3 Ways Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners Affect Gut Health
Published June 04, 2015 Right now, your gut is swimming with bacteria, but don't freak out! All that bacteria—good and bad—is there to help you stay healthy. In order for you to stay that way, you need to keep your gut flora happy. Sugar and artificial sweeteners, though, can affect your gut health in some not-so-friendly ways. You probably have heard about the artificial sweeteners aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose—three of the biggest offenders—but you might also want to add sugar to that same list.
Shocking Facts about Artificial Sweeteners and Your Gut
Your gut is constantly digesting food throughout the day, and this takes some energy. If you are consuming foods that drain your energy or interfere with proper metabolism, your gut (and your entire body) is not going to function at its best. Here's a rundown of three problems artificial sweeteners could cause.
1. Fake Sweeteners Cause Glucose Intolerance
One study suggests Splenda, a popular sucralose-based sweetener, can decrease good bacteria levels in the gut. [1] But it's not just sucralose; other studies suggest all artificial sweeteners can actually influence the microbiome (your gut's bacteria). This loss of good bacteria can lead to glucose intolerance, something that could lead to diabetes. [2]
2. Artificial Sweeteners Lead to Weight Gain
If you're using artificial sweeteners and sugar, you might want to know that a recent report suggests fake sweeteners can actually change the way your body processes sugar. Yes, while this could raise blood sugar, leading to a bigger issue like diabetes, weight gain is also an outcome. Because these sweeteners contain no calories, they're not digested, but they still have to travel through the gut. While there, they "may favor the growth of bacteria that make more calories available to us, calories that can then find their way to our hips, thighs and midriffs." [3]
3. Sugar Promotes Damage in Your Gut
Another recent study even suggests sugar can promote the growth of bad bacteria in the gut. [4] This could lead to irritation in the gut, which could even manifest itself as an autoimmune response (allergies and skin conditions are two milder problems). There's even recent evidence suggesting depression is actually your body's response to swelling in the gut. [5]
One Final Thought
While the best thing you can do is cut sugar and artificial sweeteners out of your life completely, avoiding them might not always be practical for most people. An easy suggestion would be to support your gut health by taking probiotics (those "good" bacteria).
What do you do to keep a healthy gut? Tell us about it in the comments below.
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
- Abou-Donia, M.B. et al. Splenda alters gut microflora and increases intestinal p-glycoprotein and cytochrome p-450 in male rats. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 71 (21).
- Suez, J. et al. Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. Nature. 514 (7521).
- Shell, E. R. Artificial Sweeteners May Change Our Gut Bacteria in Dangerous Ways. Scientific American. 312 (4).
- Brown, K. et al. Diet-Induced Dysbiosis of the Intestinal Microbiota and the Effects on Immunity and Disease. Nutrients. 4 (8).
- Dantzer, R. et al. From inflammation to sickness and depression: when the immune system subjugates the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 9.
The post 3 Ways Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners Affect Gut Health appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.
More from Dr. Group's Blog:
No comments:
Post a Comment