Before I post a list of alternative sweeteners, it's been nagging me to make sure I say something about artificial sweeteners. The name "artificial" should make everyone want to run since it is not a natural sugar, not even close. And what companies want you to believe is that the ingredients used to create these sugars are innocent and pure, but when put together, has a different character that wrecks havoc on the body.
One of the biggest ways people cut down on HFCS is to switch to diet soda, thinking that since they are consuming less calories, they'll lose weight. Or switch to foods created with Splenda since it means they can "have their cake and eat it too." The ironic part is that artificial sweeteners increase the craving for more sweets and trick the body into thinking that sweet things have low calories, which causes the consumption of more sweets. I've heard people say that if you absolutely can't give up soda (which you really should), drink regular soda because as bad as HFCS is for you, artificial sweeteners are worse!!
Artificial sweeteners come in pink, blue, or yellow packs as most folks know them by, but they are in so many of the foods we consume that we don't even realize including yogurt, gum, mints, and lots of processed snack food. They are most often listed on ingredients as aspartame. Aspartame which is more commonly known as Nutrasweet or Equal is highly toxic, yes toxic. The heat in our bodies reacts with acids that the sweetener breaks down into which converts to formaldehyde, yes you heard me correctly. It can cause genetic damage as well as neurological damage and damage to the immune system. It breaks down a barrier in our brain which allows toxins to come in. Aspartame has been linked to MANY MANY diseases and conditions including epilepsy, migraines and headaches, depression, autoimmune disease, brain tumors. diabetes, birth defects, and the list goes on.
Splenda, also known as sucralose, does not have as much research behind it and claims it is made out of sugar. And yet, it is still an ARTIFICIAL sweetener and has been linked to many disorders as well including enlarged organs, lots of complications with pregnancy, diarrhea, reduced growth rate, shrunken thymus glands, and others. So don't believe the hype...it is just as bad as other sweeteners.
So, again, read labels. Know what is in the food you purchase!
1 comment:
You would post about diet soda! :( Now I'm feeling very convicted. I promise I will try to reduce. I may even blog about it. It will be a post completely focused on my detox and lack of caffeine headaches. I would say I'd stop, but you actually know me. I know you won't believe that.
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