Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe in a Diet Plan? The ASSFACE Diet Says "Yes"

When people hear “whole food diet,” they often assume it means absolutely zero processed anything—including artificial sweeteners. But let’s be real for a minute: perfection isn’t the point.

The ASSFACE Diet is about stopping the madness, not adding more stress to your already overloaded plate. So yes—we allow artificial sweeteners. And here’s why:

1. This diet isn’t about punishment—it’s a lifestyle change.

The goal of the ASSFACE Diet is to help you ditch added sugar, not eliminate every source of sweetness forever. If a dash of stevia or a monk fruit packet in your morning coffee keeps you from reaching for that 40g sugar latte bomb, that’s a win. This isn’t a contest for who can be the cleanest eater—it’s about building habits that actually last.

2. Are artificial sweeteners safe in a diet? Here's what science says...

Let’s talk facts. Most mainstream artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, stevia, and monk fruit have been thoroughly studied and deemed safe in moderate amounts by the FDA and global health organizations. Are there debates and clickbait headlines? Always. But if you look at the actual data, the occasional sugar-free yogurt or artificially sweetened protein bar isn’t going to wreck your health. Added sugar will. That’s the real enemy here.

3. Because they help you retrain your taste buds.

One of the wildest things that happens when you start cutting added sugar? Your taste buds reset. Suddenly, strawberries taste like candy, and that once-too-bitter dark chocolate hits just right. Artificial sweeteners can help bridge that gap. They let you ease off sugar without feeling deprived—and over time, you won’t need as much sweetness to feel satisfied. It’s like tastebud rehab.

4. Because deprivation leads to disaster.

If we cut out added sugar and told you to skip all sweeteners entirely, you’d likely last two weeks (maybe). Then you’d maybe even fall face-first into a sheet cake and call it quits. The ASSFACE Diet is about flexibility with boundaries. Artificial sweeteners give you an outlet that doesn’t undo your progress.

So… what’s the catch?

Well, you still want to read labels and use sweeteners strategically. Not all “sugar-free” products are created equal—some are loaded with junky ingredients or sugar alcohols that upset your stomach. So go for:

• Stevia

• Monk fruit

• Sucralose (in moderation)

• Aspartame (if it works for you—some people are sensitive)

And skip anything that triggers cravings, bloating, or blood sugar spikes.

Bottom line

You’re not perfect, no one is, and we don't expect that here. You’re a human trying to eat better without losing your mind. That’s why the ASSFACE Diet permits you to use artificial sweeteners—not as a crutch, but as a tool.

Because in this diet, we don’t strive for perfection. We strive for better. And better is sweet enough.