Fake Sugar
(Science is yet to overpower nature for that sweet tooth)
When it comes to sugar, the only option is to stick to the natural sources until we have developed a substitute that is less harmful. Sugar should be one of the main items to remove from a diet. The term sugar here refers to any refined sugar that is added into foods to sweeten the taste. If you never consumed sugar added to food then there would be no adverse affect to the body. Alternatively, sugar is naturally found in many fruits, grains, and vegetables which do provide health benefits and are very healthy to eat.
If sugar is added to food then it should be honey, pure cane, organic brown, or even stevia which is the only natural sugar alternative (Stevia is the only alternative sweetener that we would recommend to those diabetics who need to cut back on sugar consumption). Common sugars that should be removed include bleached white sugar and corn syrup. Both have many negative health effects which include obesity and diabetes. Princeton shows that these two additives are also found to be as addictive as cocaine and heroin and also promote similar mental dysfunctions. Recently corn syrup has been shown to interfere with the hormone greenin which tells your body when it is truly hungry. That means you will more frequently feel hungry when consuming corn syrup. Many fast food companies use the concepts mentioned above to their advantage. By adding sugar to everything from their meat to their buns, they know that their food will instantly become more addictive. While many know that sugar can be very harmful to our health, many fail to realize the negative health associated with any alternative sweetener that wasn't mentioned above.
Of the three most common artificial sweeteners, the most deadly is aspartame. This chemical is found in many diet drinks and sugar free breath fresheners. Some doctors think that even the amount of aspartame found in a single piece of gum can cause birth defects. Refer to the bottom of this page for a full list of the 92 recorded side effects of aspartame. As for the other two common artificial sweeteners, saccharin (sweet & low, Nectra Sweet) and sucralose (splenda), there are a few primary reasons not to consume these products. For beginners, even WebMD admits that there is only minimal research done on these two chemicals. Similar to fluoride and aspartame, the population is given the guinea pig opportunity for testing additives that haven’t been proven for their safety. All of the artificial sweeteners are expected to have carcinogenic traits which should be a reason for avoidance in itself. On top of that, sucralose is found to cause skin irritations, coughing, chest pain, anxiety, anger, mood swings, depression, and itchy eyes. It has also been found to reduce healthy bacteria in the body by 50% and has been shown to drastically affect the absorption of medication. Many people who do need their medication will commonly add splenda to food and drinks in an attempt to improve health when in reality it may be affecting the effectiveness of the medicines.
No matter which way you look at it, it’s best to stick to those sweeteners that nature intended until there has been decisive evidence to believe the contrary. Whenever possible try using local honey or agave nectar. They both contain enzymes and phytochemicals and are made from plants and are 100% natural. Honey has even been shown to prevent and help with many allergies by acting as a vaccine. The only sugar substitute that is showing promise is a natural substance known as stevia which we would recommend to those diabetics trying to cut back on sugar intake.
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Artificial Sugars and Their Adverse Health Effects
- Saccharin (Sweet & low, Nectra Sweet)
Very little research into the sweetener. Currently on the National Toxicology Program’s list of possible carcinogens (Cancer causing agent) - Sucralose (Splenda)
Simply a combination of sugar and chlorine molecules. An outcome of an experiment to produce insecticides.- Chlorine is a known carcinogen and also a primary factor for heart attacks.
- Sucralose causes many side effects including bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, and skin irritations including rashes, hives, redness, itching, swelling, and also wheezing, coughs, runny nose, chest pains, anxiety, anger, moods swings, depression, and itchy eyes.
- Also kills good bacteria (50% reduction in good bacteria in rats after 1 year) and affects absorption of medication.
- Like saccharin, no long term studies have been conducted so we are yet again, human guinea pigs.
- Bleached white sugar
As addictive as cocaine and heroin and promotes similar brain dysfunctions (Princeton). Causes a spike in dopamine levels which causes many forms of irrational behavior similar to that of stimulant drugs.- Those who eat sugar early in the morning are much more likely to consume sugar throughout the day.
- Also has similar forms of withdrawal as illegal drugs
92 documented side effects of Aspartame. (List follows – Including Death)
Eye
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes- Ear
tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment - Neurologic
epileptic seizures
headaches, migraines and (some severe)
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors - Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias - Chest
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure - Gastrointestinal
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing - Skin and Allergies
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma - Endocrine and Metabolic
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS - Other
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection - Additional Symptoms of Aspartame
death
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies - Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
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