In a study published in May 2011, researchers found that overweight/obese individuals perceive sweet and salty as being less intense compared to normal-weight individuals. Four weeks of soft drink supplementation changed the way that normal weight people perceived sweet tastes, and increased preference for sweet in individuals who previously disliked sucrose.
Individuals who consume two “sweet” beverages per day perceive taste differently over time, where beverages previously perceived as “too sweet” are now not so sweet. The more frequent and longer one drinks sugary beverages, the more the sensation of sweetness declines, leading people to consume more of these types of sweet drinks.
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to insulin resistance and disproportionate weight gain.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that tastes just like sugar, but has 40% less calories and creates no sugar highs or lows!
Related resource material:
Access our Fructose Fact Sheet, a document addressing common misconceptions about fructose.