It is now proven and well known that the consumption of junk food and processed foods (drinks, snacks, ready meals, etc.) is closely linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and other systemic diseases.
With the increase in these diseases and awareness of nutrition and health, large multinationals have wisely decided to safeguard their sales. This has led to the arrival on the market of low-calorie alternatives that promise “taste without consequences”. But sometimes the solution to the problem is itself a problem of equal or greater magnitude.
It is true that "light" drinks are zero calories, but they are rich in sweeteners which, although they do not provide nutrients, are not harmless to the body. For this reason, it is incorrect to think that they are a healthier alternative to those rich in sugar, such as colas and orangeades.
Most diet drinks contain sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame K or sucralose, often hidden behind abbreviations and numbers. With their sweetening power 150-200 or even 600 times greater than sucrose (our common sugar), they allow for a drastic reduction in calories while maintaining a sweet taste.
These sweeteners seem to be the ultimate solution to the problem of obesity linked to the consumption of junk food and, specifically, sugary drinks, but our body's complex psycho-neurological system responds to the stimulus of sweet taste by sending a signal. This signal activates the response of the pancreas and therefore of insulin which, in the case of sweetener intake, does not find the glucose in the blood that it would expect to have to dispose of. This leads to a phenomenon called craving, an uncontrollable desire for sugar, almost as if it were a drug! This “need” is amplified, compared to other addictions, by the fact that sugar intake, even if unreal, stimulates the production of dopamine, a hormone responsible for pleasure (which is why we eat chocolate when we feel down).
Furthermore, the sweeteners found in “light” drinks do not stimulate the production of hormones involved in satiety processes, do not satisfy the brain and are unable to stop the search for calories, creating a vicious circle that pushes us to consume more food.
Children, on the other hand, should get used to less intense flavours, thus learning to appreciate fresh fruit, which contains less sugar and provides a good dose of nutrients. Flavoured waters or natural juices obtained by mixing fruit and vegetable extracts should be preferred in order to reduce the amount of fructose.
And it's never too late for adults to start doing it!
(Article by Dr. Giusto Cristina, biologist and nutritionist)
