Erinome: Hello dear friends, today we are going to talk about a super hot topic: Are zero-sugar, zero-calorie, zero-fat drinks really not making you fat? I'm Erinome.
Enceladus: Hi everyone! I'm Enceladus. Oh, this topic is so close to me! Like, all my friends who are trying to lose weight now only drink these "zero" drinks. They say, "No sugar, no calories, so I can drink as much as I want!"
Erinome: Right! I used to think the same. But recently I read some news, and it made me go "hmm, maybe not that simple". So first question: What does "zero-sugar, zero-calorie, zero-fat" really mean? Are they really with no calories at all?
Enceladus: Oh, I never thought about that! I just saw the ads and believed it. So... are they lying?
Erinome: Not exactly lying, but maybe tricky. You know, these drinks don't use real sugar. They use "sweeteners" instead. Sweeteners are like... fake sugar? They taste sweet but have fewer calories than real sugar.
Enceladus: Sweeteners? Like what? Do you have examples?
Erinome: Sure! Like sorbitol. It's a kind of sweetener. Its sweetness is about half of real sugar, and each gram has 3 calories. Oh, and xylitol! It's sweeter, about 90% as sweet as sugar, but only 1 calorie per gram.
Enceladus: Oh! So they do have calories! Just less than real sugar. So "zero calorie" is not 100% zero?
Erinome: Exactly! Experts say even if the calories are very low, they aren't zero. Like, a small bottle might have a little, but if you drink a lot... well, it adds up.
Enceladus: Wow, that's a surprise. So why do people think these drinks help lose weight then?
Erinome: Because they have less sugar and calories than normal drinks. Like, a 500ml normal sweet drink has about 54 grams of sugar! That's like 12 sugar cubes! Oh no, that's way over the daily limit.
Enceladus: 54 grams? What's the daily limit?
Erinome: The Chinese dietary guidelines say we should eat less than 50 grams of added sugar each day, better even 25 grams. So one bottle of normal sweet drink already makes you超标 (chāobiāo - exceed the standard). So people switch to "zero" drinks to avoid that.
Enceladus: That makes sense. But here's the big problem I read: these sweeteners might make you more hungry!
Erinome: Oh right! That's the key part. Our brain is tricky. When it tastes something sweet, it thinks, "Yum, sugar! I need energy now!" Then it sends a signal: "I'm hungry! Eat more!"
Enceladus: No way! So after drinking a "zero" drink, my brain will go "I want real sugar!" and I'll end up eating a cake or something?
Erinome: Exactly! Experts say that. The brain gets the sweet signal but no real energy, so it makes you crave real sugar more. So instead of losing weight, you might eat more!
Enceladus: Oh no! That's the opposite of what we want! So drinking too much of these drinks is bad for losing weight?
Erinome: Yeah. And there's another thing: "zero sucrose" is not "zero sugar". Some brands say "zero sucrose" but still have other sugars. Tricky, right?
Enceladus: Oh! I saw that online before! Some people said, "I drank 'zero sucrose' drinks but still got fat!" So that's why? Because "sucrose" is just one kind of sugar.
Erinome: You got it!商家 (shāngjiā -商家, maybe "brands" is easier) might play word games. So we need to check the ingredient list, not just the ads.
Enceladus: That's a good tip. So besides making you hungry, are there other bad things about these drinks?
Erinome: Sadly, yes. Studies show that people who drink a lot of these "zero" drinks often eat less healthy food. Like, they drink a big bottle, then don't feel like eating vegetables or milk.
Enceladus: Oh right! Because the drink fills them up, but it has no good nutrients. So they miss out on vitamins from fruits or protein from milk.
Erinome: Exactly! And long-term, this kind of diet (eating less healthy food, more sweet drinks) can make you more likely to get fat, or even diabetes.
Enceladus: Diabetes? That's serious. So... should we never drink these "zero" drinks?
Erinome: No, no! It's not that. If you really crave something sweet, a little is okay. But don't drink them every day, or as a replacement for water.
Enceladus: So the best is still water, milk, or real fruit juice?
Erinome: Yep! And eat more vegetables, fruits, eggs... you know, real food with good nutrients. Those are better for our bodies.
Enceladus: That makes sense. So the takeaway is: "zero" drinks are not magic. They have some calories, might make you hungry, and can't replace healthy food.
Erinome: Exactly! So next time you grab a "zero" drink, remember: moderation is key. Don't overdo it!
Enceladus: Haha, I'll tell my friends that. No more "drink 3 bottles a day" for them!
Erinome: That's the spirit! Okay, dear friends, that's it for today. Remember, being healthy is not just about "zero" drinks, but about balanced eating. Let's talk again next time! Bye!
Enceladus: Bye everyone! Stay healthy!
