Artificial Sweeteners Strike Again (Heart WARNING!)
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 13, 2025
Ever get that uncontrollable urge to scratch an itch?
It feels good for a second… but the more you scratch, the worse it gets.
Well, some artificial sweeteners work the same way in your body.
New research reveals that aspartame tricks your body into releasing insulin again and again. And this spells trouble for one of your most precious organs.
I’ve warned you before about artificial sweeteners. I’ve talked about how they mess with your gut, spike your blood sugar, and increase the risk of diabetes.
But now? We’ve got even more proof that aspartame is bad news.
Researchers fed mice an aspartame-laced diet, the equivalent of drinking three cans of diet soda daily. Within 30 minutes, their insulin levels spiked.
This is because our bodies have sweetness detectors—receptors that expect a sugar rush when we eat something sweet. But aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar, and it tricks your body into overreacting.
Even worse? The insulin levels stayed high over time, leading to insulin resistance—a direct path to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
High insulin isn’t just a problem for blood sugar. It also damages your blood vessels.
This study found that mice developed fatty plaques in their arteries after just four weeks on an aspartame diet. These are the same dangerous clogs that lead to heart attacks and strokes.
And if you think regular sugar is worse—guess what? The mice eating sugar didn’t develop plaques until week 12.
That means aspartame may be even worse for your heart than sugar!
This isn’t the first time artificial sweeteners have been caught red-handed. Research has linked them to:
- Gut damage: Artificial sweeteners disrupt gut bacteria, leading to digestive issues and inflammation.
- Neurological symptoms: Headaches, dizziness, and even anxiety have been tied to sweeteners like aspartame.
- Weight gain: Despite being “calorie-free,” artificial sweeteners mess with hunger hormones and lead to overeating.
So much for “healthy” alternatives!
Want to cut down on sugar without damaging your health? Try this instead:
- Stick to natural sweeteners: Limited amounts of raw honey, monk fruit, and stevia (in pure form) are better choices.
- Choose whole foods: The less processed your diet, the better your insulin levels will be.
- Skip the diet drinks: Water, herbal teas, and even black coffee are better than sodas spiked with artificial sweeteners.
Food companies love marketing these chemicals as “healthy.” But aspartame is no better than sugar—maybe even worse.
So, next time you reach for a diet soda, ask yourself: Do you really want to be tricking your body into heart disease?
P.S. Another “safe” sweetener puts you in HARMS way.
Sources:
Wu, W., Sui, W., Chen, S., Guo, Z., Jing, X., Wang, X., Wang, Q., Yu, X., Xiong, W., Ji, J., Yang, L., Zhang, Y., Jiang, W., Yu, G., Liu, S., Tao, W., Zhao, C., Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., . . . Cao, Y. (2025). Sweetener aspartame aggravates atherosclerosis through insulin-triggered inflammation. Cell Metabolism.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...
Is Your Heart Older Than YOU?
Maybe you feel young for your age. Good energy, decent sleep, eating your veggies. But what if I told you your heart might be a decade older than the rest of you? That’s exactly what researchers at Northwestern University found in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology. The average American woman’s heart is about...
Mailbag: 3-Pronged Attack CRUSHES Diabetes at the Source
“They told me I might have diabetes, so I would like to know how I can battle and eliminate diabetes.” —Fighting Back Hi Fighting, You have the exact right attitude—it will be your best weapon in this battle. Let’s face it, receiving a diabetes diagnosis is disturbing. You’re sitting there, shocked and wondering what it...
7 Natural Ways to Beat Jet Lag and Motion Sickness
Are you trying to squeeze in one last vacation this summer? Maybe it’s a beach getaway, a cross-country flight, or even a cruise. But let’s be honest: nothing takes the shine off a vacation faster than feeling nauseous on a boat… or jet-lagged and groggy for days after a flight. So, let’s talk about how...