New Year, New Habits: 15 Dietary Mistakes To Avoid If You Want to Lose Weight

10/16 Previous Next

© GettyImages

Too Many Artificial Sweeteners

Many people swear by light or "diet" products with artificial sweeteners, thinking that they will help them lose weight. Although products with sweeteners technically contain fewer calories, they also contain fewer essential nutrients and unnatural ingredients. Drinking a diet soda might save a few hundred calories, but it's not doing your body any favors. Plus, various studies suggest that sweeteners can trigger cravings and have other harmful effects on our health. Here, too, it's important to find the right balance. Occasionally opting for soda instead of water is fine, as long as it doesn't become a daily habit.