Many people use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes because they think they are cutting calorie intake and will lose weight. Volume 1 of the Encyclopedia of Food Chemistry identified five non-nutritive sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration as GRAS, or generally recognized as safe: acesulfame-K or ace-K, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose. But studies have shown that... 

You might know of Stevia as the plant-based sweetener that has a minimal effect on blood sugar and insulin levels and as a healthy alternative to sugar and even artificial sweeteners that we know can disturb the gut microbiome. Native to parts of Brazil and Paraguay, the Stevia rebaundiana plant was first studied in 1899 by the botanist Moisés Santiago Bertoni who observed its sweet taste. Locals... 

“Experts” are now blaming artificial sweeteners for the rise in heart attacks and unexpected deaths that have occurred in the previous two years in nations all over the world. According to a recent study, artificial sweeteners “should not be regarded a healthy and safe substitute to sugar” and may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. The research, which was written up...