorie Sweeteners are ‘More Fattening Than Sugar’

One of the first rules of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome weight watching has always been to put the sugar bowl at the back of the cupboard and use low-calorie sweeteners instead. But a new study suggests that dieters might be better sticking with sugar after all.
 
Researchers say a sweet taste can prompt the body to prepare for a large intake of calories. When this does not arrive after using a low-calorie sweetener, the body then becomes confused and either demands more food or burns less energy, with resulting weight gain.
 
“The data clearly indicate that consuming a food sweetened with no-calorie saccharin can lead to greater body-weight gain than the same food sweetened with high-calorie sugar,” says the study by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
 
The researchers accept that the finding sounds like diet heresay and will seem baffling to those who have long recommended the use of sweeteners to control weight. And they also claim that other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which do not lead to the delivery of calories, could have similar effects.
 
In the study published by the American Psychological Association’s journal, some rats were fed with yogurt sweetened with saccharin while others ate yogurt sweetened with glucose, a natural sugar.The saccharin-fed rats went on to consume more calories and put on more weight.
 
The research drew a critical reaction from the food industry. “This study oversimplifies the causes of obesity,” said Beth Hubrich, a dietitian with the Calorie Control Council, representing companies which make diet foods and drinks.
 
“The causes of obesity are multi-factorial. Although surveys have shown that there has been an increase in the use of ‘sugar-free’ foods over the years, portion sizes of foods have also increased, physical activity has decreased and overall calorie intake has increased.”
 
One fact is not in dispute: as well as causing dental decay, too much sugar can lead to obesity, which is often an underlying cause of a variety of serious disorders.
 
But a balanced, nutritious diet combined with regular exercise can help reverse an underlying cause of excess weight and obesity, namely the imbalance of blood glucose and insulin called Insulin Resistance. By reversing this latter condition, you can facilitate PCOS weight loss.


Next Steps

  1. Take the PCOS Quiz!  Get your score and assess your hormone health risks.
  2. Join our Facebook Sisterhood Group Pose your questions to this group of like-minded women. Get the answers to your questions and the support you need.
  3. Checkout the Hormone Reset. Guided Practices to eliminate anxiety, lose weight and boost energy.

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