Artificial sweeteners are used in many beverages and food products, especially diet products. While it is widely believed that these are beneficial to our health and help prevent diseases such as diabetes, that is not the case.

Contrary to popular belief, the use of artificial sweeteners in diet products can lead to serious health complications. If you already have existing health conditions, such as obesity, they are even more of a risk for you to take. Most people use artificial sweeteners to lose weight but what they don’t know is that it actually ends up making them gain more weight!

Two of the most common artificial sweeteners used today are aspartame and sucralose, both of which can be harmful to human health. Find out more about them and why you must eliminate them from your diet:

Artificial Sweeteners: What Are They Used for?

Often when a product is labeled sugar-free, it means that it contains an artificial sweetener instead. Here are some of the everyday items that have different types of artificial sweeteners in them:

• Diet soda
• Yoghurt
• Low-calorie fruit juices
• Sugar-free ice cream
• Certain candies and gums

Many popular beverage brands that we consume on a daily basis also have artificial sweeteners. One such example is Coke Zero that contains aspartame. You can check whether or not a product contains aspartame by looking at its Nutrition Facts Label.

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is commonly used in place of sugar in many foods and drinks. It is generally sold under the brand names NutraSweet and Equal. It is also commonly used in packaged products. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar, which is why you only need to use a small amount of it.

Dangers of Aspartame

You may not be aware of it but there are many dangers of aspartame that can severely affect your health and well-being in the long run. Although it is widely believed that aspartame is safe for consumption and scientific studies have confirmed its safety, that is not completely the case. In fact, there are dangers associated with its consumption.

Some reports reveal that instead of causing weight management, aspartame can cause weight gain. It can also result in an impaired response to glucose and insulin resistance, particularly among people who have type-2 diabetes. Reports also show that aspartame can act as a chemical stressor in the body, thereby making the hormone that's responsible for weight gain, known as cortisol, rise. This causes weight gain specifically around your belly.

To add to that, it can also lead to some cognitive and behavioral problems, such as seizures, headaches, learning disabilities, migraines, ADHD, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Furthermore, it can lead to serious illnesses later on, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease and more.

Sucralose

Sucralose is a popular artificial sweetener that is known for being made of sugar as it claims. It can be used on its own or used in Splenda. When used on its own, it has no calories and that’s what makes it high in demand. Currently, it is found in more than 4,500 products. It can also be used for cooking, which is another factor that adds to its popularity.

People commonly mistake sucralose as sugar but you must remember that it’s nothing like it. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar, which is why you don’t have to use much of it. For starters, sucralose is not a natural substance and is mixed with chemicals that can be extremely harmful to human health. Did you know that it also has chlorine in it? Chlorine is a chemical that is used in poisonous gas, plastics, disinfectants, etc.  Therefore, it should not be consumed.

Some common symptoms associated with sucralose include bloating and nausea. A person can also start to feel skin irritation and itching, rashes, swelling, and so on. To add to that, symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, chest pain, mood imbalances, itchy eyes, etc., are also common among individuals who consume sucralose.

Dangers of Sucralose

Often, sucralose is sold under the name ‘Splenda’ which is among the most common artificial sweeteners out there. It is highly dangerous because this synthetic sugar isn’t recognized by the body. For starters, it can cause diabetes and increase your risk for type-2 diabetes by decreasing your insulin sensitivity, which essentially prevents the absorption of glucose in cells. It can also lead to weight gain, just like aspartame. Studies conducted on both humans as well as animals have proved this. To add to that, it can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease as well as hypertension.

Sucralose is also known to increase your risk of getting irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between the amount of sucralose consumed and the rise in inflammatory bowel disease.

Natural Alternatives

If you are trying to eliminate sugar from your diet, there are many natural alternatives that you can choose from. These alternatives are healthier, lower in calories, and will give you the same amount of sweetness. Some examples of such natural alternatives are honey, natural fruit juice, maple syrup, agave nectar, stevia leaves, etc. Each of these is natural, however, that doesn't mean that they should be consumed excessively, they should still be consumed in moderation.

You now know the dangers of these artificial sweeteners, so take charge and get rid of them from your life. You will thank yourself in the long run. Besides, there are so many natural and healthy alternatives, so why risk your health?