Do Artificial Sweeteners Like Stevia Make You Crave More Sugar?

Artificial sweeteners are present in almost every processed food you eat. Around 41 percent of adults and 25 percent of children consume artificial sweeteners. This consumption sometimes leads to confusion, making many wonder if using artificial sweeteners can increase the desire for more sugary food. Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has an answer to this question. 

The seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger is here to bust a common myth for his followers. He recently shed light on the fact that artificial sweeteners do not affect your desire for more sugary foods. Let’s find out how the Austrian Oak proves his claims. 

Artificial sweeteners help you lose more weight than water

In the recent edition of the Austrian Oak’s newsletter, the Arnold’s Pump Club, he answered a question raised by one of his villagers. “I saw that artificial sweeteners might be a way to help me lose fat, but I’m confused. I thought they made you crave more sugar and eat more calories. Which is it?” Arnie highlighted that most of the population thinks the same way, further explaining how things actually worked.

The former Governor of California shared one piece of research to back his claims. The research found that “artificial sweeteners do not increase your hunger or the desire to eat more sugar-filled foods.” To prove this, the researchers analyzed the data of 500 participants for nearly a year. They gave them non-nutritive sweetened beverages or water for 52 weeks. 

The outcomes surprised everyone. The researchers found that both the water and diet drinker groups lost the same body fat and overall weight. However, the group that consumed diet drinks lost slightly more weight than the water group (7.5 kg vs. 6.1 kg in the water group). “Maybe more interestingly, both groups decreased the amount of sugar they consumed and had lower levels of hunger,” wrote Arnie.

There was no change in sugary food consumption, even after observation and having artificial sweeteners for a year. While putting out such numbers, Arnie acknowledges the fact that many are still skeptical about artificial sweeteners just because they’re not natural. He had a piece of advice for such skeptics as well. “Do what works for you. However, study after study continues to suggest that not only do they help support weight loss, but they can also be a tool that helps you embrace other healthy behaviors.” 

While artificial sweeteners may not harm your health, ultra-processed foods do. Schwarzenegger had delved into the same, earlier. 

Ultra-processed food can lead to depression

In a previous edition of his newsletter, Arnie highlighted that ultra-processed foods are connected with depression. Sharing a study revealing this, Arnie wrote, “Ultra-processed foods are engineered to be more desirable by adding salt, sugar, and fat. They contain hydrogenated oils, chemical additives, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, and preservatives.” 

Schwarzenegger shared one more study on more than 11,000 participants that found that “cognitive decline increased an additional 28 percent in people who consume more than 20 percent of their calories from ultra-processed foods.“

After learning the potential benefits of artificial sweeteners and the disadvantages of ultra-processed foods, will you make the right choice for your dietary plan? Let us know in the comments.