30 Seconds Summary
Artificial Sweeteners: Bitter Controversy

  • Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose are surrounded by controversy, often linked to serious health issues, but many claims are disputed.
  • Many human studies suggest that high-intensity sweeteners are safe to consume in any dosage, not affecting blood sugar, insulin levels, or causing toxicity.
  • Using artificial sweeteners can lead to increased consumption of sweeter foods overall and may cause hunger if consumed without other nutrients.
  • Most commercially available sweeteners contain low but notable amounts of calories due to bulking agents like maltodextrin.
  • Sugar alcohols and tagatose are generally safe but may cause digestive issues such as gas, bloating, and a laxative effect; some types have calories.
  • Erythritol is considered one of the safest sugar alcohols, with few calories and minimal digestive discomfort, though it has a cooling effect when dissolved.
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