A word on sweeteners!
In the past few decades a westernised lifestyle has lead to an increased consumption of processed foods which contain a mixture of non-nutritive ingredients such as artificial food additives, flavourings and sweeteners.
In fact, food manufacturers began developing artificial sweeteners and marketing them as healthy alternatives to refined sugar as early as 1880. These sugar substitutes became increasingly popular in the 1960s. The FDA endorses the safety of artificial sweeteners, but there is a increased concern that they are doing so much harm to the human body.
Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?
A review of 37 studies on artificial sweeteners found that they’re associated with a number of health issues, including weight gain and obesity.
Artificial sweeteners affect the body and brain’s ability to gauge how much has been eaten. Providing sweetness without calories confuses the body’s normal digestive processes. This can lead to food cravings, overeating, and metabolic diseases and disorders.
Researchers have also found that the more servings of ultra-processed foods a woman consumes, particularly artificial sweeteners and artificially sweetened beverages, the higher the risk of depression.
Many of the processed packaged items have food additives which are damaging to the microbiome and the delicate gut barrier, causing inflammation somewhere in the body, such as the brain.
For best health, a balanced diet rich in whole foods and minimal inclusion of processed foods and additives is preferred.
Artificial sweeteners are not recommended for children or pregnant women – That should be warning enough?
A note about Stevia. Stevia is marketed as a natural, no-calorie alternative sweetener. It is made from the plant Stevia, but packaged stevia and other sweeteners made with stevia aren’t always 100% natural. To make it shelf-stable, some brands include additives and fillers that can cause adverse reactions to food. To be sure you choose the purest, natural form of stevia, look for brands with only one ingredient: organic stevia leaves.
