The SURPRISING Link Between Artificial Sweeteners and Heart Risks

Dr. Stengler: Are you aware of the hidden dangers of artificial sweeteners on your heart? In this video, I'm going to go through the research showing that the artificial sweeteners millions of Americans are consuming are a hazard to their cardiovascular health. I'll also go through the natural alternatives you can feel safe using on a regular basis.

I recently had a patient come into my office who was working on her weight and showed me the protein bars and protein shakes she was taking. As I do with all patients, I looked at the labels — and within about 10 seconds I found she was consuming products with artificial sweeteners. I told her to throw them in the garbage. Studies show that over time, artificial sweeteners cause people to gain weight, raise blood sugar levels, and damage the brain and nervous system. Now we also have studies showing they're damaging to the heart and cardiovascular system. No one should be consuming artificial sweeteners, especially on a regular basis.

Artificial sweeteners are chemicals added to food and drinks to make them sweet without using sugar. They're found in thousands of products — especially anything labeled "diet" or "sugar-free." Some of the most common are aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose. They may be zero or low in calories, but that does not mean they're safe.

People often ask me about more natural sweeteners like erythritol and xylitol. I have concerns with those as well. These are sugar alcohols, often marketed as natural sweeteners, and while they do occur in small amounts in fruits and are made by the body, newer studies show that erythritol may increase the risk of blood clots and serious heart-related events. Xylitol has also been tied to increased cardiovascular risk. Both of these sweeteners appear to make blood more prone to clotting — which is clearly not something you want.

Looking at the research more broadly: a major study in the British Medical Journal followed over 100,000 people and found that those who consumed artificial sweeteners regularly had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease. The researchers stated that these food additives should not be considered a healthy and safe alternative to sugar — a powerful statement that aligns with the position of several health agencies around the world.

Thankfully, there are safe natural options. Monk fruit extract — also known as luo han guo — is very common in Asia and now available in American health food stores. It's much sweeter than sugar with zero calories and has antioxidant benefits. I haven't seen any research showing toxicity with monk fruit extract. Honey in its natural, unprocessed form contains nutrients and has many good studies behind it for various health conditions — just use it in small amounts, as it does contain fructose. Pure maple syrup contains some minerals and can be used as a natural sweetener in small amounts. And the best natural sweetener of all is whole fruit — it not only sweetens your diet but provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals without the chemical baggage of artificial sweeteners.

The bottom line: do not use artificial sweeteners, especially on a regular basis. Your heart health, brain health, and whole-body health are too important. If you need to lose weight, look at our other videos on natural ways to address appetite, insulin resistance, and hormone imbalances — all common contributors to weight problems. But please, avoid those artificial sweeteners.

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