Fake vs Natural Artificial Sweeteners: What You Need to Know

In today's world of "healthy" snacks and "sugar-free" treats, sweeteners are everywhere. Some boast being "natural," while others are just flat-out artificial. But what does any of that actually mean? And more importantly, which sweeteners are better for you?

Today, we're breaking down fake vs natural artificial sweeteners — backed by science, explained in plain English, and served up with a little fun along the way.

What Are Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes. They’re designed to mimic the sweetness of sugar without the calories — but not all are created equal.

Examples of fake artificial sweeteners include:

• Sucralose (Splenda)

• Aspartame (Equal)

• Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)

These are often made in a lab and can be hundreds of times sweeter than sugar.

Meanwhile, natural artificial sweeteners (yes, it’s a confusing term) are sweeteners derived from natural sources, even if they’re still processed a bit.

Examples include:

• Stevia (from the stevia leaf)

• Monk fruit extract (from monk fruit)

• Allulose (naturally found in figs and raisins)

Fake Sweeteners: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Very low or zero calories

• Don’t spike blood sugar

• Cheap and highly stable

Cons:

• Some studies, like those in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (2017), suggest potential links between long-term use of fake sweeteners and increased risk of metabolic issues, gut microbiome disruption, and weight gain.

• Many people report aftertastes (especially with sucralose and aspartame).

• Some can cause digestive discomfort.

In simple terms? They might save you calories, but they come with baggage.

Natural Sweeteners: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Derived from plants or fruits

• Often better tolerated by the gut

• Lower or no blood sugar impact (especially allulose and monk fruit)

• Fewer reports of strange aftertastes (depending on the sweetener)

Cons:

• Still processed (though less harshly)

• Some can be expensive (like allulose)

• Flavor profiles vary — stevia can be bitter to some people

But overall, for a clean dessert or macro friendly cake, natural sweeteners usually offer the best blend of taste and health benefits.

Spotlight: Why Allulose Is Winning Hearts

Among natural options, allulose stands out.

• 70% as sweet as sugar

• Almost zero calories (0.2-0.4 calories/gram)

• No blood sugar spike, according to studies in The Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (2010)

• Gut-friendly (causes way less bloating compared to sugar alcohols)

This makes it ideal for low calorie protein snacks, healthy snacks for kids, or protein desserts where you want to indulge without backtracking on your goals.

A soft baked protein snack made with allulose tastes rich and decadent — but it's secretly helping you stay on track.

Comparing Fake vs Natural Sweeteners (at a Glance)

How Phat Snax Approaches Sweeteners

At Phat Snax, we’re all about crafting better for you snacks — and that means being picky about every ingredient, especially sweeteners.

That’s why in our all natural protein snacks, seed oil free snack cakes, and macro friendly desserts, we favor natural options like allulose and monk fruit.

You’ll never find:

• Sucralose

• Aspartame

• Ace-K

Instead, we sweeten smarter, so you can enjoy your high protein treat without wondering if you’re making a tradeoff.

Because when you bite into a low calorie chocolate cake or a protein chocolate cake, it should be a win for your taste buds and your body.

Quick Mythbusters: Sweetener Edition

• "All sweeteners are bad."

• Not true. Natural options like allulose have been shown to be safe and even beneficial in moderation.

• "Zero calorie means no effect on your body."

• Not necessarily. Some fake sweeteners can still impact your gut or appetite hormones.

• "Natural sweeteners taste bad."

• Not anymore! Formulations have improved massively, especially with blends of monk fruit and allulose.

Final Thoughts: Choose Sweetly (and Wisely)

At the end of the day, sweeteners aren't evil. But what you choose matters.

If you're aiming for:

• Snacks for weight loss

• Protein snacks for moms

• Healthy snacks for kids

• Macro friendly cakes that satisfy without sabotage

...lean toward natural sweeteners like allulose and monk fruit. Your gut, your goals, and your future self will thank you.

And if your next snack happens to be a ready to go protein snack from a brand that loves real ingredients as much as you do? Well, we’d say you’re snacking like a pro.

Sources:

• "Nonnutritive sweeteners and cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Canadian Medical Association Journal (2017). Link

• "Beneficial effects of D-psicose on postprandial glucose and insulin levels in humans." Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (2010). Link

• "Gut microbiota modulation by artificial sweeteners." Nutrients (2019). Link