America’s unhealthy obsession with weight loss has caused over 140 million citizens to turn to artificial sugars. These sugars are supposed to reduce calorie intake, yet they cause more damage than people realize.
When people consume sugar, it causes a reaction in the nervous system that releases dopamine, a monoamine neurotransmitter in the brain that releases feelings of happiness, similar to the effect of heroin or cocaine. Because of this, artificial sugars, which cause the same release of dopamine, can become extremely addictive.
Common types of artificial sugars include saccharin, aspartame and sucralose. Scientists have speculated that consuming too many artificial sugars can lead to cancer, but this has not been proven to be true.
Yet, there are connections between aspartame and health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, mood disorders, depression or mental stress. “When I drink diet soda, I get really bad headaches. A lot of people think diet sodas are a healthier alternative to regular soda, when in reality they’re not,” said junior Mallory McMahon.
There are two types of artificial sweeteners: sugar alcohols and sugar substitutes. Sugar substitutes are up to 700 times sweeter than cane sugar, while alcohols are not as sweet. Sugar alcohols are naturally occurring from plants but are often mixed with artificially-created sweeteners.
While substitutes aren’t specifically classified as dangerous, they should be consumed in small portions, as excessive amounts can lead to other health problems. “All sorts of sweeteners should be consumed in moderation, but a lot of people will digest excessive amounts of diet drinks because they assume they’re healthy,” said McMahon.
In the United States, six artificial sweeteners have been investigated and deemed safe by the FDA. However, one early sweetener, cyclamate, was banned in the US in 1969 due to suspicion it could be cancer causing. Aspartame was recently labeled as “possibly carcinogenic for humans,” meaning there was reason to be concerned.
No-sugar diets have been around for many years; in the 1960’s, the Atkins diet was particularly popular.
It was a low carb diet created by heart specialist Robert Atkins which focused on consuming less sugar and less carbohydrates. “It definitely gives people more freedom to eat worse junk foods without feeling like they’re eating that amount of sugar. But it’s the same kind of ingredients but replaced with a different sweetener. It is fine to consume sometimes, but if it is a big part of someone’s diet- it can cause bad side effects,” senior Issy Iambrecht stated.
Another popular diet that is well-known today is the keto diet. The diet focuses on consuming high-fat, low-carb foods while also reducing sugar intake.
Through the years of sugar-ridding diets, many supplements and artificial options were created. And while artificial sweeteners are a simple and low-calorie option, they may be causing people more harm in the long run.
