If it's called diet soda, it will probably help you lose weight, right? Well, science isn't so sure about that.
It's true that sugar is calorie-dense and can spike blood sugar, which is why consuming high amounts of it is associated with weight gain, diabetes and heart problems. Artificial sweeteners, on the other hand, offer a calorie-free alternative that might seem like a magic solution, and could help explain why over 40 percent of adult Americans consume them on a daily basis. No extra calories means no weight gain, right?
But that logic isn't so simple. It’s possible that our taste receptors may be tricked into sending signals to the brain that say we want more sugar, driving us back to the very thing we're trying to avoid. And scientists still aren't clear on what the long-term health effects of artificial sweeteners are — but preliminary results show that they could alter metabolic functions and the microbiome.
