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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

The bitter effects of mixing low-calorie sweeteners with carbs

After a regimen combining carbohydrates and sucralose, the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar falters.
Packets of Sweet N' Low, Equal, and sugar in a restaurant in New York.

A low-calorie sweetener on its own did no harm to research participants. But when paired with carbohydrates, it dampened their brain response to sweet tastes. Credit: Alamy

Sugar substitutes make people feel they can indulge in a sweet treat or a soft drink without the calories. But research suggests that consuming low-calorie sweeteners at the same time as carbohydrates prevents the body from using blood sugar effectively, increasing the risk of health problems.

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Nature 579, 176 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00628-x

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