Side effects of artificial sweeteners can be hard to spot because they’re not always obvious and they don’t happen with everyone who consumes them. Although sucralose side effects are rare, you should still know the risks before adding this artificial sweetener to your diet, so you can make an informed decision based on what you know about your own body and health goals.
Here are some key things to keep in mind when thinking about whether or not to use sucralose as an alternative to sugar and other sweeteners in your daily life.
What Is Sucralose?
Sucralose is a zero-calorie sweetener that provides great taste without any calories. It’s made from sugar, but it tastes like pure sugar, allowing you to cut back on your calorie intake for sweets and treats. Sucralose is also a very stable sweetener and can last in storage for up to three years.
Although research shows it’s safe to consume, there are still a few side effects that you should know about. Here’s what you need to know about sucralose so you can make an informed decision before using it.
Is sucralose dangerous?
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener made from sugar and is used in a variety of foods including baked goods, frozen desserts, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages. When it was approved by FDA for consumption, it was considered safe to consume at any amount and sucralose side effects weren’t really an issue.
However, since then research has shown that there could be some serious health risks from regular consumption of sucralose such as cancer or kidney problems. It’s now important to watch your intake of sucralose and try to avoid large amounts of sucrose whenever possible.
Is Sucralose safe for diabetics?
Artificial sweeteners aren’t necessarily bad for you. One important thing to keep in mind is that all artificial sweeteners can trigger a wide range of side effects if consumed in large amounts, so keep an eye on your intake and consider sucralose side effects when using them. Aside from harmful effects, too much sucralose may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhoea.
Also, sucralose can interact with certain medications and medications like insulin, which diabetics need to manage their condition correctly. If you have diabetes or suspect you might be diabetic, talk to your doctor before consuming any sweetener product containing sucralose. If there are no contraindications, small amounts will not harm your health but overuse can result in serious complications.
Does it cause cancer?
Studies indicate that sucralose does not pose a risk of causing cancer in humans. According to an FDA animal study in 2000, rats were fed amounts of sucralose equal to hundreds of cans of diet soda over their lifetimes and did not develop tumors. A 2005 follow-up study on rats also found no adverse health risks from consuming sucralose.
Neither study, however, directly addressed whether or not cancer could develop as a result of consuming artificial sweeteners over a long period of time (15+ years). This is important because cancer-causing chemicals are known to build up in tissues—so it’s unclear if artificial sweeteners cause any such problems.
Other serious side effects
The adverse reactions mentioned above aren’t all of them. There are other side effects that can occur, such as mild ones like headaches, vomiting, stomach pains and diarrhoea; or serious ones like seizures, fainting and heart rhythm disturbances. These are even more likely to occur in people who have other conditions such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder. If you want to learn more about sucralose side effects, it’s best to talk with your doctor before you add it to your diet.
Sucralose and weight
Many people use artificial sweeteners to reduce the calories in their diet. Although all of these products are calorie-free, they can still have harmful side effects. According to research published in 2008 in The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, sucralose can lead to an increase in weight when consumed daily over a long period of time. Additionally, as it may provide no feeling of fullness, it may cause you to eat more.
Sucralose and gut health
Sucralose is a synthetic sugar substitute used to sweeten food and beverages. In response to widespread sucralose use, some researchers have suggested that there may be a link between sucralose consumption and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Because they are so low in calories, people often consider artificial sweeteners like sucralose as free or zero-calorie foods.
But although zero-calorie artificial sweeteners can help control calorie intake, their effect on gut health is not well-understood. Recently, however, scientists published a study that directly addresses whether sucralose affects gut health. The study used mice as a model for humans when it comes to studying gut health.
Conclusion
Sucralose may be great for those watching their weight, but we want to point out that it’s not a healthy substitute for natural sweeteners like honey or stevia. While sucralose is deemed safe, other artificial sweeteners like aspartame have been proven to increase hunger and may be linked to certain forms of cancer (29). We recommend limiting your intake of artificial sweeteners and opting for natural alternatives instead.
