You are here:

Nutrition & Dieting/Sugar cravings and artificial sweeteners

Advertisement

Expert: Tanya Zilberter, PhD - 12/21/2007


Question
hey, i get really bad cravings for sugar alot.  I have not eaten any sugar for a week and still have them!  however i do drink diet pop almost everyday and am wondering if this Makes you crave sugar and makes it worse?  I just cant get rid of the craving.  is there any research that it makes you crave sweets??  thanks

Answer
Hello,

The short answer is yes, there is plenty of research plus, there's tons of anecdotal evidence. See for yourself.

Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. T. Zilberter. British Medical Journal, 15 Oct 2004
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/329/7469/755#78439

Soft Drinks Linked to Increased Risk of Insulin Resistance
http://atkinszone-did-you-know.blogspot.com/2007/10/soft-drinks-linked-to-increa...

The brain believes the sweet taste rather than metabolic facts
http://brainfuels.com/2010/05/the-brain-believes-the-sweet-taste-rather-than-met...

Many low carb diets prohibit artificial sweeteners, for one reason or another. We advise to abstain from sweeteners for the reason of insulin control and thus appetite inhibition.
http://bantadiet.com



Tanya Zilberter

Nutrition & Dieting

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Tanya Zilberter, PhD

Expertise


I am in neurophysiology since 1972, my research started with studies of neuronal interactions in the hypothalamic centers of hunger and satiety. Since 2007, I focus on the metabolic aspects of neuroprotection.

Experience

I worked for 20 years in interdisciplinary teams with physicists and mathematicians as an expert in physiology, preparing conceptual models of regulatory systems for further implications in larger-scale mathematical and computer modeling. Tanya Zilberter, PhDAuthored 3 academic print books and five popular print books.

Organizations
I am a freelance research consultant for the Infotonic Consultancy. I participate in a research project concerning neuroprotectors including energy substrates. The website related to this project is Brain Fuels where I'm trying to popularly write about brain metabolism and neuroprotection.



Publications

Academic print books:

  • The current concept of homeostasis
  • Cascade effects of regulatory peptides
  • Physiological effects of neuropeptides


    • Recent academic articles:

  • GABA action in immature neocortical neurons directly depends on the availability of ketone bodies
  • Neuronal activity in vitro and the in vivo reality: the role of energy homeostasis.


    • Popular print books:

  • The Banta Diet
  • 180 Banta Diet Recipes
  • Calorie Theories, Longevity, and Natural Health
  • Reflexo-therapy From Kuznetsov's Applicator to Shakti Mat: Forty year-long success story

    Education/Credentials
    PhD in Physiology

    Past/Present Clients
    Currently, I affiliate with Infotonic Consultancy as a freelance research consultant. In 1972-1991, I wrote for/collaborated with: Informatics Div., Moscow State University, Institute for Continuing Education for Physicians (Russia), Glushkov's Institute of Cybernetics (Ukraine), State Institute of Scientific and Technical Information (Russia). In 1995-2007, I used to write for the online publishers such as about.com, lifetips.com, dietandbody.com, infozine.com, atkinszone.com, bantadiet.com, reflexo-therapy.com. In 2005-2007 and in 2009, I worked for the Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology, Marseille, France.

    • ©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.