Artificial Sweeteners: The Not So Sweet Truth

Artificial sweeteners have a long history in America. The first in recorded fake sweetener history was discovered in 1897. This sweetener is called Saccharin and was discovered by a researcher who was looking for a new use for coal tar derivatives. This substance is a benzoic sulfimide compound with a taste that is 300 times sweeter than sugar but has “no effect on blood sugar”. This is disputable, but I will discuss that near the end of this article.

Saccharin was used in a lot of products by 1907, but despite concern about its effect on health way back then it seems that the president at the time (Theodore Roosevelt) was trying to lose weight and that outweighed any health advocates’ criticisms at the time. Finally, in 1912 it was banned, but that decade brought America into World War I which saw rationing of food items including sugar. Saccharin was brought back into use and has never been removed from the food supply since. 

Other artificial sweeteners have come and gone in the meantime, but Saccharin has been in circulation for over a century now. Why the fuss? What does this article have to do with brain health? I’m glad you asked.

Brain health is intimately related to gut health. The science behind this is becoming more understood. The interesting correlation between the gut microbiome and the use of artificial sweeteners has become ever clearer these days. People have been consuming artificial sweeteners for years thinking they were saving themselves unnecessary calories and would thereby lose weight. Interestingly yet perplexingly, the weight continues to creep on even as people consume more food items with sugar alternatives as the sweetener. The newest science proves, and the best understanding is that the microbiome that supports good health and optimal weight is being destroyed by these fake sugars and that allows pathogenic and opportunistic microbes to colonize at alarming rates in the digestive system of those who consume it regularly.

The individuals whose gut microbiome is out of balance due to these highly toxic fake sugars tend to have problems with metabolic syndrome and hence gain weight even when using reduced or no-calorie sweeteners.

Another interesting tidbit, there also seems to be some insulin activity resulting from the consumption of no-calorie sweeteners, as described in an article in Psychology Today. Unbalanced blood sugar (and the accompanying insulin resistance) is a contributing factor in mood swings, so it only makes sense to resist the desire for sweets of any kind, including “sugar-free” substitutions.

Here’s the gut-to-brain connection: our brain health is directly tied to the health of our gut. Upwards of 90% of our Serotonin is made in the gut. If the terrain of the gut is out of balance, it can contribute to emotional disturbances, anxiety, and other brain issues. The bottom line: avoid fake sugars, zero-calorie sugar substitutes, and low-calorie sweeteners so that your gut health can have the best chance at maintaining the proper balance for your brain’s sake.