Have you heard that sugar substitutes can increase your cravings and maybe cause you to regain the weight you’ve lost? Or, maybe you’ve heard that these no and low calorie sweeteners might cause diabetes? Is this information true and even accurate? Don’t go anywhere as award-winning dietitian Neva Cochran joins me on the Bariatric Surgery Success podcast to answer your questions and address your concerns.

Guest: 

Neva Cochran, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Twitter: @NevaRDLD

Instagram: @nevardld 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NevaRDLD/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neva-cochran-ms-rdn-ld-fand-a935225/ 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/nhcrd

Website: www.NevaCochranRD.com 

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Joining me from Dallas, Texas, is award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, Neva Cochran. She’s passionate about sharing fact-based food and nutrition information to help you “eat beyond those headlines” and enjoy your food. She blogs about trending food and nutrition topics on her “Eating Beyond the Headlines” blog. For 20 years, Neva was a researcher and writer for Woman’s World magazine and she brings her expertise to share with you today. 

Fat and sugar have both been demonized and right now there is a low sugar fad much like the low fat fad some years back. Low calorie and no calorie sweeteners are so popular but on the flip side, social media posts and other media headlines have created fear and uncertainly about using low calorie and no calorie sweeteners. Do they cause diabetes and/or weight gain? It’s confusing and hard to decipher what is sound science against what is pseudo science. There have been several questions posted in my FB group so let’s answer them and clear up the confusion so you know if it’s ok to use them and if so which ones. 

Questions we answer in this episode:

**There are so many names for artificial sweeteners such as low and no sugar sweeteners. What are other names and are they all referring to the same thing? 

I recently did a podcast on erythritol, episode #107. Here's the link to listen:

#107 Can You Have Erythritol after Bariatric Surgery? https://www.breakingdownnutrition.com/blog/107-can-you-have-erythritol-after-bariatric-surgery

**Explain microbiome and specially the gut.

**Should we be worried about these using these sugar substitutes? Diabetes in the bariatric community.

**I’m in the grocery store and see box after box or container of various no and low calorie sweeteners. Is there a better choice among sugar substitutes?

**Not everyone uses the same amount of these products. How much is too much and will it affect the gut? 

**Maybe you’ve heard that using no and low calorie sweeteners cause you to crave sweets more and gain weight. Is this accurate or unproven?

**One member of my FB group was told not to drink Gatorade Zero, just water after surgery. Your thoughts?

**What haven’t you told us that is important to know? The bottom line so to speak.