What are the risks of artificial sweetener? You’re one of the fans of artificial sweeteners? This ingredient is widely used by manufacturers and sellers of food or beverages because it is cheaper than regular sugar.

Moreover, because of its lower calorie content, people on strict diets also often consume it as a substitute for natural sugar.

Artificial sweeteners are also often used by people with diabetes to control their blood sugar level. However, among some of these uses, is artificial sweetening harmful to health?

6 Risks of Artificial Sweetener

1. Sugar Addiction

Because it tastes sweeter than sugar, people who frequently use artificial sweeteners have a higher tolerance of sweetness.

As a result, they are no longer able to consume unsweetened beverages such as bitter coffee and tea. Likewise with food, they will be more likely to choose food with a very sweet taste.

And after all of that, their sugar consumption will be higher, and this condition will have a long-term negative impact on health.

2. Obesity

Slow consumption of artificial sugar can turn off your body’s system to control your appetite which ultimately disrupts your whole body’s metabolism.

This condition can cause a disruption in the production of insulin that keeps you hungry even though you’ve eaten a lot.

Most artificially sweetened foods include low calories that make your body think you’re still hungry. This promotes a craving tendency that then boosts your motivation to eat more.

Also Read: “5 of the Most Commonly Used Types of Artificial Sweeteners“

3. Increase the Risk of Cancer

In the 1970s, cyclamate, one of the type of artificial sweeteners, became controversial after it was found that this sweetener could cause cancer.

The findings sparked great concerns about the safety of cyclamate, and as a result, this sweetener has been withdrawn from circulation in many countries.

Currently, cyclemate is no longer available on the market, and its use has been banned in many countries.

Although many of the artificial sweeteners that are currently used are considered safe and have been approved by health regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EFSA, excessive consumption of these types of sweetener can still cause side effects.

Several studies indicate potential health risks that may be associated with the consumption of large amounts of artificial sweeteners, including possible long-term effects that are not fully understood yet.

4. High Blood Pressure

Many studies have proven that excessive sugar consumption can interfere with the heart’s ability to pump blood.

Other studies show that consuming artificial sweeteners in excessive portions can raise blood pressure and stimulate the liver to dump fat into the bloodstream.

The more fat in the blood, the higher the blood pressure, and the higher your risk of arterial hardening. A combination of these three can increase the risk of heart disease.

5. Increase Risk of Panic Attack

In individuals with panic disorder, excessive consumption of artificial sweeteners can trigger panic attacks or aggravate existing symptoms.

Therefore, it is important to consume artificial sweeteners wisely and pay attention to the body’s reactions, especially for those with a history of panic disorder.

If you experience side effects, it is advisable to consult a health professional to get a proper treatment.

Also Read: “6 Types of Natural Sugar“

6. Increase the Risk of Type-two Diabetes

It’s no longer a secret that people who like to eat and drink sweets are at risk of developing diabetes, because the more sugar you eat, the more insulin your body produces.

Insulin really plays a role in turning sugar from food into energy, but when the body’s insulin levels and sugar levels are high, the body develops a condition called insulin resistance that triggers diabetes.

And as we all know, diabetes is like the mother of all diseases as it can cause blindness, hypertension, heart disease, even cancer.

There you have it! The 6 risks of artificial sweetener to get you a better understanding about these sweet substances and the risks they carry.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of six types of artificial sweeteners, namely saccharine, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame-K, and stevia.

Because it contains zero or very low calories, these artificial sweeteners are allowed to be used as a sugar substitute under certain conditions.

For example, to help lose weight, keep your teeth out of holes, and help people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels stable.

But, along with that, the uses and consumption of the approved artificial sweeteners are still moderately ok within a certain limit.

That’s why there are a lot of countries that set the regulation to prevent over consumption of the artificial sweetener, including in Indonesia.

The use of artificial sweetener is clearly stated and regulated in SNI 01-6993-2004.

6 Health Risks of Artificial Sweetener