For ketogenic dieters and those looking to consume fewer carbohydrates, sugar substitutes like Stevia and Splenda are a safe way to satisfy a sweet tooth. But could these sweet alternatives be hiding a sour secret that’s harming our health? A new study published by researchers in Israel has revealed that artificial sweeteners, even those approved by the FDA, may cause serious gut issues—here’s what you need to know to protect your health.
Your gut and its bacteria
Bacteria in your body?! It’s more likely than you might think! Your body is home to about 40 trillion bacterium—most of which survive in the acidic regions of your gut.1 Thankfully, the bacteria found in our intestines are usually not the same type of bacteria that cause illness. Instead, these bacteria act as helpful digestive aids, giving our guts a break and helping to decompose our food. The presence of imbalanced gut bacteria has been linked to a number of inflammatory diseases, ranging from Crohn’s disease to ulcerative colitis. Gut bacteria have also been found to contribute to a healthy metabolism, and those without proper levels of healthy bacteria in their digestive systems are more likely to be overweight or obese.2 No matter how you slice it, maintaining a balanced and hearty population of gut bacteria is crucial to a healthy digestive system.
Artificial sweeteners: more dangerous than we once believed?
High sugar consumption is well-known to have detrimental health effects—but this new body of research suggests that that artificial sugars can harm our health as well. Researchers examined the impact that “aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, advantame, and acesulfame potassium-k” had on gut bacteria. Ten sports supplements containing those artificial sweeteners were also examined. Researchers doused essential gut bacteria with waves of artificial sweeteners and found that even a few ounces of these sugar substitutes had the potential to alter the populations of bacteria. Researchers theorized that these effects on digestive bacteria could lead to increased difficulty digesting sugar and carbohydrates.
“This is further evidence that consumption of artificial sweeteners adversely affects gut microbial activity which can cause a wide range of health issues,” lead researcher Ariel Kushmaro said in a statement.3
Monk fruit—a more natural solution to sugar-free sweetness
So, does this new research mean that you need to totally cut every sweet treat from your diet for optimal health? No! There are several safe options available, including erythritol and monk fruit sweeteners. These have slowly begun to make their way into the mainstream sweetener aisles across the country, offering a more natural way for dieters to add a little flavor to their coffee and baked goods. Monk fruit, in particular, has been found to lower consumers’ risk of diabetes and obesity, reduce inflammation and fatigue, and it may even be able to protect against certain types of cancers. If you’re looking for a more natural way to cut excess sugar from your diet, looking for a sweetener with a monk fruit base is a great place to start!
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
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