Are Artificial Sweeteners Diuretics?

Yes, artificial sweeteners can be diuretics.

A diuretic is a substance that increases urine production and helps the body get rid of excess water.

A diuretic is often taken to help people end their constipation, reduce their water retention, or to prevent an excess of water in their bodies.

But all artificial sweeteners are not created equal.

A diuretic response to artificial sweeteners depends on the artificial sweetener itself.

So, in this article, I’ll discuss which artificial sweeteners cause you to run to the bathroom & which ones don’t.

How Do Diuretic Foods Work?

Diuretic foods are those whose components promote the production of urine. A diuretic food can be considered anything that enhances that metabolic process by making you urinate more.

Diuretic foods have the ability to increase the metabolic rate of a person, thereby resulting in increased production of urine.

But, in other examples, like artificial sweeteners, your body sees the artificial sweetener as something that it shouldn’t digest, so it just excretes it through diarrhea.

Which Artificial Sweeteners Are Diuretics?

There are a few artificial sweeteners that are diuretics but the most common ones are maltitol, xylitol, aspartame, saccharin, and cyclamate. These artificial sweeteners may cause a diuretic effect because your body sees them as foreign, so it excretes them.

However, not all artificial sweeteners cause a laxative effect.

Which Artificial Sweeteners Aren’t Diuretics?

Artificial sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, inulin, & erythritol don’t cause a diuretic effect in most people. This is because they’re more natural compared to other artificial sweeteners.

Most people’s bodies don’t choose to excrete these sweeteners.

This is because most people’s bodies don’t see them as too artificial to the body, so it just decides to metabolize like normal, even if it has zero calories.

*These are Amazon affiliate links & I make a couple of cents when you buy from them :)*

1.) Stevia

My favorite natural sweetener is Stevia. It is one of the most natural zero-calorie sweeteners on the market. Stevia comes from the powdered form of the dried Stevia plant.

People have been eating stevia for hundreds of years in South America, & it’s something the human body better knows how to handle.

Most people don’t experience diarrhea when they eat Stevia because it comes from a natural plant.

But, it does have a slight metallic aftertaste so most of the time it’s mixed with a different sweetener like erythritol.

My favorite Stevia sweetener from Amazon is here.

2.) Monk Fruit

Monk fruit is another zero-calorie sweetener that doesn’t cause diarrhea. Monk fruit sweetener comes from the extract of the monk fruit plant, which is a melon-like plant that originated in Asia.

People have been eating monk fruit for over a thousand years in Southern Asia.

I particularly like the Lakanto brand of monk fruit sweetener because it’s the most identical thing I’ve tasted to sugar that wasn’t sugar.

But, Lakanto’s monk fruit sweetener is also mixed with some erythritol.

3.) Inulin/Chicory Root

Inulin, also known as chicory root, is a lesser-known sweetener, but it’s also natural & has zero calories. Since chicory root is a natural plant, when you eat it you don’t get a diuretic effect.

However, chicory root itself isn’t that sweet, so you’d have to buy the more processed version to experience the sweetness.

I recommend this inulin brand from Amazon since it’s the cheapest one & tastes the best.

4.) Erythritol

Erythritol isn’t natural, but unlike other artificial sweeteners, it doesn’t cause a laxative effect. This is why it’s one of the most commonly used sweeteners on the market.

But, since erythritol is artificial & does have a cooling effect when you eat it, it’s best to combine it with another sweetener like Stevia or monk fruit.

My favorite erythritol brand is Swerve. You can buy it at the grocery store or on Amazon here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, many artificial sweeteners like maltitol, xylitol, & aspartame have a diuretic effect when you eat them. That’s because since they’re chemicals, they cause indigestion & a diuretic effect. But, if you still want to enjoy sweeteners without a diuretic effect, choose natural sweeteners like Stevia, monk fruit, & inulin.

If you’re interested in learning how I lost weight with keto & OMAD, you can read my article here where I explain everything I did & how you can lose weight too.