Sugar Blues - pt 3 - Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners, also called sugar substitutes, are substances that are used instead of sucrose (table sugar) to sweeten foods and beverages.

In the United States, artificial sweeteners are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Food Additives Amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which was passed by Congress in 1958, requires the FDA to approve food additives, including artificial sweeteners, before they can be made available for sale in the United States.  So my question is WHY are they approving these additives? 

On the market today are currently five artificial sweeteners that are FDA approved:

Aspartame, sold under the brand names NutraSweet® and Equal®

Saccharin, sold under the brand name Sweet’N Low®

Sucralose, sold under the brand name Splenda®

Acesulfame K (or acesulfame potassium), produced by Hoechst, a German chemical company; widely used in foods, beverages and pharmaceutical products around the world.

Neotame, produced by the NutraSweet Company; the most recent addition to FDA’s list of approved artificial sweeteners, neotame is used in diet soft drinks and low-calorie foods.

The National Cancer Institute says there is no clear evidence that the artificial sweeteners on the market in the United States are related to cancer risk in humans.

However, numerous studies performed on laboratory rats link aspartame and saccharin to cancer.  In fact there is a recent seven-year study conducted by a major nonprofit oncology lab in Italy who came up with the same cancer relation.

AND the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) cautions everyone to avoid aspartame, saccharin and acesulfame K because they are unsafe when consumed in large amounts or are very poorly tested and not worth the risk. They do lists neotame and sucralose as safe. 

Though I would still caution you to stay away from any artificial sweeteners.  They are synthetic in nature and our bodies don’t work well with synthetics.  Our bodies thrive on whole REAL foods.

Aspartame is of particular concern because it contains phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%), three well-recognized neurotoxins. There are many symptoms that have been associated with the consumption of aspartame, some of which I have experienced (the symptoms I have experienced are bolded):

Migraines

headaches

nausea

dizziness

hearing loss

tinnitus

insomnia

blurred vision

eye problems

hallucinations

memory loss

slurred speech

mild to suicidal depression

personality changes

violent episodes

mood changes

anxiety attacks

hyperactivity

heart arrhythmia

edema or swelling

gastrointestinal disorders

skin lesions

muscle cramps

joint pains

fatigue

PMS

menstrual irregularities

chest pain

increased appetite

numbness and tingling of extremities

Fortunately, once you have cleared your body of these toxins, most of the above symptoms are alleviated.  It is truly about getting your body back to nature, back to eating REAL food.

If you have to sweeten, I recommend you use a real sweetener, for example, a RAW local Honey.  The RAW means that it is still alive with good stuff in it that helps your body.  And if you purchase local to where you live, you actually will help your body fight allergies.