Noxious or Nice – The Truth About Artificial Sweeteners
Would you sprinkle formaldehyde on your breakfast cereal?
Of course you wouldn’t!
Yet there are hundreds of pages on dozens of sites on the internet that suggest that’s exactly what you’re doing when you use artificial sweeteners. Specifically, they say that aspartame metabolizes into formaldehyde.
So, we ask the question, “Is it true?” Are we poisoning ourselves by enjoying diet soda or any other products on the market containing aspartame?
The answer may surprise you… ready?
Yes and no.
Aspartame has replaced saccharin as the number one non-nutritive sweetener. You’ll find it in just about every product that claims to be “diet” or “light,” from sugar-free gum to baked goods, and from yogurt to ice creams (Splenda has also become quite popular in diet ice cream).
Some sites will tell you it causes depression, slurred speech, dizziness, headaches, vomiting and cancer (like saccharin did in laboratory rat tests). Others say it’s completely safe for human consumption and vehemently deny any physical ailments associated with its use.
So, where does the conspiracy theory end and the truth begin?
Well, I was tired of the conflicting stories. I’m sure you are, too…
Because of this, I decided to have a look for myself at the hyped-out, doom-and-gloom sites, as well as the reputable claims.
Earlier, when I answered “yes and no” to the question of whether or not we’re ingesting poison, I was being honest.
Yes, it’s true. Aspartame does metabolize in the body as formaldehyde – and then into formic acid. However, the Mayo Clinic, the National Cancer Institute, and MedicineNet.com clearly state that there is no scientific evidence that aspartame specifically causes cancer.
The amount of formaldehyde produced by normal servings of this simulated sweet stuff is easily eliminated by the body and poses no threat of poisoning, even if you’re drinking a diet soda on a hot day, as one site suggests.
That said, here’s some more truth for you to think about…
There have been studies done with recorded proof that aspartame does cause headaches, depression and increased hunger, which defeats its purpose as part of a weight-loss plan.
The results of those studies are as follows:
- 3 random studies were done on over 200 migraine sufferers who were randomly given aspartame and a placebo. The group who consumed aspartame suffered more headaches and with increased severity.
- 40 patients suffering from depression were also treated in a control group. The study was quickly brought to an end after only 13 people were tested. Why? Because their mood swings intensified so greatly after they took the aspartame, it was easy to conclude that aspartame was dangerous to consume.
- 14 dieters were given beverages sweetened with aspartame in addition to regular sugar drinks. Over the course of the study, there was no decrease in caloric intake in the diet group. In fact, during certain “test days,” the caloric count actually increased while they were drinking diet beverages! Talk about things that make you go “hmmmm!”
What about Splenda? Noxious or nice?
Again, many sites condemn Splenda as being a dangerous chemical that’s toxic and causes bodily harm. Once more, there is no conclusive evidence supporting this claim. But, then there’s this…
Splenda is made from sucralose. The makers of Splenda have assured us that 15% of this artificial sweetener substance is absorbed harmlessly into the body. Trouble is, sucralose also contains chlorine and the Big Guys at Splenda have no idea how much of the chlorine is flushed out, versus how much of it is absorbed for uncertain periods of time.
Also, to make Splenda comparable to sugar for cooking and baking, they’ve added “bulking agents” that can tally around 12 extra calories per tablespoon – and they don’t put that on the package.
Finally, some animal research has been revealed by critics suggesting that Splenda causes organ damage.
So, what to do? Do we or don’t we use artificial sweeteners? I suppose all this information should be taken with a grain of sugar. We have to decide for ourselves, “Are we okay with putting anything artificial in our bodies?” As a proponent of the natural health remedies and lifestyle, I’m not convinced this stuff is what I want floating around in me.
Personally, I prefer raw, organic honey as a sweetener. It works and I’m certain it’s not going to make me or my family depressed, hungry, give us headaches or an unknown dose of chlorine that may or may not be okay.
Now, you need to ask yourself:
1. How much toxic artificial sweeteners am I using per day?
2. What are YOU going to do about it?
Let me know your thoughts and concerns in the comments below.
Comments
HealthyBlogger, contributor
Interests:
videos porno vintage letmejerk.fun sexo sentada no colo sexo mae gostosa luxuretv.fun melao nua na favela swathinaidusex xnxxporn.fun indian sex scandal free bigassporn porn300.online jharkhand ka sexy video www xxx odia video rushporn.online odia x video bengali sexy video film imhoporn.com boss xvideo muktha hot indiansexmovies.mobi pakistan xxx tamilauntybra turkishhdporn.pro sexpak babilona nude tubesafari.pro auntysexvideo ooo sex indian indianpornvideos.pro xxvieos xvideos7 indiapornvids.pro kook porn hollywood actress xvideo beegwank.com naked village aunty
Add a New Comment
-
-
Here is an article from Dr Frank Shallenberger. For your interest. Thanks
THE SWEETEST SCANDAL
in the history of American health!
• Did you know the FDA refused to approve this best-selling sweetener for 16 years…?
• Until one powerful politician called in a favor which finally got it legalized…?
• And now it’s been linked to brain cancer, memory loss, impaired vision, hearing loss, joint pain, asthma, coma, seizures…?
See below, save your life and
learn the real facts about…
My Dear Incredulous Friend:
Ever wonder what our former Secretary of Defense did before he got into politics?
Well years ago, he was the fearless leader of a company called GD Searle Corp. that developed a “miracle sweetener” called aspartame. (Yes, the very same stuff contained in that those that little blueblue packet.)
For years, this company tried in vain to get aspartame approved. But no one wanted to go near the stuff! The FDA refused to approve it for 16 years. In fact, according to a report I recently uncovered, the late Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a former senior FDA toxicologist, stated in his testimony before Congress:
“Beyond a shadow of a doubt, aspartame triggers brain tumors”and, “therefore, by allowing aspartame to be placed on the market the FDA has violated the Delaney Amendment, which forbids putting anything in food that is know to cause cancer…And if the FDA itself elects to violates its own the law, who is left to protect the health of the public?”
But wait, it gets worse…
In the early ’80s, “Rummy the Magnificent” moved into the political arena. And one of the first moves he made was to appoint a new FDA commissioner. And guess what he did? In 1981, the new appointee approved aspartame for the good old boys back at GD Searle…despite the clinically proven dangers.
Before long, aspartame was everywhere, from soda to salad dressing! Now let’s look at what it’s “contributed” to America’s health…
92 reasons why aspartame makes sugar look like a “good guy”…
For starters, medical authorities estimate that aspartame has brought more complaints to the FDA than any other additive. In fact, it’s responsible for as many as 75 percent of such complaints to that agency. And, after receiving some 10,000 consumer complaints, the FDA compiled a list of 92 symptoms linked to aspartame — including death.
Headaches, memory loss, seizures, vision loss, coma, and cancer. It also appears to worsen or mimic the symptoms of such conditions as fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, chronic fatigue, and depression…
Why so many? It could be because aspartame attacks your body at the cellular level so it can negate all kinds of medications Americans take, including antidepressants, Coumadin, cardiac drugs, hormones, insulin, vaccines, and many others.
It is a deadly neurotoxic drug masquerading as a harmless additive.
And to add insult to injury…
Aspartame could makes you hungrier and fatter!
One medical investigator, Dr. H. J. Roberts, even concludes that aspartame has caused our obesity epidemic. He gives evidence that this “guilt-free” sweetener secretly makes you crave carbohydrates which, of course, make you gain weight.
How? Possibly it may trigger or over stimulate the stomach’s production of ghrelin, also known as the “hunger hormone.” If this hypothesis turns out to be correct, it will help to explain why all those “diet” sodas have never been much help in weight reduction. (In fact, just the opposite!)
So why is the media mum?
Simple. Because professional organizations and their publications have all been bought off.
By who? The food giants. They all use this inexpensive imposter in huge quantities for their colas, desserts, candies, and other junk foods. And they’re the ones who have financed a raft of studies “proving” the safety of aspartame.
So what’s safe and actually TASTES GOOD?
I can hear you asking: “Ok Dr. Douglass, so what can I sprinkle into my coffee?”
Let’s run through the usual suspects then I’ll tell you what I’ve been using…
SUGAR: A spoonful once in a while is fine, but in time, too much sugar can lead to diabetes, which will lead to heart disease, renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic retinitis (blindness), diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the list goes on and on. (Even so, next to aspartame, sugar looks almost attractive!)
SUCRALOSE: A very dangerous new chemical — because in order to make sucralose, chlorine is added to sugar! Ever spilled chlorine bleach on your skin? No wonder that research by the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center showed that years of sucralose use can lead to serious compromise of the immune system and neurological disorders.
SACCHARINE: Yuck. Despite those famous animal studies, I actually don’t count saccharine as much of a cancer threat to humans. But face it, saccharine tastes like the chemical experiment it is. Enough said.
STEVIA: Yes, it’s natural. Yes, it’s safe. But no, it tastes nothing like sugar. Okay for some, but not in my coffee!
XYLITOL: Almost gets a perfect score. Natural, tastes like sugar, good for your teeth, doesn’t spike blood sugar. On the down side, it gives some folks the trots.
AND THE WINNER IS:
You’ve probably never heard of it. It’s called erythritol. And here’s the best news: erythritol is natural, virtually calorie-free, tastes like sugar, doesn’t affect blood sugar or insulin levels, reduces dental plaque — and unlike xylitol, has no laxative side-effects. Available as Smart Sweet, it gets the Dr. Douglass nod!The food giants would certainly like to keep these discoveries hush-hush. But now that you know the facts, you can kiss those killer awful blueblue packets good-bye forever. And satisfy that sweet tooth with a yummy, natural, safe alternative.
-
Those sweeteners give me Diarhhea and I have been advised by a specialist to stay away from them
-
I use Stevia as a sweetner and sometimes honey. I try to stay away fron diet anything.
-
I’ve been drinking “diet” coke and Dr. Pepper since I was pregnant with my first child and told to cut down my calories. That was 44 years ago! I am now 68, have no medical issues, 5’4″ and 120 pounds. I would like to note to readers, however, that the soda in bottles and cans seems to affect my muscles, giving me aches and pains, and difficulty sleeping at night. I have converted to mostly soda fountain soda, which does not seem to have the same effects. I have my own business and work at least 60 hours a week. I take no medications, and just came back from a trip to Italy where I hiked 5-7 miles a day. I’m tired of being told that diet soda is going to kill me by everyone and his brother. I’m not a super woman by any stretch, and I do watch what I eat. I love vegetables, and eat very little red meat (mostly because it doesn’t agree with me!) I do like to cook, and eat my own cooking, mostly from scratch. Everyone wants to know where I get my energy from. I exercise my brain with my business, and my body with my garden. Outside of that, I probably am just as plain as anyone.
-
I READ MANY YEARS AGO THAT ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS WERE NOT
GOOD FOR YOU AND MANY DISORDERS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR USE.I SEARCHED FOR A NATURAL SWEETENER THAT WAS NOT
TOO HARMFUL SINCE I HAVE DIABETES. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT,I HAVE FOUND A SWEETENER THAT IS NATURAL SWEETER THAN SUGAR AND IS MADE FROM THE AGAVE CACTI PLANT,IT IS CALLED AGAVE NECTER AND IS SOLD AS A LIQUID BY PURITAN PRIDE VITAMINS.SO FAR I LOVE IT,PLUS THERE IS NOTHING IN IT THAT CAN HARM YOU. IT IS TOTALLY NATURAL. -
Do you have any information on the safety of Xylitol?
-
I have been using too much Splenda just as I used sugar before being told 10 years ago that I have type 2 diabetes. This morning I decided to take no more and ate my bran flakes without sweetner. Don’t like it that way but I’m going to try from here on to do without. Yes, I’ve noticed some headaches, mild tho, and having had them most of my younger life I wasn’t too annoyed and kept using. I get desperately hungry for good desserts. I have done without sugar for ten years but heavily relied on Splenda. Recently I’ve used Agava as my sweetner but know little about that too. I have promised myself that I’m not using Splenda as often as in the past but will use it to bake a pie or a dessert when I need a ‘fix’, which isn’t too often!
-
i resently got your posting on artificial sweetners i have also another document re this and i was stunned, shocked and discusted at our government and fda to allow such a rotten product to be allowed on the market, the actual person who so called invented this product knew its dangerous potential, and yet the food industry jumped all over it, now we are geting sick, and we are , it is not allowed inmy house, my son is forbiddon to chew the gum ,, he complains of upset stomach , and just feels funny, now my 10 year old son has become a preacher againts the product of any kind, i will send you the docs i have if your intersested, be prepaired as i was to be shocked, how about cancer, lupus,, MS,, parkensons, the list goes on, people with migraines and ingesting diet pop have becoome dehydrated and needed IV drip to combat this, OMG. what have we become ??? they offer this NEW product and we all flock in like faithfull sheep to try this NEW product and i was a brain washed canadian, but for 4 years i have studdied this problem, and now i tell all who will listen to stop and think, and now i found out that cereal com are selling cereal with blue berries and they are not ,,, real bluberries, ita al sugar, and no blueberries, but they lie on the packages, i will send you this too if you would like, the world has to wake up , we will die unless steps are taken, and besides the so called sugar subs taste like s#%t anyways,
-
I appreciate you confirming the information I had read over the years concerning aspartame and Splenda. I stopped using those and switched to Truvia – an artificial sweetner you did not comment on. I’ve also tried, but dislike the taste of Stevia. Can you comment on either one or both of these? I need to limit my sugar intake so your comments would be greatly appreciated.
-
I’ve muscle tested dozens of people with aspartame sweetener and “diet” sodas containing aspartame. Always a blind test (unable to be identified in opaque container), comparing aspartame with pure vitamin C and diet soda with fresh fruit juice. Every single time the subjects went weak with aspartame and strong with the other. Even the thought of aspartame will test weak.
-
I will cease using any artificial sweeteners, thanks for this information.
-
Aspatame gives me migraine headaches. No question about it. I have stopped using Splenda because of the Chlorine. I essentially stopped using any sweetener in my coffee and tea. Surprisingly, I no longer miss it! However, my husband uses Stevia in his beverages. I have not heard anything bad about Stevia. What’s the real scoop? Our daughter, a physician who has a post-doctoral degree in Intergrative Medicine uses Stevia, and has done so since it came out. Patricia Dallas, RN,MSN
-
What about Stevia?
-
We use “NuStevia” (White Stevia Powder) by Nu Naturals in place of sugar on our morning fresh fruit and cooked cereal waker upper. Any potential health risks with Stevia? Don’t know what to trust anymore! Thanks for your great column.
Ken McLellan -
I’m with you. Why take a chance, when there are so many natural wholesome sweeteners out there that won’t hurt you or raise your blood sugar as long as you use them in moderation. Some that come to mind are unsweetened apple sauce, black strap molasses, stevia, agave nectar, honey, and maple syrup. Some of these of course have a higher glycemic index than others, but you wouldn’t have to use as much of the ones on the higher end of the scale to achieve the desired sweetness.
-
You are great, brave and honest fighter for the elementary human right – to eat healthy food! Congratualitons and greetengs, Črtomir Borko, PhD,MSc, DVM
-
Thank you for that, and keep it up. I tried them all when I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic type 2 with Syndrome X a year ago. All of them (I tried 5 brands just in case, including Splenda) caused side effects to some degree. Now I have simply given up sugars except for fructose (in very small quantities to lift bitter berries like cranberries) now and again. Stay natural or better still – give up sweetness if you can.
-
Interesting information May I ask about the sweetener called STEVIA. I agree honey is awesome especially Manuka honey from New Zealand, but for practical cooking use was wondering if stevia is okay. Many Thanks….Jan
-
There is also Stevia, which is from a plant and is better for you than sugar.
-
I am surprised that you didn’t bring up some of the safer non/sugar products like stevia and xylitol? Could you enlighten us on the pros and cons of these two products as well?
Thanks for helping to educate the users of the above mentioned toxic sweetners.
diane
-
Yes, I avoid these two, for the most part along with msg, high fructose corn syrup, pastuerized milk, etc etc. Wake up people. Why is there so much cancer in our society? many reasons, not the least of which are all the artificials. You’ll have to give up a few things, but you’ll be healthier. Try stevia as a sweetener. They also make pop with it too. not as tasty as pepsi, but better for you.
-
I cannot tolerate Aspartame (thank the Lord) every time I had anything with it in I would get terrible palpitations and skipped heartbeats that actually continued for a couple of days afterwards. I made the connection one day after having put Canderel (almost pure aspartame) pure?! in my drink. The effect was immediate. My late husband was a chemist and considered aspartame a bad chemical. It is in so many things here in the UK too and I have to read every label very carefully. Anything natural has to be better than an artificial chemical.
-
I once bought some “Light” Ice Cream and while serving up a couple of bowls for my wife and myself, gave some to my ice cream loving dogs.
To my amazement they spat it out on the floor.
We tried it and were less than impressed and looked at the contents and found it contained aspartame.
The next day I gave the whole container to the dogs who sniffed it and walked away.
So i figured if dogs, who love ice cream, would not eat it then aspartame is a product to avoid at all costs.
-
[…] I avoid artificial sweeteners at all costs, and limit sugar or sweet things to parties and get-togethers. […]
I have used aspertaime since it came out and I am still kicking. Of course, that does not mean I will not develop whatever; but it has not made me depressed or given me headaches. Am I hungrier, I am not sure, but cavities dropped tremensously when I started using Equal in my coffee.