For around two-and-a-half millennia, people have relied on sugar for desserts and sweets but ever since artificial sweeteners came into the market, things have changed quite a bit. Regardless of the type of dessert you’re planning to prepare today, artificial sweeteners go with most sweet recipes in the kitchen.

Cottonbro/Pexels | No matter which kind of dessert you’re preparing today, artificial sweeteners go in almost every single one, but they’re not as healthy as you think

Whether it's an ordinary person consuming their byproducts or a diabetes patient eating them, people think sugar substitutes aren't doing any harm to their body. But let's face it sugar substitutes aren't as healthy as we might consider them to be, and while adding those cute little Stevia tablets to your coffee or tea daily might satisfy your taste buds, do they actually help your body in any way?

Well, let's find out!

#1 - Can lead to Digestive problems

If you read the labels on the sugar substitutes carefully, you'll find most of them are actually calorie-free. For many of you, this might be great news, but do you know whether or not it's good for your body?

Sora Shimazaki/Pexels | Research says a completely calorie-free sweetener is either fully metabolized or isn't metabolized at all, and thus it can’t be digested properly by humans

Scientific American says a completely calorie-free sweetener is either fully metabolized or isn't metabolized at all. In both cases, the human body doesn't have the necessary enzymes to digest it, meaning those products will either cause digestive or gastrointestinal problems for you.

#2 - Can boost weight gain

Many of you might be familiar with artificial sweeteners because of their association with weight loss, but have you also heard about them causing weight gain?

It’s true. According to a 2010 research published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, long-term use of sugar substitutes can lead to weight gain and obesity. Research claim that since sweeteners don't provide our mind and body with the same satisfaction as sugar, people tend to eat them a lot, ignoring the fact that they're actually consuming more calories than usual.

Liza Summer/Pexels | Artificial sweeteners can't lift up our mood the way sugar does

#3 - Can give rise to emotional problems

When you’re feeling low, a bowl of ice cream or a chocolate bar is enough to lighten your mood. Do you know why the same effect isn't possible with sweeteners?

It's because sweeteners can't elevate our mood levels the way sugar does. A 2014 study that examined the link between synthetic sugars and depression, says senior citizens who consumed sugar substitutes regularly had a higher chance of depression than the ones who did it infrquently.

Takeaway!

Though artificial sweeteners help diabetics control their blood sugar level and satisfy cravings, they aren't a completely safe option. When consumed regularly, they could give rise to many health problems, and therefore, our suggestion would be to use them as little as possible.