diet drinks could be increasing “hedonistic desires for sweetness"

Research undertaken at the University of Texas in America shows that people who drink diet drinks have a significantly greater risk of developing type two diabetes and obesity related metabolic syndrome. The researchers led by Jennifer Nettleton looked at diet and lifestyle data from almost 7,000 men and women and saw a clear link between the consumption of diet drinks and obesity related problems.

It is important to analyse the results of this survey carefully and not to jump to conclusions nevertheless it may make men and women sit up and re-evaluate the benefits of drinking diet drinks which are full of artificial sweeteners.

The researchers said that the diet drinks could be responsible for increasing “hedonistic desires for sweetness” and also for high calorie foodstuffs. They also hypothesised that people who drink low calorie diet sodas maybe reducing their level of “dietary guilt” which in turns leads them to over eat other foods. The researchers also considered the possibility that these drinks were affecting metabolic processes which were linked to insulin resistance, the regulation of glucose in the body, fat storage and weight gain.

The researchers were quick to point out that they could not conclusively identify why individuals who drink a lot of diet drinks have a higher level of weight related problems and admitted that more research was needed in this area.

At Ukmedix News we have come across a link between all types of diet foods and increased weight and it is important that researchers are aware that the reason why people go for diet food is often because they are overweight in the first place and therefore not necessarily because the diet foods themselves are causing the individuals to be overweight.

It is a complicated issue and one which has not been sufficiently resolved by research projects yet. At Ukmedix News however we would like to warn you that excessive consumption of diet drinks is never good for you and that you should try and consume as much water as possible throughout the day when you are thirsty.