Artificial sweeteners can increase your risk of this condition

We’ve long known that artificial sweeteners are bad for our health, but a new study reveals why and what diseases arise when people consume them in large quantities. The study, published in the BMJ, involved more than 100,000 participants in France and found a link between artificial sweeteners and heart disease.

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The researchers examined the participants’ food intake, including the names and contents of everything they consumed. Those who consumed large amounts of aspartame and sucralose, found in some of the most popular sweeteners like Equal, Splenda, and Nutra Sweet, resulted in a higher risk of stroke and coronary heart disease compared to people who didn’t consume them.

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“The results of this large-scale prospective cohort study suggest a possible direct association between higher consumption of artificial sweeteners (particularly aspartame, acesulfame potassium and sucralose) and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,” the study concluded.

These results indicate that sweeteners may not be a safe alternative to sugar. “As more data comes out showing these adverse health effects, the less we will want to encourage people to switch from added sugars to non-nutritive sweeteners,” said Dr. Katie Page told NBC News. However, replacing sweeteners with sugar is not a healthy option, instead experts recommend people to reduce the amount of sugar they consume.

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Research has also shown that many artificial sweeteners consumed don’t come straight from a package — they’re found in diet sodas and healthy snacks like yogurt and ice cream, making it easy for people to get more of these chemicals without consuming them knowing it

As mounting evidence shows, artificial sweeteners touted as healthier than sugar also come with a number of risks worth considering.