The nation’s top endocrinologists just finished their annual meeting in Washington D.C. today. Lots of fascinating research was reported there, including a study by Kristofer S. Gravenstein and his colleagues at the National Institutes of Health that found strong links between artificial sweetener use and being overweight or obese and having Diabetes Type 2.
Gravenstein and his colleagues looked at health outcomes data for 993 people and their behaviors from 1983 until present. People who used artificial sweeteners on a regular basis were twice as likely to have diabetes than people who didn’t.
To be sure, this study and others don’t prove a causal link between sweetener use and diabetes, but the evidence is strong that they’re related. It may be because any time you eat or drink something sweet, the sweetness receptors on your tongue get activated, which leads to endocrine responses related to glucose absorption.This, over time, could be related to insulin resistance, the underlying physical problem of Diabetes Type 2.
There are other possible reasons for the increased risk, and more research is needed to understand these links. But in the meantime, it would be a really good idea to stop drinking sweetened drinks, whether flavored with sugar or artificial sweeteners. A better choice would be sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice added, green tea, or good old fashioned H2O. If you’re watching your weight, green tea is a great option because it can wean you off your sweet tooth and help boost your metabolism.
Photo: flickr Marcin Whichary
