Is that afternoon diet soda leading you to an early grave — or is it actually the smarter choice? If the artificial sweetener debate has left you completely confused, this episode is going to be a breath of fresh air.

Registered Dietitian Ann Kent cuts through the noise with research-backed verdicts on the top five health concerns about artificial sweeteners and explains why the topic seems so much more complicated than it actually is.

In this episode:

• What artificial sweeteners actually are — including all eight FDA-approved non-nutritive sweeteners, naturally derived options like stevia and monk fruit, and where sugar alcohols fit in

• What the acceptable daily intake means, how it's determined, and how many diet sodas a 150-pound person would actually need to drink per day to hit the limit (the answer might surprise you)

• Research-backed verdicts on the top five health concerns: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, weight and sugar cravings, and gut health

• The one sugar substitute to use with caution if you're at risk for blood clots — and why the others appear safe

• The phrase every person should know when evaluating wellness claims: the dose determines the poison

• A special note on artificial sweeteners in children and what multiple organizations actually recommend

• What Dietitian Ann personally does — including how she bakes, what she drinks, and how she thinks about sweeteners in everyday life

The bottom line: Artificial sweeteners are not harmful when consumed at or below the acceptable daily intake. It's more important to zoom out and consider your overall lifestyle, health risk factors, and yes — your taste buds.

Want recipes that take the stress out of the sugar vs. sweetener debate entirely? The Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app uses a balance of real sugar and fruit in dessert recipes — so the flavor and nutrition are both dialed in.

Or do you have more questions about artificial sweeteners or anything else nutrition-related?

Join the private community forum inside the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app — The app not only provides you with simple meal plans and tools to make mealtime easier, but you’ll also find a supportive community. Dietitian Ann personally monitors every post in the group and answers with evidence-based information, not with fear mongering.

All members get access. Join for as little as $24.99 per year at https://peasandhoppiness.com/.

Read the transcript of this episode, find additional resources, and see the sources used for this episode at https://app.peasandhoppiness.com/post/are-artificial-sweeteners-bad-for-you