Does Consuming Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners Change Taste Preferences?

Perm J. 2015 Summer;19(3):81-4. doi: 10.7812/TPP/14-229.

Abstract

Americans consume 22.3 teaspoons of added caloric sweeteners a day. Sweeteners range from 180 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar. In summer 2014, 20 people from Kaiser Permanente California facilities cut out all added sugars and artificial sweeteners for 2 weeks: 95% of participants found that sweet foods and drinks tasted sweeter or too sweet, 75% found that other foods tasted sweeter, and 95% said moving forward they would use less or even no sugar. Additionally, 86.6% of participants stopped craving sugar after 6 days.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carbohydrates / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Sucrose / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Food Preferences
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sweetening Agents / adverse effects*
  • Taste / physiology*

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Sucrose
  • Sweetening Agents