Myth busted: A study shows that cutting out sugary foods does not make cravings go away or make you healthier.
New research calls into question one of the most common pieces of advice in the field of nutrition.
The research shows that cutting back on sugar doesn't change cravings or make you healthier. It suggests that the problem isn't the sweet taste itself, but the eating of sugary and high-calorie foods.
The research was conducted by experts from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and Bournemouth University in the UK, who analyzed the behavior of 180 participants over six months. The participants were divided into three groups based on the sweetness level of their diets: high, medium, and low. In all cases, the sweetness resulted from a combination of sugar, naturally sweet foods, and low-calorie sweeteners.
The results were clear: regardless of whether participants increased or decreased the sweetness of their diet, their preference for sweet flavors remained constant. No statistically significant differences were observed in health indicators related to cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Furthermore, it was found that many participants naturally tended to revert to their initial eating habits over time, which calls into question the effectiveness of simply modifying the sweetness level in the diet.
Catherine Appleton, a professor of psychology at Bournemouth University, explains: "People have a natural preference for sweet tastes, which is why organizations such as the World Health Organization recommend reducing them in the diet."
However, our results do not support this approach, as it does not take into account the source of that sweetness, whether it is sugar, sweeteners, or natural sources,” he adds.
Based on these findings, the researchers suggest a need to revise public health strategies. Instead of focusing on eliminating sweetness, they believe that focusing on reducing sugar and energy-dense food consumption would be more effective.
Appleton explains, "It's not about eating fewer sweets to combat obesity. The real problem is sugar. Some fast food products aren't sweet, but they contain large amounts of sugar, whereas naturally sweet foods like fruit or dairy products can provide health benefits."