Glp-1 Drugs And Low-carb Diets Leave Americans Short On Fiber As Protein Craze Grows, Experts Warn<\/a><\/p>\n The findings challenge the common belief that reducing sweet foods can “train” the body to crave them less over time, and highlight that sweet taste and sugar content are not always the same.<\/p>\n “People have a natural love of sweet taste<\/a>, which has led many organizations, including the World Health Organization, to offer dietary advice on reducing the amount of sweetness in our diets altogether,” Katherine Appleton, a study co-author and professor of psychology at Bournemouth University in England, said in a statement.<\/p>\n Read On The Fox News App<\/a><\/p>\n Cutting back on sweet foods may not reduce cravings, a new study has found.<\/p>\n (iStock)<\/p>\n “However, our results do not support this advice, which does not consider whether the sweet taste comes from sugar, low-calorie sweeteners or natural sources,” Appleton added.<\/p>\n The clinical trial followed 180 adults who were divided into three groups: one that consumed a diet high in sweet-tasting foods,<\/a> one that followed a low-sweetness diet and a third with a moderate level.<\/p>\n Sugar Alternative Bakes Like Real Thing And With Far Fewer Calories, Researchers Insist<\/a><\/p>\n The foods included a mix of sugar, naturally sweet items such as fruit and dairy,<\/a> and low-calorie sweeteners.<\/p>\n Over six months, researchers tracked participants\u2019 preferences for sweet foods, along with weight and biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n Naturally sweet foods like fruit and dairy can still be part of a healthy diet, experts note.<\/p>\n They found no significant differences between the groups across any of the measures. Participants also tended to return to their original eating habits<\/a> once the trial ended \u2014 suggesting that preferences for sweet taste may be relatively fixed in adulthood.<\/p>\n Click Here To Sign Up For Our Lifestyle Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n “It\u2019s not about eating less sweet food to reduce obesity levels,” Appleton said. “The health concerns relate to sugar consumption.”<\/p>\n Some fast food<\/a> may not taste sweet, even though it contains high levels of sugar \u2014 while naturally sweet products such as fresh fruit and dairy products can have health benefits, she added.<\/p>\n Cravings may be influenced more by habits, stress and overall diet than by sweetness alone.<\/p>\n It’s why public health advice should focus on how people can reduce added sugar intake, portion sizes and overall calorie consumption,<\/a> the study indicated.<\/p>\n Click Here For More Lifestyle Stories<\/a><\/p>\n Cravings, meanwhile, are influenced by a variety of factors. Experts say addressing those underlying drivers is what actually helps reduce them.<\/p>\n “Cravings appear to be driven more by overall diet quality, stress, sleep, meal timing and exposure to highly processed foods than by how sweet the diet tastes,” Michelle Routhenstein, a New York-based preventive cardiology dietitian and certified diabetes educator, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n Test Yourself With Our Latest Lifestyle Quiz<\/a><\/p>\n Routhenstein, who was not involved in the study, recommended cutting back on added sugars and ultra-processed foods, focusing on balanced meals with protein, fat and fiber, and choosing more nutritious alternatives<\/a> to high-sugar treats to cut cravings.<\/p>\n Experts say sugar intake \u2014 not just sweetness \u2014 may be more important for health.<\/p>\n The researchers said their findings were based on generally healthy adults<\/a> \u2014 and more research may be needed among other populations.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7d0727c64e32daee397d1266f87f0f72.jpeg\"\/)
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