Many people have been tricked into thinking that diet soda is a “smart” alternative to regular soda. They believe that switching to these drinks actually allows them a sweet indulgence without having to worry about their waistline.
But the truth is that diet soda does not do your body any good. In fact, these artificially sweetened drinks, often marketed to be no- or low-calorie, have the ability to stimulate your appetite, increase your carb cravings, and even stimulate fat storage and weight gain.
A recent study published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism highlights these effects. The authors, who based their findings on studies that have been published in the past five years, were shocked at the results: apparently, diet soda drinkers actually suffer from the same health problems as those who drink regular soda. These problems include type 2 diabetes, excessive weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas can actually trigger enhanced activity in your brain’s pleasure centers but provide less actual satisfaction. The artificial sweeteners work by tricking your body into thinking that it’s going to receive sugar. However, when the anticipated fructose does not arrive, your body sends signals that it needs more, resulting in carb cravings. Usually, people give in to these signals, causing them to overeat on unhealthy foods and snacks.
The good news is that there are natural ways to help you to break free from the negative effects of artificial sweeteners.
The first thing you can do is to address the emotional component of your food cravings through psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT is an acupuncture-like technique that works by stimulating the meridian points in certain parts of your body. The only difference is that EFT is non-invasive and does not use needles.
EFT works well on food cravings and is highly recommended for people who want to manage their weight but are having difficulty controlling their cravings.
Another way to banish artificial sweeteners from your diet is to make significant changes to your eating habits. Make sure you only consume wholesome, raw foods, preferably vegetables, as well as healthy sources of omega-3 fats. Reduce, with the plan of eliminating, sugar (even those from fruits) and grains from your diet.
If you’re looking for a safer sweetener alternative, you could use stevia or Luo Han. These are natural sweeteners that do not carry the same risks as artificial sweeteners. Make sure you use them moderately, though.
Don’t let diet sodas wreak havoc on your life. Remember these tips so you can eliminate this damaging drink from your life immediately.
