There has been a very scary rise in IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) both in this country and in Canada. Studies have been done recently tying these increase to the consumption of the artificial sweetner Splenda. Well, splendid!
Aspartame, according to scientific studies, should be avoided. Splenda is a kissin' cousin, chemically. A paper published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology theorizes that the increase in this troublesome disease (IBD) may be related to the impairment of digestive poteases, caused by the inhibition of gut bacteria by dietary chemicals, such as saccharin and sucralose.
If you read label closely, and you SHOULD, you may find sucralose in a lot of products in your pantry. It certainly is all over the grocery store. The trouble with this consuming this stuff is that your good gut bacteria is reduced by 50%. Dr. Mercola says that if you keep destroying up to have of your gut flora by regularly consuming Splenda, then poor health is virtually guaranteed!
Who would do that???? Plenty of people who are trying to save calories and are being duped into thinking that this is the way to do that - hence they loose weight. That clearly isn't happening. What IS happening is that more and more people are getting ill.
We were told that testing had been done and this product, Splenda, and all the various cousins (Asparatame etc) are safe. The TRUTH is these studies were done on animals and they DID find problems such as:
Brain lesions
Decreased red blood cell count and anemia
Enlarged and calcified kidneys
Increased mortality
Male Infertility
Spontaneous abortions in rabbits
Ready to have another drink of diet soda, or have a "sugar-free" cookie, piece of gum of whatever with Splenda in it?
The artificial sweetners are all equally toxic and even if you have no symptoms (YET) there is damage being done inside your body that can cause so many varied - and icky - symptoms and diseases down the road for you. I recently gave a nutritional talk at a beauty salon and the employees, mostly 30 and under, all said "Oh we can eat/drink anything we want to!" and they were, right then and there, downing the diet coke. Taking your health for granted is something most 20-30 year olds do. Then once 40-50 hits them, old age gets blamed for their "newly" acquired symptoms and diseases. Shocking!
I cannot emphasize enough about taking responsibility for our health, right now, whatever age you are. Know that, in time, if you are consuming something that is artificial and chemically laden, you WILL pay for it sometime.
If you are trying to be healthier in your choices, I suggest water with fruit or cukes in it, or carbonated water like Perrier with a squirt of lemon or lime and a dash of Agave to mimmic soda. Try some of the wonderful fruity tasting herbed iced teas, or mint flavored. There are so many great flavors out there just waiting for you to try them.
A splendid toast to your future health and wellness! Make this summer chemical free good old-fashioned lemonade (with agave or natural sugar) or herbal iced teas!
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I was feeling pretty good about not usind Splenda until I came to the chewing gum part. I chew sugar free while jogging...have to find something else. It is hard to find a regular chewing gum that does not have high fructose in it...
ReplyDeleteIt really IS hard to find any gum that isn't sugarless any more. I don't chew regularly but when I do I just go ahead and use the darn "sugared" gum - at least it's not chemicals. I've found that chewing a hunk of dried ginger helps but that has sugar on it too.
DeleteThis is a tough one for me. I like things sweet. Where I'm at right now, it's basically sugar or nothing. Well, except sodas, but I've never liked diet soda. It's amazing how different countries are regarding artificial foods.
ReplyDeleteIn Switzerland, diet foods are very hard to find. I suppose it's all the exercise you get; you don't really need the diet stuff. Just walking is enough since everywhere you go is either straight up or down, but equally challenging:~)
I will, however, keep this post in mind when I return where temptation and empty promises wait for me on every grocery store shelf.
Hi Sara, You know the studies they have done on sugar-free stuff is that is does NOT help you lose weight. It's worthless really except to slip in some toxins. You are better off with sugar and finding other ways, with fruits, to sweeten foods. Oddly, once you wean yourself off for a while, it suddenly becomes sickening to eat overly sweet stuff. I can have ONE bite of a brownie and I'm so done!
DeleteI try really hard to avoid Splenda whenever possible. I agree with your assessment of this chemical. Unfortunately, last week, I lost all sense of propriety and had a Coke Zero. (Didn't realize it has aspartame until the drink had been drunk.)
ReplyDeleteKathy,
DeleteLOL, I have lost "all sense of propriety" on occasion too, but the jolt of the sweet slams into me and I cannot finish drinking the coke or whatever. For years I put limes in my coke to cut the sweetness - then I just quit it altogether.
I don't eat sugar. It's an acquired taste so I don't crave sweets. Hence I don't want Splenda either.
ReplyDeletebikehikebabe or Cynthia
Good for you Cynthia! I crave sweets but the fruit I eat gets me through that quickly.
DeleteThis information is so, So, SO important for people to know. I tell my clients if you feel that you must sweeten something, use all natural, locally grown honey.
ReplyDeleteGreat food for thought!
Hi Laurie,
DeleteIt's hard getting people to give up sweets but a shift into more fruit seems to help. Sugar is terribly addicting. I just shiver when I see what moms give their little kids to drink.
Aspartame is an instant headache to me...then the Canadians decided that my Aunt's cancer ( Breast and lymph nodes -25 years ago) was caused by all the saccharin she put in her coffee and tea...I was so excited when caffeine free soda came out as a teen, but I think all the artificial sweeteners gave me the kidney stones at age 20....
ReplyDeletejust give me food - real food....I am trying to figure out stevia but end up at honey (I have not tried Agave
We just purchase real sugar lemonade for my partner - I don't make it any more
Lemon juice in water every am for breakfast...skip the sugar
Great post...I tweeted and FB'd....thank you for sharing
Hi Patricia,
DeleteAspartame screws up my colon badly. I can detect that silly chemical in anything, instantly. I use agave every once in awhile, but like you, usually do without. Took me a long time to get over sugar though. It helps me to really understand that when working with clients that are facing any kind of food addiction. Hey thanks a bunch for the shout outs! Much appreciated!
I can't believe they're still on the market. Can't believe Coke still is either, but the masses don't seem to care.
ReplyDeleteAnd as to one of your earlier posts, I have been faring very well (usually) by quelling my cake and potato chip cravings by drinking water. Thanks for that, my dear!
xoxo
Hi Jannie,
DeleteI can't believe it either, but that is some powerful marketing to get people to think "refreshing" instead of questioning just what that crap does to ya!
I would certainly want to dissolve any bacteria in my body aside from good bacteria. The percentage is really scary. It seems like if your gut bacteria is reduced by 50% you will likely be twice as sickly.
ReplyDeleteHi John,
DeleteEverything is about keeping balance in the body, but it is easy to consume the wrong things and upset that balance. Until people get ill or symptomatic, it seems they rarely even think about the fact that they can be doing something (eating the wrong things) to cause their own problems.