Impact of Artificial Sweeteners on Hashimoto’s Patients

I’ve recently been wrestling with the conundrum of eating artificial sweeteners. When I first started my keto journey, I went a bit crazy buying all kinds of treats, jams, syrups and foods with artificial sweeteners.

I figured it was better to eat those than to eat sugar. I am beginning to wonder if I might have been wrong, and if eating these sweeteners have made my Hashimoto’s symptoms worse than sugar did.

Artificial Sweeteners Affect On Hashimoto’s

There are some studies that suggest artificial sweeteners might actually trigger Hashimoto’s.

NASHVILLE, TENN.- You might want to discourage your patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis from using artificial sweeteners, according to investigators from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

They found that of 100 patients with antibody-confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), 53 reported using the equivalent of 3.5 packets of artificial sweetener per day — mostly aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) or sucralose (Splenda) — as estimated from a questionnaire about their daily intake of sugar-free foods. The investigators also found a weak but significant correlation between daily consumption of sugar substitutes and elevated levels of TSH (r = 0.23, P = 0.05).

They checked those results against 125 controls who were referred for Hashimoto’s work up but turned out to be antibody negative; 15 (12%) regularly used artificial sweeteners, 110 (88%) did not.

Perhaps artificial sweeteners, which are widely used in diet soda, yogurt, gum, ice cream, and other products, somehow amp up the immune system to attack the thyroid in some people. “I think there is something to this,” said lead investigator Dr. Issac Sachmechi, an associate professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and bone disease at Mount Sinai.

I did not eat these sweeteners before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. However, since there is a chance that eating them might make symptoms worse in some people, it might be prudent to stop eating them.

The link, however, is far from proven; spontaneous remission has been reported before in the medical literature. Dr. Sachmechi said he plans to continue looking into the issue.

There is, however, biological plausibility for a connection. Aspartame, for instance, is metabolized to formaldehyde, which has been associated with type 4 delayed hypersensitivity reactions. There’s also been suggestions that sucralose may have negative effects on the thymus and spleen, and possible associations with autoimmune disorders, Dr. Sachmechi said.
The idea to look into the issue came “about 3 years ago, when I got a consult from a neurologist about a young woman with paresthesia. He looked at her thyroid function, and her TSH was elevated, so he sent her to me. I put her on Synthroid, 125 mcg. During her follow up, I saw that her requirement for Synthroid was going down, and eventually I had to stop it. I asked her if she was doing anything differently, and she told me she had read that artificial sweeteners may actually cause weight gain, so she stopped them to lose weight.” That was the only change, Dr. Sachmechi said.

There was no outside funding for the work and Dr. Sachmechi had no relevant disclosures.
aotto@frontlinemedcom.com

By: M. ALEXANDER OTTO, Clinical Endocrinology News Digital Network
Originally written: MAY 21, 2015

This is only one study. TSH levels are not a good indicator of thyroid dysfunction. TSH is made by the pituitary gland, not the thyroid. Elevated thyroid antibodies are more of an indication of Hashimoto’s. A lot of doctors do not perform this test, and a lot of people are never even aware that they have the disease.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a hormone that helps regulate the production of thyroid hormones, which are essential for the body’s metabolism. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain.

When you suspect that you might have Hashimoto’s you should make sure that you get a full thyroid panel study done.

Is Eating Sugar Really Better?

Eating too much sugar can have negative effects on people with Hashimoto’s disease, including:

• Blood sugar imbalances: People with Hashimoto’s are more likely to have blood sugar imbalances. Consuming too much sugar can cause blood sugar to spike, followed by a reactive hypoglycemia after eating a meal high in carbohydrates.
• Inflammation: Consuming too much sugar can increase inflammation, which can intensify Hashimoto’s disease symptoms.
• Autoimmune thyroid flares: Consuming too much sugar can provoke autoimmune thyroid flares.
• Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes: Consuming too much sugar can lead to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, both of which can cause inflammation.
• Gut health issues: Consuming too much sugar can disrupt gut health and gut bacteria.
• Hormone deficiencies and excesses: Consuming too much sugar can create hormone deficiencies and excesses.

People with Hashimoto’s should be mindful of added sugars, which are found in desserts, sugary drinks, and packaged foods. Some people with Hashimoto’s have reported improved symptoms by avoiding foods with gluten, refined or added sugar, and processed foods.

Of course, eating too much sugar (as I was doing) was making my symptoms worse. I aim to find a balance between eating some sugar, and some natural sweeteners, like monk fruit and stevia. I have written that I have been contemplating doing a ketovore diet. My first step is to eliminate keto treats from my diet.

As long as I keep my daily net carbs under 50 grams per day, including added sugar, I should be okay.

How To Safely Detox From Sugar With Hashimoto’s

There are several ways to do a sugar detox. But, if you have Hashimoto’s disease, you will want to be cautious and go slow.

Removing sugar all at once can have pretty significant consequences on your overall health and your thyroid. Here are some ways to get started on a safe sugar detox if you have Hashimoto’s.

Start with one meal per day

Focus on removing sugar additives from one meal each day. Breakfast is an excellent place to start, as many everyday breakfast items are packed with sugars, including cereals, sweetened granolas, breakfast bars, pastries, and brunch favorites like pancakes.

This is especially hard for me, as I like eating sweet things for breakfast.

Choose water to drink

Sugary beverages often take the place of a glass of water. As a result, many of us gravitate to a sugary coffee drink and reach for flavored drinks in the afternoon. Start by replacing these drinks with plain water, and if that is hard, start slow and do one at a time. Often, people prefer other drinks over water for flavor, so adding lemon or crushed fruit to water can make it more satisfying.

Boost your fiber and protein intake

We tend to gravitate toward sugars when we do not get enough of the proper nutrients from our meals. Frontloading your daily food intake with fiber-rich foods and protein, and complex carbohydrates can prevent you from experiencing a sugar crash later in the day. And while you are focusing on your macronutrients, make sure to get plenty of micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals.

Replace dessert with a bowl of fruit

Capping off a meal with something sweet is habitual for many people. Rather than dipping into the ice cream tub or reaching for a cookie, opt for a small fruit bowl. You get to cap off your meal with something sweet, but you can also boost your intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and possibly fiber.

Decrease stress

While this may not seem related to a sugar detox, reducing stress is a crucial component of succeeding at taking a break from sugar. When we are stressed, we crave the comfort of sugar, and our bodies beg for quick bursts of energy to get us through.

For more on sugar and Hashimoto’s, you can read this article.

Conclusion

My aim is to cut back on artificial sweeteners and to eat some sugar, but in a mindful and balanced way. I plan on keeping my daily net carbs to 50 per day, which means being more mindful when reading labels and making better choices. Swapping treats for low carb fruit and yogurt with either monk fruit or stevia is a good start, and I also aim to incorporate a wider variety of low-carb vegetables and whole grains into my diet. Additionally, I intend to experiment with different natural sweeteners, such as maple syrup or date paste, to diversify my options and create healthier alternatives to satisfy my sweet cravings.

Originally published at http://fromcarbstoketo.wordpress.com on September 1, 2024.