Artificial Sweeteners

 

• When harmful substances leak through the gut lining into the bloodstream, the body’s defense system (the immune system) reacts.
• This reaction can cause inflammation, which is like when a cut on your skin gets red and swollen.

Lets look at the studies
• -Sucralose
In one study, researchers found that sucralose-6-acetate damaged the junctions that hold together the cells in the human intestines. This can cause gut microbes and molecules to move into the body, which can lead to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic liver disease.

• Neotame

In another study, researchers found that neotame exposure caused increased cell death and leakiness in the walls of the intestine. It also caused usually harmless gut bacteria to begin acting in ways that could cause disease.

• Ace-K
In mice, Ace-K reduced beneficial gut bacteria and increased bacteroides, which is associated with obesity. Ace-K also increased the growth of e.coli and genes responsible for LPS synthesis, a toxin that can cause leaky gut.

• In summary, our gut is our bodies filter. Studies have shown some artificial sweeteners can affect the gut through multiple mechanisms.
-Some alter the gut microbiomes- the good bacteria in the gut. This causes dysbiosis (an imbalance in your gut hormone).
-Others target the mucosa in your intestine. Just like you cough up sputum ( the protective snot that lines your inside of your lungs)- you have a similar mucous barrier in your intestines. IF you damage this you lose a form of protection
– And lastly some directly affect the gut permeability- which allows toxins to be absorbed into your blood stream

• All of these can forms of damage can cause systemic inflammation, malnutrition, and alterations in metabolism

Now that sounds like a punch in the gut!