artificial sweeteners

Several popular sugar substitutes may accelerate cognitive decline in adults, particularly those under 60 or with diabetes. Higher artificial sweetener intake was linked to faster memory and thinking decline, equivalent to 1.6 years of cognitive aging. Researchers caution more studies are needed to confirm causation.

A Pakistani parliamentary committee highlighted concerns over declining mango production and the impact of artificial sweeteners in beverages on natural mango-pulp-based products. Regulatory changes allowing increased use of synthetic additives have reduced consumption of natural mango products, potentially affecting public health and the mango industry.

A study found that expectations and labels significantly influence taste perception, with participants rating artificial sweeteners as more pleasant when they believed they were consuming sugar. Brain scans showed increased reward activity when participants expected sugar, even when given sweeteners, suggesting taste is shaped by both the drink and the brain's predictions.

A study reveals that the brain's expectations about a drink's content (sugar vs. artificial sweetener) significantly influence taste perception. Participants experienced heightened enjoyment when expecting sugar, even with artificial sweeteners, and vice versa for real sugar.