Can Consuming Aspartame Damage Your Thyroid Gland?
In any case, as the effects of artificial sweeteners on intestinal oxygen consumption, the gut microbiota, and incretin secretion become clearer, unexpected uses may be found, such as maintaining and enhancing the intestinal function. There is evidence that artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes can interfere with the function of the thyroid. If your energy returns, you synthroid zopiclone lose weight, and you feel better, sweeteners should be dropped from your diet. Two had a complete reversal of disease, going from antibody positive to antibody negative and no longer needing thyroid replacements. Her mother also had autoimmune thyroiditis, so perhaps there was a genetic component that went beyond any possible impact of artificial sweeteners, Dr. Sachmechi said. It is also interesting to note that the effect of artificial sweeteners on the intestinal tract is to promote GLP-2 secretion without increasing blood flow.
Aspartame is the sweetener found in the little blue packets of Equal that you get when you go to a restaurant. Aspartame is also a part of NutraSweet products and is a common ingredient in Diet Coke and sugar-free kid’s drinks, like Kool-Aid. There has been a lot of controversy over aspartame, which is an artificial sweetner that has been linked to numerous health issues. If you perform a search in Google or any other search engine under “aspartame side effects”, you will find plenty of information which should convince you to avoid this artificial ingredient. Of course you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, but there seems to be enough evidence which proves that this ingredient is best to be avoided. Truth to be told, this doesn’t just apply to aspartame, but other artificial ingredients as well.
A TSH test is the only way to determine if you’re managing your hypothyroidism.
If you have any questions about your thyroid or another chronic health condition, please contact me and I will help you. Sprinkle it over fruit, stir it into your coffee or tea, and even bake with it. However, it should be used in moderation, as sugar alcohols can cause bloating and gastrointestinal distress.
Aspartame Disease
- Of course you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, but there seems to be enough evidence which proves that this ingredient is best to be avoided.
- This panel of tests will not only tell you whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, but Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as well.
- It has a bitter aftertaste at high concentrations and is blended with sucralose or aspartame.
- The FDA recognizes Sorbitol as safe and is one of the most commonly used sugar alcohols in the United States.
- Some of these food particles, like gluten and dairy proteins, look a lot like thyroid cells to your immune system.
However, available studies suggest it may negatively impact gut health and lipid levels. These include some fruit juices, frozen desserts, dairy products, and puddings. The FDA recognizes Sorbitol as safe and is one of the most commonly used sugar alcohols in the United States. However, if eaten in large amounts, Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Including foods containing chromium and B vitamins in your diet such as some Brewer’s yeast helps with sugar cravings. Also, having lots of green, organic salads every day help with sugar cravings as they provide plenty of minerals such as potassium and magnesium which support adrenal glands. Finally, a small piece of dark 70-80% chocolate with unsweetened coffee helps me if everything else fails. Naturally decaffeinated, organic coffee would be better for people with Graves’ disease. Emotional freedom technique (tapping on some acupuncture points) is a gentle technique that may be useful. If you have thyroid disease, you are at an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
2.2. Cephalic Phase Insulin Secretion
It is also commonly found in Diet Pepsi products as well as a range of baked goods, chewing gums, jellies, and frozen dairy desserts. We are a diabetes and endocrinology specialty practice focused on the comprehensive care of individuals with hormonal and metabolic disorders, especially diabetes. The content published in Cureus is the result of clinical experience and/or research by independent individuals or organizations. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein. All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes.
If you enjoy citrus-flavored sodas like Mountain Dew and SunDrop, you could be putting your health at risk. A registered dietitian assessed this list, but opinions may vary as rankings are not conclusive. If you have questions about artificial sweeteners, consider meeting with a health provider, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist, to address your individualized nutrition and health needs.
SYNTHROID should not be used to treat noncancerous growths or enlargement of the thyroid in patients with normal iodine levels, or in cases of temporary hypothyroidism caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis). Sucralose is found in many foods, including baked goods, chewing gum, dairy desserts, and beverages. It can be used in baking, helping to reduce unnecessary calories for those managing diabetes or pursuing weight loss. If you have thinning hair, dry skin, fatigue, and trouble losing weight despite what you eat, you might have a thyroid problem.
- Eating something fatty (few nuts or small piece of feta cheese) or sour (pickled or fermented vegetables) after a main meal has helped me personally.
- Recent studies propose concerns about the long-term health impacts of sucralose consumption, explicitly citing its role in DNA expression.
- You can also speed up the bromide detoxification process by drinking plenty of pure water each day and exercising regularly.
- Avoiding excess added sugar and fructose is an important part of keeping your glucose in the recommended range.
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The microbiome composition of responders and non-responders was different. Thus, the microbiota plays an important role in the development of saccharin-induced glucose intolerance 5. Moreover, the authors tested whether the ingestion of 0.18 g of saccharin, 0.102 g of sucralose, or 0.24 g of aspartame at the lower dose of the ADI for two weeks caused glucose intolerance in 120 healthy subjects. Saccharin and sucralose-impaired glucose intolerance in healthy subjects. A significant effect on the microbiome composition was observed in the sucralose and saccharin groups. These results suggest that preexposure affected the individual microbiome heterogeneity at baseline, the relationship between the host and the microbiome, and the sucralose-induced glucose intolerance 7.
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- We are presenting the case of a 52-year-old female with autoimmune thyroiditis with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) induced by an excessive intake of beverages containing non-nutritive sweeteners.
- It does contain a very small amount of carbohydrates, but not enough to affect your blood sugars significantly.
- The content published in Cureus is the result of clinical experience and/or research by independent individuals or organizations.
- Similarly, ACE K (37.5 mg/kg body weight/day) caused body weight gain with changes in microbiota-derived metabolites in male CD-1 mice 35.
The idea to look into the issue came “about 3 years ago, when I got a consult from a neurologist about a young woman with paresthesia. He looked at her thyroid function, and her TSH was elevated, so he sent her to me. During her follow up, I saw that her requirement for Synthroid was going down, and eventually I had to stop it. I asked her if she was doing anything differently, and she told me she had read that artificial sweeteners may actually cause weight gain, so she stopped them to lose weight.” That was the only change, Dr. Sachmechi said. Artificial sweeteners can be a healthy way to add sweetness without sugar, but not all sugar substitutes are created equal. Some artificial sweeteners offer sweetness without introducing unwanted or potentially unhealthy chemicals or additives into your diet.