Have you heard of sucralose? Sucralose is also known as 'Splenda'. A recent study suggests that consumption of splenda at levels below the FDA’s Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) contributes to reduced gut health and impaired metabolic health. The ADI is the maximum amount that can be ingested daily without significant risk.

Study Summary

This 10-week randomized clinical trial including 20 participants, found that:

• Consumption of daily sucralose (15% of the ADI) resulted in gut dysbiosis and impaired glucose and insulin regulation.

The Hearty Take

At Hearty, we suggest that you take caution when considering the use or consumption of artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda. Although this study is limited by sample size, there is a body of research which is uncovering the negative health effects of artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners can be found in diet sodas, as well as low calorie foods. When the FDA first authorized the use of sucralose in food products in 1998, it was without human studies and under claims that sucralose was safe for consumption - which much research suggests is not the case. Need help tapering off of Splenda? Reach out to your nutritionist and health coach!