If you reach for sugar-free drinks to cut calories, don’t assume it’ll help you lose weight. A recent study shows that overweight people who sipped diet beverages consumed, on average, 91 more calories per day compared to those who didn’t. This may be because artificial sweeteners can alter the brain’s sweet sensors, making them a less reliable gauge of energy consumption. As a result, diet drinkers may feel less satiated and end up eating more food. This doesn’t mean you have to swear off all diet beverages. The key is to keep closer tabs on your food consumption on days when you’re sipping.
