“Sweet” just may kill you!
It’s hot outside and you’re thirsty but you’re watching your weight. What do you reach
for to quench your thirst? Are you getting a diet coke or a large glass of unsweetened
tea that you add a couple of packs of sweetener to? That drink could cost you your
health!
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic non-caloric sweeteners characterized by a strong
sweetening flavor without calories or carbs. In other words, they are food additives that
are meant to serve as sugar substitutes. They help make vegetables, fruits and other
foods and beverages “tastier”. Let’s take a closer look.
In a study published in the BMJ (https://tinyurl.com/5b8buj96) in October 2022, there
was a link between aspartame and a higher risk of stroke. Also, people who used
sucralose had a higher risk of coronary heart disease. In case you didn’t know,
aspartame is your little blue packets of Equal, and sucralose is your yellow packets of
Splenda. WHAT NOW???? The same study showed that consuming sweeteners that
have no nutrients or calories can alter your gut’s microbes and elevate blood sugar
levels. That high blood sugar level in turn increases your chance of heart disease or
stroke!!! In June last year, a different study found that these same artificial sweeteners
helped gut bacteria to invade cells in the intestine wall which increased chances of
infection and/or organ failure. (https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/10/5228). 77
milligrams per day is seen as a large amount of sweetener. Guess what! Two little
packs of sweetener are over that!!!
Don’t think that just because you don’t drink diet soft drinks that you’re off the hook.
These artificial sweeteners are also in baked goods, ice cream, canned fruits, flavored
yogurts, syrup, sugar-free candies, sports drinks and cookies. More disturbing to
discover is that they are also in cough syrups, toothpastes and other medicines!
What have we learned here? Equal, Splenda, Sweet ‘n’ Low, Truvia, Nutrasweet,
Sweet One, Sunett, Etc = potential leaky gut, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke,
cancer, high blood pressure, infection and organ failure. Not much different results
than sugar.
What is the solution? Before you say you’ll just use agave, let me tell you that has an
extremely high fructose content! Do NOT turn to regular sugar as that just exacerbates
the problem! Eliminate processed foods, soft drinks, yogurts, granola bars, etc. Try to
use fruit slices or high-quality essential oils to flavor your water. Go back to eating
whole foods. Eat fruit if you want something sweet. Make sure you read those product
labels.
Until next time – Be your own health champion!
Lisa
