I have long suspected artificial sweeteners to be one of the causes of diabetes. I’ve known people without any hereditary sign of the disease in their genetics suddenly being hit with it while people that do have a genetic probability go disease free. Why?
This is, of course, based on my loose observation over the past years. Please don’t think that I am trying to play scientist as to whether artificial sweeteners are one of the factors in American’s rate of diabetes increasing every year. I only note that we eat more of these chemicals in an effort to be healthy and yet more and more of us are contracting the disease.
Diabetes runs in my family and yet I don’t have even a hint of it despite the fact that I eat regular sugars freely and am overweight. On the opposite side I knew a gentleman for years that had no diabetic history, only ate artificial sweeteners and still contracted the disease.
At work the other day I served coffee to hundreds of people and I actually took note of who took artificial sweeteners in their beverage and if they were diabetic. I also asked if they took the sweetners before they contracted the disease. In every case but two they said yes, they had always used artificial sweeteners and “still” managed to contract the disease.
Again, I know my data is hardly scientific. I’m just bringing up something we should all think about: is real sugar healthier than artificial sweeteners? I think it is, and now the American Diabetes Association agrees with me. From their website:
The myth that sugar causes diabetes is commonly accepted by many people. Research has shown that it isn’t true. Eating sugar has nothing to do with developing type 1 diabetes.
Don’t take my word for it. That is an official statement from the folks behind the research on diabetes. Foods containing artificial sweeteners can actually be worse for your blood sugar levels by causing you to watch for the wrong thing. It’s not sugar that is the culprit, but carbohydrates. Again from the American Diabetes Association:
Foods labeled as sugar-free, no sugar added, reduced sugar, and dietetic may still contain carbohydrate. Sugar is only one type of carbohydrate that affects blood glucose levels.
Sugar has taken the brunt of being the dietary bad guy when in fact it’s perfectly healthy when consumed with common sense. Eating a plate of brownies is never a good idea whether the sweetener is natural or artificial. The deception of the artificial sweeteners is that people are lulled into the sense that they are eating safely so they forget moderation. They eat more brownies… and new research shows that artificial sweeteners trigger hunger making it more likely to over indulge.
They’ve recently been found to be addictive as well as actually triggering your hunger receptors making the need to feed much more intense. From Dr. Oz’s website:
Many people use artificial sweeteners to cut their caloric intake, but the very opposite effect can occur. New research shows that artificial sweeteners stimulate taste receptors that sense sweetness in both the esophagus and stomach.
Anticipating energy, the pancreas releases insulin, an important hormone for accumulating body fat. At the same time, chemicals are sent to the brain’s satiety center, which becomes confused as to whether or not the body is actually receiving calories.
The result? You feel even hungrier and less full, which can lead to weight gain.
So my theory that artificial sweeteners actually promote diabetes may not be far off the mark. Fake sweeteners confuse the brain and causes your pancreas to release insulin unnecessarily. Releasing unneeded insulin seems to me like it might mess up the way your body processes it… which is known as diabetes.
As our consumption of artificial sweeteners goes up, so does our national weight and diabetes statistics. I do believe there is an undeniable correlation. Natural is always better, and it seems that the American Diabetes Association (quietly) agrees with me. Officially, sugar does not cause diabetes. Forgive me for requoting:
The myth that sugar causes diabetes is commonly accepted by many people. Research has shown that it isn’t true. Eating sugar has nothing to do with developing type 1 diabetes.
The biggest dietary risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is simply eating too much and being overweight—your body doesn’t care if the extra food comes from cookies or beef, it is gaining weight that is the culprit.
Are They Linked To Diabetes? Since artificial sweeteners cause your body to crave more food, you can put on weight, which increases your risk for diabetes.
Whether you’re diabetic or not, limit yourself to no more than 2 servings of artificial sweeteners per day. (A serving size equals 1 sweetener packet or 1 diet soda.)
Why isn’t it common knowledge that sugar isn’t as bad as artificial sweeteners? My assumption is that the manufacturers of the sweeteners don’t want you to know. Knowing equals less money in their pockets and that means more to them than your health.
My suggestion is to always go natural whenever possible, share this information with your loved ones… and don’t take my word for it. Do your own research and make an informed decision. Here’s some links to get you started:
From the American Diabetes Association: Sugars and Desserts & Diabetes Statistics
From The Dr. Oz Show: Artificial Sweeteners and Other Food Substitutes: Dangerous to Your Health?
From Vibrant Life: The New Sugar Scoop
Is anything safe to eat anymore? It seems like everything we consume these days will kill us or give us a disease.