New results suggest that the no-calorie agents disrupt gut bacteria, which may have consequences for blood sugar regulation. However, not all sweeteners had the same effect.
Too much sugar leads to extra pounds and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, saccharin and aspartame, as well as the plant-based sweetener stevia, are said to help reduce consumption and are therefore popular with many. But do these sweeteners actually slip through our gastrointestinal tract without consequences?