Could Fake Plus Real Sugar Make You Fuller?

In the diet world, fake sugar and real sugar aren't supposed to get along. But oddly enough, a new study indicates pairing a diet soda with those Christmas cookies may make you feel fuller.

New evidence reveals artificial sweeteners consumed with real sugar may trigger secretion of the "fullness" hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (aka GLP-1). After you eat, GLP-1 is released from the digestive tract to signal the brain that yes, it's true, you're actually full. Just the kind of hormone we wish we could secrete at will, especially when the server sets down the endless chips and salsa.

In the study, researchers gave two separate glucose challenge tests to 22 healthy, young people at a normal weight. The test measures how well your body metabolizes glucose after fasting. Participants drank either diet soda or carbonated water 10 minutes before guzzling the glucose drink. Turns out when participants drank diet soda, they secreted significantly more GLP-1 than when they drank carbonated water, yet respective increases in blood glucose remained the same.

Further research needs to probe what this means to the average diet soda drinker's appetite and metabolism, but other research suggests artificial sweeteners may not help keep the weight off. Considering millions consume artificial sweeteners on a daily basis, there is sure to be more research.

But please, don't start reaching for artificial sweeteners in hopes of controlling your hunger. Remember, many believe soda is so not worth it.