Low-calorie sweeteners impact your baby’s health.
The science:
A new study suggests that consuming aspartame or stevia during pregnancy can have adverse effects on your baby: impaired insulin sensitivity (a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular issues) and increased body fat and BMI.
Expert insight:
When you’re pregnant or nursing, everything you eat gets passed to the fetus or baby.
The researchers believe that low-calorie sweeteners may alter your offspring’s gut microbiome in ways that negatively impact health, says study author Raylene Reimer, Ph.D., RD, professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Canada. “Other research suggests the intense sweetness of these additives may interfere with things like appetite regulation as well.”
The bottom line:
It’s best to ditch artificial sweeteners completely. At the very least, consider cutting them out while pregnant and breastfeeding.
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