01/01/2026
It’s a new year and many put their health, and weight loss as a goal. That is a great thing but the choices you make have an impact. Today I’ll discuss artificial sweeteners. Some choose these to help but do they… maybe not as much as you think! These are all from peer reviewed journals. In my mind better to remove sweetners from your diet, as in time the desire for sweets will decrease, and sensitivity to sweet will increse!
Data from the UK Biobank study showed that each extra teaspoon of artificial sweetener (excluding sweetened beverages) was associated with a small but significant increase in the likelihood of developing CVD, independent of genetic factors. This association persisted after controlling for variables such as age, BMI, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic status.
A review notes that research increasingly shows that artificial sweeteners (eg, saccharin, sucralose) can decrease insulin sensitivity. By altering the gut microbiota, these sweeteners cause low-grade inflammation, which disrupts normal insulin signaling and might lead to higher risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Evidence also suggests that artificial sweeteners cause stress in metabolic tissues, further compounding insulin resistance.
Research shows that aspartame and acesulfame K are linked to a slight increase in overall cancer risk, and notably for breast and obesity-related cancers. However, prospective data can only suggest a correlation, not causation, due to possible confounding factors such as lifestyle.
A recent study found that daily consumption of one or more artificially sweetened drinks during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of children becoming overweight from around age 7 years through adolescence compared to those with no consumption. No increased risk was seen at birth or infancy, suggesting the effect appears later in childhood. The analysis accounted for other factors such as maternal weight before pregnancy, smoking, diet, and breastfeeding, strengthening the findings. This indicates that prenatal exposure to artificial sweeteners may play an important role in shaping long-term weight outcomes in children
