Artificial Sweeteners

[Debi2023]

Hi. I haven't posted in quite a while. However, I thought you might be interested in what has happed to me recently.

My IBS was flaring up 2 or 3 times a week with 4-5 trips to the loo in a morning and a lot of abdominal pain in the colon. I read somewhere that artificial sweeteners could have an effect in making symptoms worse. Now I have used sweeteners for 50 years as I was trying to avoid sugar as much as possible my whole life. I don't have much of a sweet tooth either so am not interested in cakes very often and, as I find hot drinks too sour without some sort of sweetener, I was quite happy with the taste of sweeteners. But an article posted in a national newspaper by a doctor as to the effect sweeteners have on the gut raised a query in my head. Could my use of sweeteners be part of the IBS problem?

I decided therefore to cut them out as I only use them in teas and coffees but I couldn't stand the taste of drinks without any sweetening at all. I probably have 2 teas and 2 coffees a day. I started using sugar instead and replaced 2 sweeteners with 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar. It tasted ok and I got used to it and have now gradually cut down to 1 tsp of sugar at a time with the eventual goal of cutting it out altogether. But the main thing I have found since switching about 4 months ago is that my IBS has eased up quite considerably, now occurring only once every couple of weeks. And, instead of gaining weight, which I was afraid of, I have actually lost a few pounds. I'm assuming this is because sugar satisfies my system better than sweeteners could. I'm really please with this result and would like to know if anyone else has experienced anything similar?

[Luisa22]

I personally find any artificial sweeteners horrible for my IBS.. I think they're pretty horrible anyway. I would much rather have plain old sugar.

If you get along OK with coconut products then coconut sugar is a good option to try.

A friend gave me some chocolate which contains sorbitol. I actually ate some even knowing sorbitol has a laxative effect. I got away with eating 4 the first evening. No bad effects next morning.

Second evening I tried 4 more. Oops. Even my positive mind set couldn't contend with the effect of sorbitol on my gut!

While I can happily eat any chocolate sweetened with sugar only.

But I know we're not all the same, and some people find sugar makes their IBS worse.

[Catlover16]

it’s well known artificial sweeteners are not good and give you diarrhoea. Don’t worry about getting rid of the sugar as a small amount each day won’t do you any harm, even for diabetics so long as you don’t munch a whole chocolate bar later. Have you tried goats milk? Tastes like cows but much easier on the stomach.

[xjrs]

Some sweeteners contain polyols (a type of FODMAP - sorbitol or mannitol). This can affect some people.

I've read some pretty nasty stuff about these products, so it is good that you are trying to avoid them.

[Trinity7]

Yes artificial sweeteners really do affect gut. Like you if i fancy sweetness in coffe i have half tsp of sugar. Sugal alcohols a main trigger for me!

[BabblingBrooks]

If I have sugar free sweets I end up farting like mad and taking frequent trips to the toilet .

There’s definitely something in this for me.