Artificial Sweeteners: Sweet but Sneaky?

Artificial vs. Natural Sweeteners and Your Blood Sugar

Let’s be honest — most of us have a bit of a sweet tooth. But if you're watching your blood sugar or aiming for healthy insulin levels (like the Muti-Life way), the type of sweetener you choose really matters.

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin have long been the go-to for "sugar-free" products. They contain little to no calories and don’t spike blood sugar in the short term — which sounds great, right?

But here’s the catch: Some studies suggest that regular consumption of artificial sweeteners may disrupt gut microbiota and affect insulin sensitivity over time. Not so sweet! Suez et al. (2014) found that artificial sweeteners induced glucose intolerance in both mice and humans by altering the gut microbiome.

Natural Sweeteners: Not All Are Equal

Stevia, monk fruit, and xylitol are popular natural alternatives. They’re generally low in carbs and don’t spike blood sugar significantly. That’s a win. But here's the thing — many of them lack the broader health benefits you might expect from something "natural."

Some even come with digestive side effects (hello, bloating) if consumed in larger amounts and are known to be hundreds of times sweeter than normal table sugar. Tandel, K.R. (2011)

Why We Still Love Honey (In the Right Amounts)

Honey has been celebrated for centuries — and for good reason. Not only does it offer a gentler blood sugar rise compared to refined sugar, but it also boasts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Studies have shown that raw honey can support immune health, wound healing, and even cardiovascular function. Bogdanov, S. (2008) 

At Muti-Life, we use just a touch of bee-friendly, single-source fynbos honey in our Super-Juice. Carefully measured for taste and benefit, it ensures a gradual blood sugar response — no sharp spikes, no crashes. Just clean, natural energy and a beautiful depth of flavour.

Final Sip

While artificial sweeteners may seem like the easy way out, nature still knows best. And when it comes to supporting your metabolism, gut health, and immune system, honey stands head and shoulders above the rest. 

References:

Suez, J., et al. (2014). Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. Nature, 514(7521), 181–186. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13793

Tandel, K.R. (2011). Sugar substitutes: Health controversy over perceived benefits. Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, 2(4), 236–243. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198517/

Bogdanov, S., et al. (2008). Honey in human health: a review of medical literature. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18462496/