Brigid Titgemeier breaks down a Cell study showing that artificial sweeteners like sucralose and saccharin alter your gut microbiome and spike blood sugar, even though they have zero calories. All four sweeteners tested (aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, stevia) changed gut bacteria composition. Your microbiome controls blood sugar, so "sugar-free" foods with these chemicals may backfire.
Here's why you want to avoid artificial sweeteners like sucralose and saccharin. We've known for years that they negatively impact the gut microbiome, and a new randomized control trial published in Cell looked at four non nutritive sweeteners aspartame, sucralose, saccharin and sevia. They found that all four sweeteners altered gut microbiome and stool. Compared to controls, sucralose and saccharin significantly elevated glycemic response even though they have zero calories or added sugar. This study demonstrates two key points. One your gut microbiome largely influences blood sugar control and two making a food sugar free with artificial sweeteners may mean it has zero calories or added sugar, but it still contains chemicals that change your microbiome and potentially glycemic control. Stay tuned for part two.
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