Most people believe that if they consume much less sugar, they will lose weight. This is true! The problem is, a substantial amount of people are turning to artificial sweeteners to satisfy their sugar cravings. I have researched the facts and I have vowed to never put those poisons in my body ever again! Let me enlighten you . . .
Artificial sweeteners are in several products we see and use everyday! They are in diet drinks, reduced sugar and/or reduced calorie foods, and of course in those little colorful packets in restaurants. These foods are becoming more and more popular as the fear of obesity rises. What most people don't understand is that these artificial sweeteners are DANGEROUS for your body and may actually make you GAIN weight!
Aspartame is the key ingredient in Sweet n Low and Equal. It is also used to sweeten Diet Coke. Although aspartame contains no calories, the side effects of it could be fatal! Aspartame has been linked to several neurological, nervous-system and sight problems. It may also mimic or worsen certain diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's. The FDA was slow to approve this drug because of the seizures and brain tumors it caused in the lab animals (aspastamekills.com). How could someone ever put this in their body?
Splenda is the brand name for sucralose. It was accidentally invented in 1976 while scientists in Britain were trying to create a pesticide. The commercials for it will tell you this product is made from sugar . . . which is true! It is made from a molecule called sucrose (sugar), except three of the hydroxyl groups in the atom are replaced with chlorine. Chlorine is fatal for your body, yet it is possible to eat things with chlorine in them that aren't harmful. It is argued that regular table salt has chlorine in it and splenda could be safe. Splenda has more in common with pesticides than a sweetener because the bonds holding the carbon and chlorine atoms together are more like a chlorocarbon than a salt - and most pesticides are chlorocarbons. The FDA has approved splenda because it hasn?t shown any negative effects in humans, but the product has not been around long enough to do any long-term studies. (womentowomen.com) I would prefer not to be a science project!
Consuming any of these sweeteners may cause you to gain weight. When you eat or drink these toxins, you are tricking your brain that you are eating something sugary. Your brain gets ready for the sugar rush. When there is no sugar rush, your body craves sugar which may make you reach for a pack of cookies or grab an ice cream bar from the freezer - which are usually more calories than a regular sugary drink would be (www.truthaboutabs.com). As bad as sugary drinks are, they will actually be better for you in the long run than diet drinks.
As a recovering sugar addict, I have searched and found a possible solution! There is a product called stevia which is a natural sweetener. It is made from stevia plants. It has no sugar, no calories, no poisons and it is roughly 250-300 times sweeter than sugar. One teaspoon will sweeten a whole gallon of tea! Stevia is a plant native to South America. The South American people have been using stevia for centuries and there have been no negative side effects. They have been using stevia in Japan since the 1970's. (www.emperorsherbologist.com/steviahist.shtml) Unfortunately, stevia is not available in most grocery stores. You may be able to find it in a health food store as a "dietary supplement" or online. Stevia does not taste exactly like sugar, but it is very sweet! In strong concentrates, it may have a bit of a licorice taste. I have found a stevia product in regular stores that is relatively inexpensive and actually has a better taste. This product is called Truvia. It is also an all-natural sweetener with no calories. It tastes a bit like pears and it smells DELICIOUS! If you are thinking about reducing your intake of sugar and don't have the means to buy stevia online, I would definitely recommend buying Truvia. It is right next to the noxious artificial sweeteners in your local grocery store.
If you are considering limiting the sugar you eat and drink, please be safe! Don't touch the deadly artificial sweeteners! Drink water or have some tea sweetened with truvia!
Making smarter decisions,
Peachadee
