All articles tagged with #artificial sweeteners
New research questions whether sugar substitutes truly deliver health benefits; despite being marketed to cut calories and prevent tooth decay, emerging evidence suggests potential downsides and calls for long-term studies to weigh risks and benefits.
A neuroscience study using fMRI with 99 healthy adults shows that what people expect about a beverage’s sugar content can dramatically change how the brain’s reward system processes sweetness: thinking a drink contains sugar boosts the reward response to artificial sweeteners, while thinking it’s diet makes real sugar less pleasant. The dopaminergic midbrain was identified as key in this effect, highlighting how labeling and expectations can influence food choices and may inform dietary messaging.
A Neurology study of 12,772 Brazilian adults over ~8 years found that higher intake of six common sugar substitutes (aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol, xylitol; tagatose was the exception) is associated with faster cognitive decline, with the highest-intake group showing about 62% faster global decline (roughly 1.6 years of aging) and notable drops in memory and verbal fluency; the link is correlational, not proven causation, and potential mechanisms include toxic metabolites and brain inflammation. Sugar substitutes remain common in ultraprocessed foods, so moderation rather than complete avoidance is advised.
An eight-year study of 12,772 adults (mean age ~52) found that higher consumption of several low- and no-calorie sweeteners (except tagatose) is linked to faster cognitive decline, especially among those under 60 and people with diabetes. The results show correlation, not causation, and health authorities say approved sweeteners remain safe while further research is needed.
Experts say protein bars can be convenient when a meal isn’t possible, but they aren’t a health shortcut: many contain artificial ingredients and sugar alcohols, so choose bars with simple, recognizable ingredients and limit intake; for most people, meeting protein and fiber needs through whole foods is preferable to relying on bars.
Consuming liquid sugar, especially through sugary drinks like soda and sweetened beverages, can cause long-term brain damage by inducing inflammation, insulin resistance, and cognitive decline, with particularly harmful effects on children and young adults. Artificial sweeteners may also accelerate mental decline, and reducing sugar intake by choosing healthier alternatives can help protect brain health.
Consuming liquid sugar, especially in sugary drinks like soda and sweetened beverages, can cause long-term brain damage by leading to insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which impair memory, focus, and increase dementia risk. Early exposure in children is linked to attention problems and ADHD, and artificial sweeteners may also accelerate cognitive decline. Reducing intake and replacing sugary drinks with water or unsweetened beverages can help protect brain health.
Recent studies suggest that erythritol, a common artificial sweetener, may increase oxidative stress, disrupt vascular signaling, and impair clot regulation in brain blood vessel cells, potentially raising the risk of stroke and heart attack, especially with high consumption. While approved and widely used, its long-term effects remain uncertain, prompting further research into its safety.
A Brazilian cohort study suggests that high consumption of non-caloric artificial sweeteners may be associated with accelerated cognitive decline over eight years, raising concerns about their long-term safety despite regulatory approval, with potential mechanisms involving neurotoxicity and gut microbiota alterations.
Consuming artificially sweetened diet sodas may have several health risks including weight gain, heart issues, mental health problems, gut microbiome disruption, and dental erosion, despite being marketed as a zero-sugar alternative. Experts recommend reducing intake and choosing healthier beverages to avoid these potential health impacts.
Dr. Clint Steele warns that daily consumption of diet soda may increase the risk of stroke by 300% and dementia by 290%, urging people to switch to water or tea to protect brain health, based on research tracking drinking habits over ten years.
A brain specialist warns that daily consumption of diet sodas can increase the risk of stroke by 300% and dementia by 290%, citing research linking artificial sweeteners to serious health issues, and advises replacing them with water or tea.
Harvard doctor Trisha Pasricha shares seven science-backed tips to optimize coffee consumption for better health, including limiting sugar, avoiding artificial sweeteners and ultra-processed creamers, using filters, drinking early in the day, and planning for bowel movements, emphasizing that how and when we drink coffee significantly impacts our wellbeing.
A study reveals that sucralose, a common artificial sweetener, can produce a compound called sucralose-6-acetate in the body, which damages DNA and weakens the gut barrier, raising concerns about its safety and potential health risks. The findings suggest a need for regulatory review and further human studies to assess long-term effects.
A 14-year study from Monash University found that daily consumption of sugar-free diet drinks like Cola Zero may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 38%, potentially due to artificial sweeteners disrupting gut health and metabolism, suggesting water as a healthier alternative.