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If youre about to reach for that second bottle of soda, heres some news that might make you think twice. The Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity reports on a study concluding that consuming only two sugary drinks per day can dull taste buds and lead to cravings for high-calorie food.
The study, published in the Guardian UK, suggests that within the space of just one month, people who drink sugary beverages are left with a dulled sensitivity to sweet tastes. This, the study says, leads to an increased preference for high-calorie, sugar-laden foods.
According to the research, which was carried out at the Universities of Bristol and Bangor in the UK, after drinking sugary beverages those who do not have a sweet tooth are at particular risk of developing one.
Lucy Donaldson, of the University of Bristol, commented about how quickly taste buds could be dulled by exposure to sweet drinks: "We have known for some time that the way we perceive different tastes can change under different circumstances. Finding that two sweet drinks per day over a short time can dramatically change taste was a real surprise."
Another researcher, Dr Hans-Peter Kubis, of the University of Bangor, says: "This has serious implications for public health. This research shows how little sweet foodstuffs are required to actually change your taste perceptions, and how powerful sweet-tasting products are.
Maybe a tall, cool glass of water is a better idea, after all.
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