Next time you grab a cup of coffee and reach for a packet of “Splenda,” think twice. Artificial sweeteners are lurking everywhere and hiding in many of the foods we consume each day. The amount of information about these sweeteners is overwhelming, so here are some basic facts about three popular artificial sweeteners that should be taken into consideration.
Aspartame
More commonly known as “Equal” or “Nutrasweet,” aspartame is found in the small blue packets and is used most frequently in foods and beverages. It’s found in the majority of diet sodas, yogurt (even if not sugar-free), candy, gum, condiments and sugar-free desserts such as ice cream. Aspartame is believed to be the most harmful out of all of the fake sweeteners and is not eliminated through normal filtering in the kidneys and liver. In lab animals, aspartame caused cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Many bad reactions to aspartame are reported, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, and sleep problems. Studies also link artificial sweeteners to an increased appetite and aspartame produced the most significant effects. Finally, there is scientific evidence that aspartame can worsen insulin sensitivity more than sugar, which is especially important if you’re diabetic.
Saccharin
Saccharin is also known as “Sweet’ n Low” and is sold in the pink packets. In the 1970s, studies suggested that it caused bladder cancer in lab rats. In 2000, however, cancer warnings were no longer required for saccharin because tests on lab rats proved that they were naturally more susceptible to develop bladder tumors when fed large doses of saccharin. Some other side effects are nausea, diarrhea, and skin problems.
Sucralose
Sucralose is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners today, labeled as “Splenda” and found in the yellow packets. It’s a synthetic sugar that contains man-made covalently bound chloride compounds. Chloride compounds similar to the ones in Splenda are also found in DDT and Agent Orange. Some of the most devastating effects Splenda can have on your body take place in your GI tract. Splenda reduces the amount of healthy bacteria in your intestines by 50% and raises the pH. Other trials show that it can increase male infertility, decrease red blood cells, and enlarge and calcify the kidneys. It has also been linked to leukemia.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: avoid artificial sweeteners all together. Why ingest chemicals that aren’t natural and have so many questionable side effects? Most people think that artificial sweeteners will help them lose weight, when in fact it’s the opposite. Artificial sweeteners suppress your body’s appetite control system and cause you to eat more because your ability release satiety hormones is compromised. Avoiding these sweeteners is easy to do, just make sure that you’re reading food and drink labels and staying away from sugar-free and diet products.
Wondering how to satisfy that sweet tooth without all of the calories? Stevia is a naturally sweet herb sold as a supplement. It’s completely safe in its natural form and recommended by many nutritionists as a good substitute for sugar. That being said, make sure you purchase the pure form of Stevia, and not “Truvia.” “Truvia” is the brand most often seen in stores and contains other added chemicals and only parts of the natural herb. Personally, I try and stay away from artificial sweeteners all together and use turbinado sugar (Sugar in the Raw) or honey. I’d rather consume a couple extra calories than risk the possibility of dangerous side effects.
If you’re interested in learning more about artificial sweeteners, check out the book Sweet Deception by Dr. Joseph Mercola.
However, the zero-calorie sweetener, Sweet’N Low, is a proven alternative to sugar and for 56 years has helped millions of people safely manage their weight and sugar intake. In fact, numerous organizations such as theAmerican Diabetes Association, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, World Health Organization, and National Cancer Institute have acknowledged its safety for human consumption and its benefit in helping to develop a healthy eating plan for long-term weight management and maintaing a healthy lifestyle.
Extensive research on humans and numerous species of animals by reputable sources in the scientific community since have proven the sweetener’s safety, and saccharin has been used for 125 years without any documented human ill effects. In addition, The National Cancer Institute has completed more than 30 human studies, involving more than 9,000 individuals and all support saccharin’s safety at human levels of consumption, report titled Elcok and Morgan, 1993.
Source: http://articles.mercola.com/si…