Zero sugar foods that deceive the brain
You can often see dieters who choose zero cola when eating chicken or pizza nearby to find some comfort. Zero sugar products, which replace the sugar responsible for obesity with artificial sweeteners, are appearing not only in beverages but also in desserts and snacks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that artificial sweeteners approved by the FDA, such as sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, stevia, and allulose, are not harmful to the body as long as they are not consumed above the recommended amount. Experts also say that the artificial sweetener content in commercial products is at a very small level that normal consumption by the general public can be safely excreted.
However, there is a side effect of sugar addiction behind it. Artificial sweeteners themselves are not absorbed into the body, but they have a sweeter taste than sugar. The brain areas that perceive sweetness feel pleasure and demand more sweetness, and this process is reinforced the more zero-sugar foods are consumed, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of sugar addiction. Additionally, there is a risk of increased appetite and insulin resistance. Zero-sugar foods are recommended to be used occasionally as a reward when craving sweetness.