Hidden Link Between Artificial Sweeteners and Chronic Pain
If you're dealing with chronic back pain or neck pain, you've likely explored many options—from stretches and heating pads to over-the-counter pain relievers. But have you considered what's in your diet drinks and "sugar-free" snacks? Developing research suggests that artificial sweeteners might be harming your pain relief efforts through an unexpected pathway: your gut. Apple Country Chiropractic is here to explore any potential avenues to help you get your pain under control!
THE GUT-PAIN CONNECTION
Your gut isn't just responsible for digestion—it's home to trillions of microorganisms that impact inflammation throughout your entire body, including your spine and neck. Recent groundbreaking research has revealed a direct link between artificial sweeteners, gut health, and chronic pain sensitivity.
A 2025 Mendelian randomization study by Zhao and colleagues demonstrated that artificially sweetened foods can actually cause chronic pain by disrupting the gut microbiota. (1) This isn't just connection—the research shows a causal relationship between consuming these sweeteners and increased pain levels.
HOW SWEETNERS TRIGGER PAIN
Artificial sweeteners can change the balance of beneficial bacteria living in your digestive system. These upset microbes trigger inflammatory responses that go throughout your body. Research released in the British Journal of Anaesthesia by Guo and colleagues shows that gut bacteria impact pain levels by affecting immune responses and how sensitive your nerves become. (2)
For back and neck pain sufferers seeking help at Apple Country Chiropractic, this inflammation can raise pain sensitivity in already vulnerable areas. Your spinal nerves become more reactive, making an already uncomfortable situation worse and potentially slowing your recovery.
TAKING ACTION
Before your next chiropractic appointment, you might want to explore whether artificial sweeteners are bothering your pain levels. Consider trying a two-week experiment where you reduce or swap out products that have artificial sweeteners. This could require picking to drink water or herbal tea instead of diet sodas, or opting for snacks without ingredients like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin.
Chiropractic physicians recognize that pain management demands a whole-body approach. While spinal adjustments focus on mechanical dysfunction, reducing inflammation through dietary modifications can significantly enhance treatment outcomes. By supporting your gut health, you're creating an internal environment more beneficial to healing and less responsive to pain signals. Little dietary changes might be a great extra to your pain relief strategy with Apple Country Chiropractic.
Your way to back pain relief and/or neck pain relief may start with what you take out of your shopping cart.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the impact inflammation has on the immune system and the help chiropractic care like The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management that Williamson chiropractic patients may experience.
