Even though artificial sweeteners taste sweet—oftentimes even sweeter than the real thing—the brain can’t be fooled. Unlike sugar, which provides a boost of energy and pleasure, artificial sweeteners don’t cause the rush of dopamine in the brain that signals reward. This leaves you unsatisfied and more likely to indulge in sugar later on. The scientists who made this discovery (which was, it should be noted, in mice) think sating your sweets craving with a little bit of sugar, instead of a no-cal treat, might be a better way to go.
READ MORE: The Dark Side of Sweeteners
