Seriously, is Splenda Bad For You?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Also known as Sucralose, there are some reports suggesting that it is indeed harmful for you.

Make no bones about it Sucralose is an artificial and thus chemical sweetener.  Sucralose is everywhere and I’m sure you’ve probably ingested a lot of it without realizing it as Sucralose is used in certain “light” foods, “reduced sugar”, or other diet foods.

Despite Splenda® marketing stating that Sucralose is “Made from Sugar, so it Tastes like Sugar”, is in reality an attempt to confuse consumers.  Splenda® is not natural sugar.

I was shocked to learn that Splenda® contains chlorine. Chlorine? Yes, the very same chemical we put in swimming pools to kill micro-organisms.  In similar fashion Splenda® and Sucralose kill off healthy bacteria that live in your gut. This is the good kind of healthy bacteria that is VITALLY important to virtually every aspect of your health.

A study conducted at Duke University confirmed this. The study revealed that Sucralose is a chemically processed, chemical artificial sweetener.  But it’s also damaging to your gut health, which goes on to have an impact on every other aspect of your health.

Here’s a quote from the Duke University study:

“Splenda® suppresses beneficial bacteria and directly affects the expression of the transporter P-gp and cytochrome P-450 isozymes that are known to interfere with the bioavailability of nutrients. Furthermore, these effects occur at Splenda® doses that contain Sucralose levels that are approved by the FDA for use in the food supply.”

It’s a fact that 70-80% of our immune system finds it’s home in the gut, and there are TRILLIONS of living bacteria in your gut that control many aspects of your health.  If you are eating foods that contain artificial sweeteners like Splenda®, you are also contributing to a massive bacterial imbalance in your body.

Unlike the gut-damaging Sucralose mentioned above, let’s look at 6 foods that help to restore a healthy bacterial balance in your belly by killing off the bad bacteria while at the same time giving you loads more of the vitally important, beneficial bacteria that is so critical to both your health and fat loss goals.

6 Foods That Restore Healthy Gut Bacteria

1)  Apples are high in fiber, a nutrient that is already widely known to promote healthy digestion. Apples are also rich in pectin, a carbohydrate compound that acts as a thickening agent inside the gut. When taken in therapeutic doses, pectin can help root out built-up toxins in the colon and strengthen the intestinal lining.

2)  Avocados are another great option for detoxification and digestion. Like apples, avocados are rich in fiber, and include both soluble and insoluble varieties at a ratio of about one to three, which is quite unique. And as it turns out, insoluble fiber is the type that promotes healthy bowels and effectively reduces one’s overall risk of developing colon cancer.

3) Flax and chia seeds possess fats and fiber that help promote healthy digestion and a clean colon. Both are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to stabilize cell walls and reduce inflammation. Flax and chia also contain their own unique blends of soluble fiber, which bind with food to optimize the digestive process.

4) Green fruits and vegetables that are rich in chlorophyll tend to promote healthy digestion and daily colon cleansing as well. Spinach, green olives, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, collard greens, sea vegetables, leeks, peas, and swiss chard are all high in chlorophyll, which means they can help cleanse your digestive tract and detoxify your liver.

5) A hydrated colon is a healthy colon. Not drinking enough water every day can lead to constipation and toxic buildup, which is why it is important to drink plenty of clean water every day. You can also add some sea salt to your water to help further promote detoxification.

6) The human digestive system is composed of a vast network of beneficial bacteria that are responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, fighting harmful bacteria, and eliminating toxins.  In order to help offset the damage to your gut flora caused by environmental and food chemicals, antibiotic drugs, processed foods, and other factors, it is important to eat plenty of fermented, probiotic-rich foods. These include cultured vegetables like kimchi, and fermented beverages like kombucha tea, pickels, olives, sauerkraut, and kefir.  If that’s not feasible, take a high quality probiotic supplement daily.