Question by : Do Artificial Sweeteners Increase the Intensity of Alcohol if so then Why?
Why do artificial sweeteners increase the intensity of alcohol?
I was watching a news program and the author of the book, “What Not to Eat”, (not exactly sure of the title), said that tonic is high in calories and he went on to say that using a carbonated beverage with artificial sweeteners intensifies the alcohol when making mixed drinks such as vodka and soda. I was wondering why this is? What is the chemistry behind this? Is he correct or not?
Thanks All!
One more question before I forget; LED’s – common elements used?
Thanks and happy holidays!!!!
I’m hoping to get an answer that will explain the chemistry – if any that is going on in a person’s body to intensify the affect of alcohol by the artificial sweetener. The only thing I can think of is the possibility of dehydration by the artificial sweetener thus making the alcohol level higher in the blood? I don’t think that’s correct.
Best answer:
Answer by Brigitte H
This study is the only one, I found, reporting the interaction between artificial sweeteners and ethanol.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20060522/artificial-sweeteners-affect-alcohol
The researchers studied eight ( only! ) healthy young men on two different days for their conclusion, they don`t mention what type of sweetener they used, f.e. aspartame or saccharin or steviosides or whatever. How to find out mechanism of the reaction, not knowing the second reactand.
Some publications report that the intake of ethanol mixed with energy drinks is rather dangerous, because the people overestimate their responsiveness, feeling well and awake in cause of vitamins and even caffeine and are not able to assess the real alcohol effects. Might be the sweeteners give an alibi to bring more discredit to these dangerous beverages.
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It’s simple. Sugar. Alcohol is mostly sugar. Taking soda with alcohol just raises the sugar levels in your body to an extreme amount, leading to an increased risk of injuries to your health. When you go to AA meetings, one of the things that they tell you is that alcoholics will sometimes turn to sugar during their rehabilitation, because it is an addictive substance. Alcohol and sugar aren’t really that uncommon, they both fuel the other.