Mycupofwarmcoffeeisthehighlightofmymorning.Iwakeuplookingforwardtoit.Thecomfortingtasteinmymouth,thewarmfeelinginmybodyandthesatisfactionknowingthatmymindwillslowlystarttoawaken,bringsmeincrediblepleasure.IfeellikeIdeserveatreatforbeingupearly,gettingtowork,andhavingsomuchundercontrol(oratleastlookinglikeIdo)soearlyintheday.Mycoffeeusedtobemorethanasimplecomfortinthemorning,though.Itwasacreamy,sugarydelightthathelpedsatiatemysweetcraving.IusedtoaddonepackofSplendaandalow-fat(heavenly)vanillacreamerinmymorningcoffee.“Can’tIjusthavealittlesweetenerinmycoffee?”Iwouldthink.IfeltlikeIwasalreadygivingupsomuch.Iknewnottogooverboardwithbrownies,cakesandcookies.ThereweresomanytimeswhenIwouldresistapastryatworkorsaynotoacupcakeordonut.Iwonderedifmysweetenerwouldhelpmeloseweightbecauseitwasn’tofficiallysugar–itwasasugarsubstituteanddidn’thaveanycalories.Sweetenersarelow-caloriesubstitutesforsugar–andmanyofthemarenotunsafenorhazardoustoourhealthinthetypicalamountsyouwoulduse.“Whiletheyarenotmagicbullets,smartuseofnon-nutritivesweetenerscouldhelpyoureduceaddedsugarsinyourdiet,thereforeloweringthenumberofcaloriesyoueat.”–Dr.ChristopherGardner,associateprofessorofmedicineatStanfordThebiggestpreventiontoourweight-lossisnotthatartificialsweetenershavelesscaloriesthansugar.Ichallengeyoutothinkbiggerthanifyourartificialsweetenerwillhelpyouloseweightbecauseithaslesscaloriesthansugar...Sweetenerspreventweight-lossbecauseoftheeffecttheyhaveonyourbrain.Hereare3majoreffectssweetenershaveonyourbrain–andwhytheyarepreventingyourweight-loss:
