Are artificial sweeteners bad for you?

Short answer?

For me… yes.

Longer answer?

It’s a bit more complicated than that.

To be fair, there are some valid arguments in favour of artificial sweeteners.

The dose matters.

Some of the scary headlines are based on studies using amounts that most people would never realistically consume.

And if swapping from full-sugar soft drinks to diet versions helps someone lose 20kg, improve their blood markers and regain control of their health, then that’s probably a win.

I can acknowledge all of that.

But I still don’t like them.

Why?

Because I have a strong bias towards nature.

The more time I’ve spent coaching people, the more I’ve come to appreciate the importance of gut health.

Your gut isn’t just a digestive tube.

It’s home to trillions of bacteria that influence digestion, immunity, energy levels, mood, cravings and even cognitive function.

Happy gut… good things tend to happen.

Unhappy gut… not so much.

Now, can I prove that artificial sweeteners are the sole cause of poor gut health?

No.

Can I prove they directly cause disease in humans?

No.

But I don’t think we can ignore the fact that modern diets are increasingly filled with highly processed foods, artificial colours, preservatives, additives and sweeteners.

At the very least, I think it’s a question worth asking.

Maybe this is where my bias starts to show.

When I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, it seemed like every second person was getting lung cancer from smoking.

Fast forward to today and one thing that stands out to me is the rise in colon cancer and other digestive-related health issues.

Now before anyone jumps on me, I’m not saying artificial sweeteners cause colon cancer.

I’m not even saying processed foods cause colon cancer.

What I am saying is that I can’t help but notice a correlation… not causation… between the dramatic increase in highly processed foods, artificial colours, preservatives, additives and sweeteners in our food supply and the increasing rates of gut-related health issues we’re seeing today.

Could I be wrong?

Absolutely.

But I think it’s a question worth asking.

We’ve run a giant nutritional experiment over the last 50 years.

We’ve moved further and further away from whole foods and closer and closer to foods that come in packets, tubs and wrappers.

At the same time, many of the chronic diseases that were once relatively uncommon seem to be becoming increasingly common.

Again, that’s an observation… not proof.

But it’s enough to make me pause and think.

One area that caught my attention recently was some research looking at multiple generations of mice exposed to artificial sweeteners.

The findings suggested that changes in metabolism and gut bacteria may not just affect the individual consuming them, but potentially future generations as well.

Now before anyone gets excited…

Mice aren’t humans.

And one study doesn’t prove anything.

Studies don’t start with answers.

They start with questions.

Someone has a theory.

An idea.

Then they put that idea to the test.

Over time, we build a body of evidence.

That’s how science works.

The other thing I often ask myself is this…

If artificial sweeteners are so obviously beneficial, why do I struggle to find anything remotely similar in nature?

Every morning I see birds eating fruit from trees.

I see animals eating foods that exist naturally in their environment.

What I don’t see is anything lining up for a serving of sucralose or aspartame.

Now that’s not scientific evidence.

It’s simply my bias towards foods that have existed alongside humans for a very long time.

Mother Nature gave us sweetness in the form of fruit, honey and sugar cane.

Yes, fruit today is different from what it was hundreds or thousands of years ago.

But the essence is still there.

Maybe that’s old-fashioned.

Maybe one day the science will prove me wrong.

I’m okay with that.

But until then, my preference is pretty simple.

Eat real food.

Drink water.

Get most of your nutrition from things your grandparents would recognise as food.

If an artificial sweetener helps someone move away from a worse option, then fair enough.

I can see the argument.

But if you’re asking for my personal view…

Artificial sweeteners are a no from me.