Doctors Warn: Sweet Treats Can Damage Your Heart – Here's How to Protect It
Heart problems caused by artificial sweeteners: Nowadays artificial sweeteners are usually described as a good alternative to sugar, but only health experts can tell to what extent there is truth in this. According to the doctor, these artificial sweeteners can also damage your heart from the inside.
However, they indeed help in reducing calories as compared to sugar. However, some research done on them has also found that consuming them regularly can harm your heart. Let us know how artificial sweeteners can be a danger signal for your heart and how it can be reduced.
Artificial sweeteners and heart health:
Consumption of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin can hurt heart health. Research has shown that these sweeteners affect the gut microbiota, which plays a key role in regulating inflammation and metabolic health. If there is an imbalance of bacteria in the intestines, it can lead to problems like high blood pressure and chronic inflammation, which are major risk factors for heart disease.
Changes in insulin sensitivity:
Some research also suggests that artificial sweeteners can affect insulin sensitivity. This means that the body's cells are unable to use insulin properly, which can increase the risk of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. And as we know, diabetes is a significant factor in increasing the risk of heart disease.
Other effects:
Artificial sweeteners can affect not only physical health but also mental and behavioral habits. Repeated consumption of the sweet taste changes the taste habit, making a person attracted to more sweet or processed foods. This cycle can lead to obesity, which is a major cause of heart disease.
How to reduce the risk?
Doctors say that moderate consumption is necessary to reduce the negative effects of consuming these sweet things on the heart. For this, you can take the following steps,
- Moderate consumption: Limit the intake of artificial sweeteners. Although it is not necessary to give them up completely, excessive consumption can be harmful to heart health.
- Adopt healthy options: Instead of sugar and artificial sweeteners, consume natural sweeteners like stevia or honey. These are natural and have less negative effects on the body.
- Healthy beverages: Replace sugary beverages with herbal tea, water, or coconut water. It is not only good for the heart but also helps in keeping the body hydrated.
- Eat a complete diet: A balanced diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats is best for heart health. A healthy and complete diet helps prevent heart disease.