I hate the smoke and mirror spin from major corporations who have made
inaccurate statements such as, "just like sugar" and "it won't hurt you" when
describing artificial sweeteners such aspartame, NutriSweet and even Splenda.
After reading the article below, hopefully you will understand my personal
feelings about these chemicals. The best alternative......local raw honey in
moderation. (1) get the sweet taste you desire with your cup of Jo. A little
different taste at first but you will get use to it quickly. (2) The reason I suggest
the local brand of honey, it can immune you from the local allergens that make
your allergy season miserable. I have been doing this for two years. This year
was the first year since I could remember that I did not have an allergy season. I
thank my wife Jackie for this jewel. Enjoy!!!
One More Reason to Ban Artificial Sweeteners from Your Diet
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
November 17 2009 | 34,269 views
Individuals who consume a diet high in artificially sweetened drinks are more likely to experience
a decline in kidney function, according to a paper presented at the American Society of
Nephrology's annual meeting in San Diego, California.
Research conducted by Julie Lin MD, MPH, FASN and Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, FASN of Brigham
and Women's Hospital examined the influence of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened
beverages on kidney function decline in a group of 3,000 women subjects in a Nurses’ Health
Study.
This investigation reported "a significant two-fold increased odds, between two or more servings
per day of artificially sweetened soda and faster kidney function decline; no relation between
sugar-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline was noted.”
The association persisted even after the study authors accounted for age, caloric intake,
obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, physical activity, and cardiovascular
disease.
Sources:
ScienceDaily November 2, 2009
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
This latest study found a two-fold increased risk of a decline in kidney function among women
who drank two or more artificially sweetened beverages a day. This adds to the growing list of
serious health risks from consuming these toxic substances, which are deceptively marketed as
though they are safe and even healthy!
There is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners to fill an entire
book -- which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception.
If you or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will explain how you've
been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose -- for
greed, for profits ... and at the expense of your own health.
To get the complete low-down, I suggest you read Sweet Deception, but I want to give an
overview of the dangers of two common artificial sweeteners, aspartame and Splenda, so you
can get an idea of just how toxic they really are.
Aspartame Dangers You Need to Know
Aspartame goes by the brand names NutraSweet and Equal. It is one of the first generation of
artificial sweeteners and is 180 times as sweet as sugar. There are over 6,000 products
containing aspartame, sold in over 100 countries and consumed by over 250 million people
worldwide.
There have been more reports to the FDA for aspartame reactions than for all other food
additives combined. And, there are over 900 published studies on the health hazards of
aspartame. You can find a list in the National Library Medicine Index.
There are also some 10,000 documented reports of adverse reactions to aspartame, including
death. Since it is estimated only about 1 percent of people who experience a reaction report it, it
is safe to assume at least a million people have had a reaction to this chemical.
Among the risks, the phenylalanine in aspartame dissociates from the ester bond and increases
dopamine levels in your brain. This can lead to symptoms of depression because it distorts your
serotonin/dopamine balance. It can also lead to migraine headaches and brain tumors through a
similar mechanism.
Furthermore, the aspartic acid in aspartame is a well-documented excitotoxin. Excitotoxins are
usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids cause
particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point they will quickly die. Excitotoxins
can also cause a loss of brain synapses and connecting fibers.
Then the ester bond in aspartame is broken down to formaldehyde and methanol, which have
their own toxicities. So it is not surprising that this popular artificial sweetener has also been
found to cause cancer.
Why Splenda is Not so Splendid
Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such
as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy desserts, fruit juices, and
gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.
The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human
safety studies, but out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one
was conducted for four days!
And, those animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as:
• Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day
• Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain
lesions at higher doses
• Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed
substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are
findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.)
• Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to
zero aborted pregnancies in the control group
• A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group
A recent study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health also found that
Splenda:
• Reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
• Increases the pH level in your intestines
• Affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’
re on certain medications
They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous
claims.
It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria,
as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-
organisms, and support your general health.
My site also contains a long list of personal case studies from readers who have been injured
and suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have
reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for
FDA approval!
The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common
symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products:
• Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives
(itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have.
• Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath
• Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines
(severe headaches)
• Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing
• Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery
• Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea
• Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering
• Joints -- Joint pains or aches
• Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression
Artificial Sweeteners Can Even Make You Gain Weight
Truth be told, most people opt for artificial sweeteners over regular sugar not because they taste
so good but because they contain zero calories.
However, the belief that eating artificially sweetened foods and drinking artificially sweetened
beverages will help you to lose weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still
opting for diet choices for this reason, you are being sorely misled.
In reality, these diet foods and drinks ruin your body's ability to count calories, thus boosting
your inclination to overindulge. Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the
United States recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar,
which is at best confusing and at worst harming the health of those who take their misguided
advice.
The research clearly shows:
• Drinking diet sodas may double your risk of obesity
• Artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and
stimulate fat storage and weight gain
So when you add up all the evidence, there is really NO reason to be consuming these
dangerous artificial substances.
Are You Ready to Ditch Artificial Sweeteners?
You may become addicted to artificial sweeteners because you have cravings for sweets and
think you are making a healthy choice by swapping out sugar for artificial sweeteners.
Your body, however, is craving sweets because you are not giving it the proper fuel it needs.
Finding out your nutritional type will tell you exactly which foods you need to eat to feel full and
satisfied. It may sound hard to believe right now, but once you start eating right for your
nutritional type, your sweet cravings will significantly lessen and may even disappear.
Meanwhile, be sure you address the emotional component to your food cravings using a tool
such as the Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT). More than any traditional or alternative method
I have used or researched, MTT works to overcome food cravings and helps you reach dietary
success.
And, if diet soda is the culprit for you, be sure to check out Turbo Tapping, which is an extremely
effective and simple tool to get rid of your soda addiction in a short period of time.
For those times when you just want a taste of something sweet, there is a healthier alternative
called Stevia that you can use in moderation.
Stevia is a natural plant and, unlike aspartame and other artificial sweeteners that have been
cited for dangerous toxicities, it is a safe, natural alternative that's ideal if you’re watching your
weight, or if you’re maintaining your health by avoiding sugar.
It is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and truly has virtually no calories.
I must tell you that I am biased; I prefer Stevia as my sweetener of choice, and I frequently use it.
However, like most choices, especially sweeteners, I recommend using Stevia in moderation, just
like sugar. However, in excess it is still far less likely to cause metabolic problems than sugar or
any of the artificial sweeteners.
I want to emphasize, however, that if you have insulin issues, I suggest that you avoid
sweeteners altogether, including Stevia, as they all can decrease your sensitivity to insulin.
So if you struggle with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or extra weight, then you
have insulin sensitivity issues and would benefit from avoiding ALL sweeteners.
But for everyone else, if you are going to sweeten your foods and beverages anyway, I strongly
encourage you to consider using regular Stevia, and toss out all artificial sweeteners and any
products that contain them immediately.
Related Links:
Artificial Sweeteners -- More Dangerous than You Ever Imagined
The Dangers of Aspartame
New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects
inaccurate statements such as, "just like sugar" and "it won't hurt you" when
describing artificial sweeteners such aspartame, NutriSweet and even Splenda.
After reading the article below, hopefully you will understand my personal
feelings about these chemicals. The best alternative......local raw honey in
moderation. (1) get the sweet taste you desire with your cup of Jo. A little
different taste at first but you will get use to it quickly. (2) The reason I suggest
the local brand of honey, it can immune you from the local allergens that make
your allergy season miserable. I have been doing this for two years. This year
was the first year since I could remember that I did not have an allergy season. I
thank my wife Jackie for this jewel. Enjoy!!!
One More Reason to Ban Artificial Sweeteners from Your Diet
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
November 17 2009 | 34,269 views
Individuals who consume a diet high in artificially sweetened drinks are more likely to experience
a decline in kidney function, according to a paper presented at the American Society of
Nephrology's annual meeting in San Diego, California.
Research conducted by Julie Lin MD, MPH, FASN and Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, FASN of Brigham
and Women's Hospital examined the influence of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened
beverages on kidney function decline in a group of 3,000 women subjects in a Nurses’ Health
Study.
This investigation reported "a significant two-fold increased odds, between two or more servings
per day of artificially sweetened soda and faster kidney function decline; no relation between
sugar-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline was noted.”
The association persisted even after the study authors accounted for age, caloric intake,
obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, physical activity, and cardiovascular
disease.
Sources:
ScienceDaily November 2, 2009
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
This latest study found a two-fold increased risk of a decline in kidney function among women
who drank two or more artificially sweetened beverages a day. This adds to the growing list of
serious health risks from consuming these toxic substances, which are deceptively marketed as
though they are safe and even healthy!
There is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners to fill an entire
book -- which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception.
If you or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will explain how you've
been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose -- for
greed, for profits ... and at the expense of your own health.
To get the complete low-down, I suggest you read Sweet Deception, but I want to give an
overview of the dangers of two common artificial sweeteners, aspartame and Splenda, so you
can get an idea of just how toxic they really are.
Aspartame Dangers You Need to Know
Aspartame goes by the brand names NutraSweet and Equal. It is one of the first generation of
artificial sweeteners and is 180 times as sweet as sugar. There are over 6,000 products
containing aspartame, sold in over 100 countries and consumed by over 250 million people
worldwide.
There have been more reports to the FDA for aspartame reactions than for all other food
additives combined. And, there are over 900 published studies on the health hazards of
aspartame. You can find a list in the National Library Medicine Index.
There are also some 10,000 documented reports of adverse reactions to aspartame, including
death. Since it is estimated only about 1 percent of people who experience a reaction report it, it
is safe to assume at least a million people have had a reaction to this chemical.
Among the risks, the phenylalanine in aspartame dissociates from the ester bond and increases
dopamine levels in your brain. This can lead to symptoms of depression because it distorts your
serotonin/dopamine balance. It can also lead to migraine headaches and brain tumors through a
similar mechanism.
Furthermore, the aspartic acid in aspartame is a well-documented excitotoxin. Excitotoxins are
usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids cause
particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point they will quickly die. Excitotoxins
can also cause a loss of brain synapses and connecting fibers.
Then the ester bond in aspartame is broken down to formaldehyde and methanol, which have
their own toxicities. So it is not surprising that this popular artificial sweetener has also been
found to cause cancer.
Why Splenda is Not so Splendid
Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such
as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy desserts, fruit juices, and
gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.
The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human
safety studies, but out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one
was conducted for four days!
And, those animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as:
• Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day
• Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain
lesions at higher doses
• Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed
substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are
findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.)
• Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to
zero aborted pregnancies in the control group
• A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group
A recent study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health also found that
Splenda:
• Reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
• Increases the pH level in your intestines
• Affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’
re on certain medications
They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous
claims.
It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria,
as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-
organisms, and support your general health.
My site also contains a long list of personal case studies from readers who have been injured
and suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have
reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for
FDA approval!
The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common
symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products:
• Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives
(itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have.
• Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath
• Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines
(severe headaches)
• Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing
• Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery
• Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea
• Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering
• Joints -- Joint pains or aches
• Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression
Artificial Sweeteners Can Even Make You Gain Weight
Truth be told, most people opt for artificial sweeteners over regular sugar not because they taste
so good but because they contain zero calories.
However, the belief that eating artificially sweetened foods and drinking artificially sweetened
beverages will help you to lose weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still
opting for diet choices for this reason, you are being sorely misled.
In reality, these diet foods and drinks ruin your body's ability to count calories, thus boosting
your inclination to overindulge. Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the
United States recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar,
which is at best confusing and at worst harming the health of those who take their misguided
advice.
The research clearly shows:
• Drinking diet sodas may double your risk of obesity
• Artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and
stimulate fat storage and weight gain
So when you add up all the evidence, there is really NO reason to be consuming these
dangerous artificial substances.
Are You Ready to Ditch Artificial Sweeteners?
You may become addicted to artificial sweeteners because you have cravings for sweets and
think you are making a healthy choice by swapping out sugar for artificial sweeteners.
Your body, however, is craving sweets because you are not giving it the proper fuel it needs.
Finding out your nutritional type will tell you exactly which foods you need to eat to feel full and
satisfied. It may sound hard to believe right now, but once you start eating right for your
nutritional type, your sweet cravings will significantly lessen and may even disappear.
Meanwhile, be sure you address the emotional component to your food cravings using a tool
such as the Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT). More than any traditional or alternative method
I have used or researched, MTT works to overcome food cravings and helps you reach dietary
success.
And, if diet soda is the culprit for you, be sure to check out Turbo Tapping, which is an extremely
effective and simple tool to get rid of your soda addiction in a short period of time.
For those times when you just want a taste of something sweet, there is a healthier alternative
called Stevia that you can use in moderation.
Stevia is a natural plant and, unlike aspartame and other artificial sweeteners that have been
cited for dangerous toxicities, it is a safe, natural alternative that's ideal if you’re watching your
weight, or if you’re maintaining your health by avoiding sugar.
It is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and truly has virtually no calories.
I must tell you that I am biased; I prefer Stevia as my sweetener of choice, and I frequently use it.
However, like most choices, especially sweeteners, I recommend using Stevia in moderation, just
like sugar. However, in excess it is still far less likely to cause metabolic problems than sugar or
any of the artificial sweeteners.
I want to emphasize, however, that if you have insulin issues, I suggest that you avoid
sweeteners altogether, including Stevia, as they all can decrease your sensitivity to insulin.
So if you struggle with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or extra weight, then you
have insulin sensitivity issues and would benefit from avoiding ALL sweeteners.
But for everyone else, if you are going to sweeten your foods and beverages anyway, I strongly
encourage you to consider using regular Stevia, and toss out all artificial sweeteners and any
products that contain them immediately.
Related Links:
Artificial Sweeteners -- More Dangerous than You Ever Imagined
The Dangers of Aspartame
New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects
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