After having been around for a while, do we know whether artificial sweeteners are good or bad for us? These sweeteners are now absolutely everywhere as a sweetening option. They maintain a large presence on grocery store shelves and are included in countless food products.
Artificial Sweeteners:
Aspartame
You may know it as the brand name, NutraSweet or Equal. It is actually 200 times sweeter than sugar, so it is only needed in extremely small amounts to deliver the same sweet flavor. Its sweetness lasts longer than table sugar, so it is often blended with other artificial sweeteners to produce more of a natural sugar taste, which is less bitterness and with a longer shelf life. The main use of aspartame is found in soft drinks, but it’s also common in medications, fruit drinks and chewing gum.
Although considered safe for consumption by many government regulating bodies, aspartame hosts a wide variety of side effects, ranging from anxiety, candida, brain fog and memory loss, muscle spasms, weight gain, brain tumors and brain cancer, digestive issues, heart palpitations and more. However, those who support its use indicate there is no concrete evidence to support these claims.
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K).
Ace-K is usually combined with sucralose in Splenda, or with aspartame and Equal or Coke Zero. Ace-K is more stable at high temperatures in aspartame, so it is commonly used as a low calorie sugar substitute in baked goods. It is quite often found in candy, toothpaste, chewing gum, dressings, marinades, sauces, frozen desserts, ice cream, yogurt, lemonade and protein shakes.
Healthline, an American provider of health information out of San Francisco, has issued caution about Ace-K. They have stated that, “If you take a better-safe-than-sorry approach when it comes to food additives with controversial backgrounds, it may be best to steer clear of Ace-K.” They encourage us to be label-readers of the foods and drinks we purchase to be able to identify Ace-K. It goes by several names, like acesulfame potassium, acesulfame K, or Ace-K. It is also marketed under the brand name, Sunnet or Sweet One. You are most likely to find it in sugar-free or low-sugar products, and it is common in diet sodas.
Sucralose.
Commonly known as Splenda, Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is marketed in a way that makes you think it comes from natural sugar. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar. However, it is highly-processed, and the reason it is not absorbed in the gut like sugar is because it has three chlorine molecules attached to it. These molecules can damage the microbiome (gut bacteria), and lead to candida, irritable bowel, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and obesity.
Sucralose only makes up about 5 percent of Splenda. The other 95 percent contains a bulking agent and filler called maltodextrin, and corn-based dextrose, a type of sugar. Sucralose is used as a sugar substitute in cooking and baking and is added to thousands of “zero calorie” food products sold throughout the United States. It is used more extensively than any other artificial sweetener, because it is readily soluble in ethanol, methanol and water. This means it can be used in fat and water-based products, including alcoholic drinks.
Condensed List of side effects of Sucralose/Splenda by Dr. Josh Axe, a doctor of Natural Medicine, Chiropractor and Author.
- It may cause Diabetes.
- Increases risk of IBS and Crohn’s Disease.
- It is linked to Leaky Gut.
- It may generate toxic (and carcinogenic) compounds when heated.
- It is associated with weight gain.
Do Artificial sweeteners affect our weight?
The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio found that consuming zero-sugar and diet soda increases the likelihood of weight gain by 47 percent! Dr. Sharon Fowler, who led the study, concluded that artificial sweeteners are a cause rather than a countermeasure of the current obesity epidemic (Fowler et al. 20083). This may also help explain one reason why obesity has steadily worsened since many synthetic sweeteners were approved.
Genesis Health Solutions does not endorse artificial sweeteners.
The GHS approach:
- Remove toxins.
- Steer clear of artificial ingredients and preservatives.
- Avoid products that cause health concerns or weight gain.
Artificial sweeteners stimulate insulin secretion, which is a fat storage system. It is best to stay away from them.