Zero-sugar diet may disrupt metabolism, study suggests

A small rodent study found that a strict zero-sugar diet did not cause weight loss but impaired metabolic health by altering gut microbes and weakening the gut barrier, leading to poorer glucose clearance. The researchers caution that the findings in mice with a very small sample size may not translate to humans, and emphasize that extreme sugar elimination could backfire. The piece recommends a balanced, varied diet (including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fermented foods) to support gut health and metabolic function, rather than an all-or-nothing approach to sugar.