Weight loss has always been a top priority for most individuals, especially at the start of the year. As we reach the fourth month of 2023, many of us are beginning to consider if our weight loss targets are getting closer. There are numerous things we can do to come closer to our weight loss objectives, such as getting the correct sort of workout or eating the right kinds of foods. There is plenty of information available regarding what to do if you want to lose weight, whether it’s fitness trends to follow or healthy meals to try.
What we don’t know enough about are the seemingly benign activities we could be doing, ingesting, and eating that could be harming our weight loss objectives. Going out on an empty stomach, for example, is one of the most harmful ways to exercise, as does working out too much without enough rest days. There are also other dietary traps that most of us are unaware of and that sneak their way into our regular meals. We’re not talking about cheese fries, doughnuts, cakes, and cookies, which we all know to avoid. We’re talking about the sly ones: meals that appear to be acceptable or even beneficial but are harmful. A few of those things are:
- Processed meats
- Fruit Juices (unless they are fully fresh and contain no sugar or preservatives)
- Soybean Oil
- Sweetened Yoghurt
- Granola and Granola Bars
While all of the items listed above have their drawbacks and may be consumed but will not benefit in the weight loss process, the one we are referring to is frequently utilised as a weight loss aid but has the exact opposite impact in the long term.
Artificial Sweeteners, to be exact.
It’s the sweeteners themselves, as well as anything created with or based on an artificial sweetener. Consider diet drinks, low-calorie or zero-calorie sweets containing those sweeteners, and any meal that offers a sugary taste without the calories. The artificial sweetener does give the sweet sensation that it promises, but it comes at a cost. Researchers believe that a paucity of calories stops the food reward circuit from fully activating.
This simply implies that it has the opposite impact of any weight loss product in that it stimulates your appetite and raises your demand for sweet foods. Hence, even though theoretically you are not ingesting calories from the sweeteners themselves, you will inevitably consume many more calories than you would have if you had simply used pure sugar. It’s preferable to consume less sugar throughout the day than to eliminate it and replace it with artificial sweeteners.
