Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose, have been approved to be used in place of sugar to combat some health risks. However, these sweeteners have also been shown to have adverse effects, which is why the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have given a “cautious” nod to it.
Artificial sweeteners are really not the safe bet and escape from the regular sugar like some people think, because they may have surprisingly bitter consequences. You may want to know what happens when you stop taking these sweeteners. Keep reading to know more.
1. Your blood sugar levels will stabilize
Artificial sweeteners trigger sweet receptors in the body, which makes the body react as if it were real sugar, making the body less effective at burning fat. With artificial sweeteners, the body is arranged to expect more sugar, and in response to this, it makes more insulin to receive the expected sugar. Insulin stores fats in the cells, which builds up energy stores and triggers hunger. When you get hungry too often, you are more likely to eat more than you should, of which it will likely contain added sugars. Quitting artificial sweeteners will prevent these from happening and will help stabilize blood sugar levels.
2. Sleep like a baby
Increased blood sugar levels can cause insomnia or sleep disturbances, making you wake up at intervals. One of the best ways to improve your health is by having a good quality sleep, and you really don’t want to counter that by the amount of sugar you take in. You will avoid a spike in your blood sugar levels by eradicating sugar and refined carbs from your diet, especially at night before you go to bed. Increased sugar levels can also cause excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, bloating and gas, in those people who are sensitive to it. You sure don’t want these symptoms to disturb your sleep.
3. Your gut will get healthier
Building a healthier gut will help reduce your risk of obesity, which is why it is always advisable to reduce sugar intake. However, these artificial sweeteners may also be causing harm to the gut, as researchers have found that some of these sweeteners have been metabolized, thereby altering the makeup of gut bacteria. They were initially never known to cause harm, until recently, when further research was done.
Artificial sweeteners are only regular sugars in disguise. They may not cause as much harm as regular sugar does, but they do have their adverse effects and should be taken in minimal quantity.
Image courtesy of: mumbaye.de, prevention.com.
