The Truth About Artificial Sweeteners and Your Gut Health
“Sugar-free” products are everywhere — diet sodas, protein bars, gum, even toothpaste. While these might sound healthy, many of them contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, or acesulfame potassium. They promise zero calories and no sugar crashes — but what are they doing to your gut health? Let’s break down what science says about artificial sweeteners and how they affect your digestive system and microbiome. What Are Artificial Sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes. They are much sweeter than sugar but contain few or no calories. Common ones include: Aspartame (Equal) Sucralose (Splenda) Saccharin (Sweet'N Low) Acesulfame K Stevia (natural, but still worth discussing) While these may help with weight loss or managing blood sugar, studies now show they may cause problems in the gut. How Artificial Sweeteners Affect the Gut Your gut is full of bacteria — good and bad — that play a role in digestion, immunity, and mood. A...