Itโ€™s the start of Spring! Use the code SPRING2024 at checkout & receive 50% off Sally-Ann Creed products.

Do Artificial Sweeteners Contribute to Diabetes?

It seems there is certainly evidence for this. Our intestinal beneficial bacteria are the seat of our immune systems, and they also help keep insulin and blood sugar at healthy levels by affecting digestion of sugars and production of gut hormones that control this process. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame K, and sucralose kill off good bacteria. These sweeteners are everywhere, and this is one of the MAIN reasons we eat real food, and we do not buy things pre-packed or processed.

The Journal of Nature shows that all artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance and insulin resistance by altering the gut microbiota which in turn may lead to type 2 diabetes. Stop and think about this for a second. That โ€˜innocentโ€™ sweetener you add to your coffee โ€“ is it one of the chemical man-made sweeteners? If it is, maybe itโ€™s time to stop it. These things have the power to completely change the flora in your gut โ€“ this is serious. The whole community of organisms is affected, and you will end up the worse off with a weakened immune system These sweeteners are not harmless, they have far-reaching side effects from panic disorder to diabetes to brain tumours โ€“ and even (can you believe this one) weight gain. But hang on, isnโ€™t this why you are taking them โ€“ to avoid weight gain?  It amuses me to see the most overweight people piling in the artificial sweeteners in coffee shops, although I do feel sad when I see it. There are over 90 different symptoms attributed to the ingestion of aspartame alone, one of which is weight gain. Any chemical concoction in a lab will have side effects, and one is as bad as another โ€“ so donโ€™t fall for the hype. What gets to me most is that diabetics are encouraged to further destroy their already fragile health by using these as a sugar substitute.

Sucralose is another popular sweetener with a sting in its tail. Sucralose in humans appears to attack the nervous system producing cancer, birth defects and immune system destruction, and in animals swollen livers, calcified kidneys and shrunken thymus glands โ€“ and it reduces gut flora by 50%. This is not food, and should not be put into the body. Itโ€™s FrankenFood.

โ€œI recommend only Stevia, Xylitol and Erythritol as safe sweetenersโ€ 

Stevia is a sweetener herb also known as sweet weed, sweet leaf, sweet herbs and honey leaf.The leaves of stevia are sweeter than sucrose with zero calories and are totally safe when used as a sweetening agent. This plant also exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antiseptic, diuretic, anti-fertility and cardiotonic properties. It has also been documented to have good effects on treating skin diseases such as dermatitis, acne, eczema etc.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sweetener. It can be found naturally or artificially prepared mainly from plant materials chemically or by fermentation of hemicelluloses from agricultural biomass by yeast or bacteria strains.Xylitol can reduce constipation, diabetes, obesity, and other body syndromes or illnesses; it has also revealed its stimulating effect on digestion and immune system. However, it can produce some side effects such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, nephrolithiasis, etc., when consumed in excessive amounts.

Erythritol is a naturally abundant sweetener widely used as sweetener in calorie-reduced food, candies, or bakery products. The use of eythritol has shown to decrease metabolic disorders, such as obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and fat accumulation in the liver. It also exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the intestine.

Links:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32031079/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32638045/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29196787/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197374/

Related articles

Recipesdsas

Protein Essentials- Finding your Perfect Intake

When we think of protein, often the first image that comes to mind is the classic bodybuilder eating a bowl of eggs and downing a protein shake. But protein and its benefits extend far beyond just the fitness enthusiast. Itโ€™s the building block for everything in our body. Essential for...
Untitled design-2

Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, a Greek term for โ€œpoverty of the flesh, โ€ describes the loss of muscle mass, function and strength from the ageing process. This can result in a decreased quality of life, increased falls and injury and inability to perform daily tasks. Did you know that after the age of...
Untitled design

Selenium

Selenium is an essential trace mineral, meaning that while it is only needed in small amounts, itโ€™s still very important for human health. Selenium is found in soil, water and some food groups. It acts like an antioxidant and plays an important role in disease prevention. From supporting immune function...
spices

5 Spices To Boost Your Immune System

Spices made from roots, leaves, flowers, stems, berries, bark and seeds have been used for centuries not only for colouring, flavouring and taste but for their medicinal properties as well. Before the invention of modern medicine, these plants were the only source of natural healing. With the increase of stress...
Untitled design-6

Post-Workout Nutrition

We all know that dreaded feeling the day after leg day, long due run or workout, where the thought of climbing stairs or raising your arms to put on your shirt makes you squench your face. So what can we do to help prevent or decrease this pain? Letโ€™s have...
Recipes

Insulin Resistance

โ€œI feel like my appetite is out of controlโ€, โ€œI canโ€™t seem to lose weightโ€, โ€œIโ€™m gaining weight around my stomach and I have absolutely no energyโ€.  These are common complaints from clients struggling with high insulin levels or insulin resistance. Insulin resistance (IR). IR has become increasingly more common...