Why Are Sugar-Free Drinks and Artificial Sweeteners Bad?

Why are Sugar-Free Drinks and Artificial Sweeteners Bad? FAQ with Dr. Steven Simper
By: Dr. Steven C. Simper, MD, FACS

 

“It is the will and ambition of our patients who ultimately make their weight loss possible. Treating the whole person is a critical part of the care given to my patients.”

 

Question: Why are Sugar-Free Drinks and Artificial Sweeteners Bad?
Dr. Steven Simper’s Answer: It would seem obvious that drinking sugary drinks is bad; after all, they contain empty calories. The simple solution would be to drink diet drinks, right? Actually, the answer is not!

Researchers looked at genetically identical rats. One group of rats drank regular Cola, the other drank diet Cola. The diet Cola rats became fat. A repeat study with artificial sweeteners and sugar water found the same results. Is the message to drink regular sodas? No. Sugary drinks are bad and diet drinks are bad. Studies in humans found that when drinking diet soda with meals, most subjects consume more calories than if they drank water or regular drinks. Artificial sweeteners are probably one of the most appetite stimulants that we know of today. Why?

The reason for this is unclear, but we do know about one mechanism whereby artificial sweeteners activate the cephalic phase of digestion, vigorously. During this phase your stomach and digestive tract release enzymes and juices prior to eating, or at the onset of eating in preparation for food. You see food or smell food and start to salivate, and your stomach starts to growl. Then, when you consume the chemical sweeteners, insulin is released in anticipation of the sugar overload that doesn’t come. This makes you even hungrier. Plus, when you do eat food, the digestive juices are already present; this accelerates digestion and ensures that you more thoroughly digest and absorb more of the food, and therefore absorb more calories. You become a super absorber.

The real solution is to drink water, not sugary drinks or diet drinks (carbonated or not). A side note, Cola alone may have the same affect, but that’s a different subject.

 

About the Author:

Dr. Steven Simper, MD, FACS, performed his first bariatric procedures in 1984 at Wilford Hall Medical Center, in Texas. Currently, he performs laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch, and revisional surgery. In addition to general surgery procedures. He joined Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians in 2001, and began performing laparoscopic gastric bypass. Since 2008, he has developed his skill and expertise with the powerful biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (DS). He is among a handful of surgeons who perform this procedure. He both proctors other surgeons and is a speaker at bariatric conferences in regards to the duodenal switch procedure. In following his patients, and witnessing results, he has become a strong advocate for this procedure in the select individual who needs a powerful surgery.

 

Find more answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.

 

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