Why Sugar-Free Sweets Are a Bad Move

A growing number of Americans are turning to sugar-free cookies, soda, gum, and candy to help them lose weight. But unless you're diabetic, sugar-free sweets are probably a bad dietary move, the LA Times reports. Here are some of the reasons why:

• In most cases, the calorie difference is negligible: While two regular Oreos have 107 calories, two fat-free Oreos have 100.

• Some research shows that artificial sweeteners actually trick the body into craving more calories than it otherwise would.
• Consumed in excess, artificial sweeteners can have laxative effects.
• More seriously, refined carbs—which are just as present in sugar-free as sugared sweets—are linked to higher risks of diabetes and heart disease.
• They won't even help you avoid cavities: Bacteria that cause tooth decay feed off carbohydrates as well as sugar.

(More artificial sweetener stories.)