In a series of experiments, scientists at Purdue University compared weight gain and eating habits in rats whose diets were supplemented with sweetened food containing either zero -
calorie saccharin or sugar.
Psychologists at Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center reported that relative to rats that ate yogurt sweetened with glucose (a simple sugar with 15 calories / teaspoon, the same as table sugar), rats given yogurt sweetened with zero -
calorie saccharin later consumed more calories, gained more weight, put on more body fat, and didn't make up for it by cutting back later, all at levels of statistical significance.
Not exact matches
The artificial sweetener became widespread when sugar was rationed during World War I. Tests showed that body couldn't metabolize it, so people didn't get any
calories when eating
saccharin.
Although sucralose and
saccharin aren't absorbed by the body, they're not quite
calorie - free: The dextrose and maltodextrin that manufacturers use to bulk them up contain about a quarter of the
calories found in sugar.
It saves you the 140 - plus
calories you'd find in a sugary soft drink while still satisfying your urge for something sweet with artificial sweeteners like aspartame,
saccharin, and sucralose.
Try replacing sweeteners such as aspartame,
saccharin and splenda with stevia, a naturally sweet herb with no known side effects and no
calories.
Studies suggest that artificial sweeteners like
saccharin (Sweet»N Low, SugarTwin), aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), and sucralose (Splenda) trick the brain into forgetting that sweetness means extra
calories, making people more likely to over do it on sweet treats.
Another study found that yogurt sweetened with aspartame or
saccharin caused greater
calorie consumption and weight gain, compared to yogurt sweetened with sucrose (47).
The most common low -
calorie sweeteners include acesulfame - K, aspartame,
saccharin, stevia and sucralose.
However, a few studies found that adding
saccharin (0.2 %) to water - mixed lab chow led to significantly greater
calorie intake and weight gain (46).
Unlike aspartame,
saccharin is not metabolized by the human body and is excreted rapidly through the urine.28 This is the holy grail of the artificial sweetener industry — compounds that taste sweet, are stable in prepackaged foods and beverages, and which are so foreign to the human diet that our digestive system can not metabolize them to create any dietary
calories.
Sucralose (splenda), aspartame and
saccharin: «These have been linked to a variety of health conditions despite being low in
calories,» says Daniel and so alternatives may be a better option.
It's a continuation of work the Purdue group began in 2004, when they reported that animals consuming
saccharin - sweetened liquids and snacks tended to eat more than animals fed high -
calorie, sweetened foods.
When an animal eats a
saccharin - flavored food with no
calories, however — disrupting the sweetness and
calorie link — the animal tends to eat more and gain more weight, the new study shows.