The Bitter Truth About Sweeteners: Why We Refuse to Use Aspartame, Sucralose, or Stevia

1. Why We Choose to Be "Unsweetened"

It is a paradox of the modern supplement industry: products designed to support the gut are often filled with ingredients that can irritate it. Collanature chooses not to use artificial sweeteners (like sucralose or aspartame) or highly processed sweetener extracts (like purified stevia glycosides). Emerging research is exploring how some low- and no-calorie sweeteners may influence the gut microbiome and glucose tolerance in certain people, and some sugar alcohols can cause digestive upset, especially in larger amounts or in sensitive individuals. We believe that a health product should taste like real food, not like a synthetic dessert.

The "Sugar-Free" Trap

Walk down the high street, and you will see "No Added Sugar" plastered on every protein tub. It sounds virtuous. But if it tastes sweet without sugar, something else is doing the heavy lifting. Brands use sweeteners for two reasons:

To mask poor quality: If the raw collagen tastes bad or overly chemical, they drown it in fake strawberry or chocolate flavour.
To keep you chasing sweetness: Sweetness triggers a pleasure response in the brain. Even non-caloric sweetness can keep your taste buds locked into the high-sugar cycle.

We treat you like an adult. We give you the pure ingredient. If you want it sweet, you can add a spoon of honey at home and stay in control.

2. The Gut Health Impact: Confusing the Body

Some researchers describe non-nutritive sweeteners as potential "metabolic disruptors" in certain contexts. When you taste something very sweet, your brain expects sugar to follow. In some people, repeatedly getting the sweet taste without calories may influence appetite and cravings, although responses are highly individual.

Furthermore, several animal and human studies have reported changes in gut microbiota and glucose tolerance with high intakes of certain sweeteners such as saccharin and sucralose, even though not all studies agree on the size or importance of these effects. The safest summary today is that sweeteners are not "neutral" for everyone, and more research is still ongoing.

Bloating and "The Rumbles"

Many customers come to us after trying commercial collagen powders and complaining of "the rumbles"—gas and discomfort. Often, the culprit is not the protein itself; it is the polyols (sugar alcohols) like erythritol or xylitol, or the artificial sweeteners used to flavour the product. These compounds can be poorly absorbed in the gut and may ferment in the colon, causing gas and bloating in sensitive people.

By eliminating them entirely, Collanature beef bone broth collagen is a gentler option for many with gut-sensitive lifestyles compared with ultra-processed, dessert-style powders.

3. The Problem with Stevia

"But Stevia is natural!" This is the most common argument we hear. While the stevia plant is natural, the white powder used in most supplements is a highly purified extract (often Rebaudioside A), which may be processed together with carriers or bulking agents to make it easier to use.

Aside from the processing, stevia has a distinct metallic aftertaste that lingers for many people. In a savoury product like bone broth, this metal note is disastrous. We rely on the natural, savoury profile of Angus beef, which needs salt (sodium), not sweetness, to shine.

4. The DIY Philosophy: You Control the Spoon

We believe in "Clean Label" transparency. By keeping our concentrate unsweetened and unflavoured, we hand the control back to you. You become the chef.

Want it sweet? Add a little raw honey or pure maple syrup. These are real foods with natural sugars that you can measure and moderate yourself.
Want it savoury? Add sea salt, lemon, and ginger.
Want it neutral? Stir it into a stew or soup.

This versatility is impossible with a pre-flavoured "Vanilla-Stevia" powder. You cannot put vanilla dessert powder in a Bolognese, but you can quietly stir unsweetened Collanature collagen into almost anything.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the product suitable for Keto?

Yes, it fits very well into Keto and low-carb lifestyles. Our bone broth collagen contains no sugar and no sweeteners, and the carbohydrate content is negligible, so it does not add extra sugars or starches to your day. Like any protein-rich food, it can still stimulate some insulin, but its glycaemic impact is very low. Many Keto and intermittent fasting followers like to use a serving of bone broth as part of their routine. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, always follow your healthcare professional’s advice.

2. Can I add sugar if I want to?

Absolutely. If you are drinking it and prefer a touch of sweetness, we recommend simple, recognisable options like honey or maple syrup. Because you add it yourself, you know exactly how much you are consuming and can keep it aligned with your goals.

3. Why do other brands use sucralose?

Because it is incredibly sweet—hundreds of times sweeter than sugar—and very cheap per serving. It allows brands to claim "great taste" and "no added sugar" while keeping calories low. However, some people dislike the taste, and ongoing research is exploring how frequent use of certain sweeteners may influence gut microbiota and glucose tolerance in some individuals. We prefer the simpler route: no sweeteners at all.

4. Does it have an aftertaste?

It has a rich, beefy taste (umami), just like a concentrated, slow-cooked stock. What it does not have is that cloying, chemical sweetness that can linger at the back of the throat with many artificially sweetened supplements.

5. Is it suitable for people managing blood sugar?

Our unsweetened bone broth collagen contains no sugar and virtually no carbohydrates, making it easy to fit into most low-sugar and low-carb meal plans as a source of protein. However, individual needs differ, especially if you are living with diabetes or another metabolic condition, so it is important to check with your doctor or dietitian before making changes to your diet.

Final Thoughts

Real health is not always sweet; it is savoury, robust, and pure. By removing sweeteners and unnecessary additives, we make room for more real nutrition and more flexibility in how you use it.

Shop Collanature: Original (Unflavoured) or Wild Berries.