. . . think again!

Consumers in search of weight loss and blood sugar control often turn to toxic artificial sweeteners for help. But a new study indicates this is a poor strategy.

Sucralose, also known as Splenda®, impacts glucose metabolism in ways you might not expect. After non-diabetic obese individuals who don’t normally consume artificial sweeteners were given either water or a drink sweetened with sucralose, it was noted that the sucralose group had about a 20% higher rise in blood sugar, 22% more insulin, a 7% decrease in insulin clearance, and a 23% decrease in insulin sensitivity.

Even if it didn’t affect blood sugar, Splenda is not something you want to be putting into your body. Sucralose is a toxin, and about 15% of what we consume ends up stored with other toxins in our fat cells.

Splenda causes symptoms like skin rashes, shortness of breath, tissue swelling, headaches, runny nose, itchy and bloodshot eyes, diarrhea, bloating, heart palpitations, joint aches, anxiety, depression and dizziness. In addition, a 2008 study found Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the gut by up to 50% and contributed to increases in body weight.

So why would anyone want to use such a substance?