Artificial Sweeteners

December 18, 2013

Don’t Let Them Fool You… This Stuff is Total Poison

You know how dangerous diet sodas are. That’s what makes what we’re about to tell you all that much more disturbing…

Artificial sweeteners can cause a wide range of health problems. This includes a 48 percent increase in risk for heart disease. There’s also a link to unexpected disorders like depression.

Thankfully, people are finally catching on. Sales are down by about 7 percent.1 That makes the timing of this news so perfect for the beverage giants.

According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), this ingredient has always been safe. Never mind the evidence showing how harmful this stuff actually is!

But they claim that they have been looking into its safety since 2002. And now, after their first-ever “full risk assessment” of this substance, they are more convinced than ever that it’s safe.2Too bad it’s total nonsense.

The fact is that the EFSA isn’t putting safety first.

Don’t be fooled by their flawed findings. Aspartame is never truly safe for you to consume.

Yet the EFSA continues to say that it is totally safe to consume 40 mg per kg of bodyweight.3

That means if you weigh 150 lbs it is safe to have 2,720 mg of aspartame in a day. The average can of diet soda contains about 180 mg of aspartame. That amounts to 15 cans of this garbage in a day.

But see how your body feels after drinking just one of those.

It’s no surprise that the data they looked at included the 112 studies from the 1980s when the beverage industry was trying to get aspartame approved for use. After all, 100 percent of industry studies find aspartame to be safe. But 92 percent of independent studies find risks associated with consuming it.4 Wake up EFSA and consider the source!

We’re not talking about just headaches or nausea either. We’re talking about serious, life-threatening illnesses.

Aspartame is the artificial sweetener of choice in most diet sodas. It’s what makes drinking them so dangerous to your health. And these sodas may be the single biggest source of aspartame for most people.

Be vigilant! Aspartame goes by several other names. These include AminoSweet, Equal, and Nutrasweet. Despite all of the undeniable proof of its dangers, it is the most popular fake sweetener on the planet. After about 30 years, aspartame now accounts for more than half of all artificial sweetener use.11

One study of nearly 60,000 women shows that drinking four or more diet sodas a day during pregnancy increases risk of premature birth by 80 percent. And nearly 40 percent of women who drank just two of these aspartame-sweetened drinks a day had a 40 percent increase in risk. Even more shocking is that this study was even funded by the European Union.5

After 22 years, researchers in a different study found that men who drink diet sodas containing aspartame are over 30 percent more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.6

Yet another study found that drinking more than two diet sodas per day can decrease kidney function in women by up to 30 percent in 11 years.7

Even if the EFSA wants to sweep these studies under the rug, there’s no denying that aspartame is converted by the body into formaldehyde. Yes, the same formaldehyde used to preserve dead bodies. This substance is a known carcinogen that can cause kidney damage and birth defects.8

Here in the US it’s worse. The FDA recognizes even more aspartame per day to be safe.9

Simply put, aspartame is dangerous stuff. And it’s hard to avoid. You can find it in diet sodas of course. But you can also find it in yogurt, chewing gum, breakfast cereal, and just about anything claiming to be sugar-free.10

Even more disturbing is that aspartame may be showing up in milk pretty soon. And if Big Dairy gets its way, you won’t even know about it. They won’t have to put it on the label.

Drinking any soda is never a good idea. Don’t try to find a diet soda that uses Splenda instead of aspartame. Your best bet is to avoid preservatives and artificial additives altogether. Stick with water instead.

The EFSA says aspartame is safe. But don’t let that fool you. The research doesn’t lie.

References:
1 http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/diet-soda-sales-lose-fizz-21160188
2 http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/aspartame.htm
3 http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/131210.htm
4 http://www.onhealth.com/artificial_sweeteners/page8.htm
5 http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2010/06/30/ajcn.2009.28968.abstract
6 http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/96/6/1419.abstract?ijkey=fcb728ce1eb99e54f56da63675e5480af2da087e&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha
7 http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/6/1/160.abstract?sid=fb9e39ed-6318-46de-9bf1-d497348f0756
8 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/10/23/aspartame-artificial-sweeteners.aspx
9 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/european-union-food-safety-body-sees-no-new-health-risk-from-aspartame/articleshow/27186825.cms
10 http://www.naturalnews.com/035141_aspartame_worst_sources_products.html
11 http://www.naturalnews.com/039199_central_nervous_system_damage_msg.html

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2013/12/dont-let-them-fool-you-this-stuff-is-total-poison/

6 Gross Side Effects of Chewing Gum

February 03, 2014 

Story at-a-glance

• Chewing gum may help you to eat less, but the food you do eat may be less nutritious
• People who chewed gum were less likely to eat fruit and instead were more motivated to eat junk food like potato chips and candy
• Chewing gum causes you to swallow excess air, which can contribute to abdominal pain and bloating, along with other gastrointestinal issues
• Chewing gum (including sugar-free gum) may cause tooth decay and erosion and may cause mercury to be released from your mercury fillings
• Most chewing gum contains artificial sweeteners that may damage your health, even if it’s not sugar-free

By Dr. Mercola

The US is among the top three countries with the highest rates of chewing gum consumption worldwide. In the US, 59 percent of people chew gum, surpassed only by Iran (82 percent) and Saudi Arabia (79 percent)1 (a primary reason why the Middle East may have more gum chewers than the US is because chewing gum is often given out by merchants in place of small change).

In the US, many people chew gum as a snack simply because they like the flavor or the distraction it provides. Some use it for stress relief or even a tool for reducing food cravings (this typically doesn't work, as I'll explain shortly).

But if you're a regular gum chewer, there's compelling evidence that this is one habit you're better off without. From its questionable ingredients to its impact on your teeth and digestion, chewing gum belongs right in the trash – not in your mouth.

6 Gross Side Effects of Chewing Gum

Before you reach for another stick of gum, consider these rather disturbing side effects that gum chewing can cause.2

1. Chewing Gum May Increase Your Junk-Food Intake

Many people chew on a stick of gum to reduce food cravings and, theoretically, help them avoid eating unhealthy foods. However, while research shows that chewing gum reduces your motivation to eat, your hunger and how much you end up eating, gum chewers' meals end up being less nutritious than those eaten by non-gum-chewers.3

For instance, people who chewed gum were less likely to eat fruit and instead were more motivated to eat junk food like potato chips and candy. This is likely because the minty flavor in the gum makes fruits and vegetables taste bitter.

2. It May Trigger TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) in Your Jaw

Chewing gum can cause jaw muscle imbalance (if you chew on one side more than the other) and even TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder in your jaw, which can be a painful chronic condition. Anytime you overuse a certain set of muscles, it can lead to contracted muscles and related pain, including headaches, earaches, and toothaches over time.

3. Gastrointestinal Problems

Chewing gum causes you to swallow excess air, which can contribute to abdominal pain and bloating seen with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Further, when you chew gum you send your body physical signals that food is about to enter your body. The enzymes and acids that are activated when you chew gum are therefore released, but without the food they're intended to digest.

This can cause bloating, an overproduction of stomach acid, and can compromise your ability to produce sufficient digestive secretions when you actually do eat food. Some people may also have adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, from the artificial sweeteners that are commonly found in chewing gum.

4. Tooth Damage – Even from Sugar-Free Gum

If your chewing gum contains sugar, you're essentially "bathing" your teeth in sugar while you chew away. This can contribute to tooth decay. Even if you chew sugar-free gum, there are still risks to your teeth because sugar-free gum often contains acidic flavorings and preservatives that may in fact lead to dental erosion,4 even if it contains cavity-fighting xylitol. Unlike cavities, dental erosion is a process of incremental decalcification, which, over time, literally dissolves your teeth.

5. Sheep Byproducts

Chewing gum often contains lanolin, a waxy substance that's derived from sheep wool, to help it stay soft. While not necessarily dangerous to your health, chewing on lanolin is not exactly appetizing.

6. Release Mercury From Your Fillings

If you have mercury fillings, you should know that chewing gum may cause this known neurotoxin to release from the fillings into your body. According to one study:5

"…chewing gum has been shown to increase the release rate of mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings… The impact of excessive chewing on mercury levels was considerable."

Every time you chew, mercury vapor is released and quickly finds its way into your bloodstream, where it causes oxidative processes in your tissues. If you chew gum, you're going to be chewing often, which is why it's particularly problematic for those with mercury fillings.

Chewing Gum Linked to Headaches in Teens

Teenagers are notorious for gum chewing and popping. If your child is a frequent gum chewer and suffers from headaches, you should know that a link has recently been established.

One study involved 30 daily gum chewers between the ages of six and 19 years. Each suffered from chronic migraine or tension headaches. After quitting gum chewing for one month, 19 of them had their headaches go away completely while another seven had a reduction in headache frequency and severity.6 Twenty-six of the children then started chewing gum again, only to have their headaches return within days.

The researchers believe the headaches may be linked to chewing-gum-induced TMJ, which may cause headaches. Past research has also suggested chewing gum may cause headaches via aspartame exposure.

Most Chewing Gum Contains Artificial Sweeteners

You might not pay much attention to the ingredients in chewing gum because, after all, it's not actually swallowed. But the ingredients, many of which are potentially dangerous, do enter your body, directly through the walls of your mouth.

As with the toxic ingredients in personal care products like lotion, which are absorbed directly through your skin and into your bloodstream, the ingredients in gum also get absorbed by your body quickly and directly, bypassing the digestive system that would ordinarily help to filter some of the toxins away.

One such type of harmful chemicals is artificial sweeteners, which are ubiquitous in chewing gum. Many people choose sugar-free gum on purpose, believing it to be healthier than other varieties. But even non-sugar-free brands may contain some sort of artificial sweetener. It is very unusual for them not to.

One of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners in chewing gum is aspartame. Aspartame is metabolized inside your body into both wood alcohol (a poison) and formaldehyde (which is a carcinogen used as embalming fluid and is not eliminated from your body through the normal waste filtering done by your liver and kidneys). It's been linked to birth defects, cancers, brain tumors, and weight gain.

Sucralose (Splenda), another common artificial sweetener used in chewing gum, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on only two human studies, the longest of which lasted only four days – even though animal studies found the sweetener was associated with decreased red blood cells (a sign of anemia), male infertility, enlarged kidneys, spontaneous abortions, and an increased death rate.7 You might also be surprised to learn that consuming artificial sweeteners can cause distortions in your biochemistry that may actually make you gain weight.

Studies looking at this issue show very clearly that artificial sweeteners may actually cause greater weight gain than sugar by stimulating your appetite, increasing carbohydrate cravings, and stimulating fat storage. Several years ago, I wrote a book called Sweet Deception, in which I expose the many concerns related to the consumption of artificial sweeteners. If you want to learn more, this book is an excellent place to start – especially if you're in the habit of chewing sugar-free gum.

4 Chewing Gum Ingredients to Avoid

Artificial sweeteners are only one reason to avoid chewing gum. Most brands also contain additional chemical ingredients that do not belong in your body. There are natural chewing gum brands on the market that do not contain these questionable ingredients, so if you must chew gum, look for these. However, keep in mind that even natural chewing gum will pose risks from excess chewing, including TMJ, digestive issues, and more.

1. BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

BHT is so toxic it's already been banned in many other countries. In the US, it's often used as a preservative in chewing gum and other processed foods. BHT has been linked to organ system toxicity, including kidney and liver damage, hyperactivity in children, and may be carcinogenic.

2. Calcium Casein Peptone (Calcium Phosphate)

Found primarily in Trident gum, it's thought this ingredient may be used as a whitening agent or texturizer. As a highly processed milk derivative, little is known about its long-term ingestion, although casein was previously linked to baby formula poisonings in China and is a well-recognized trigger of autoimmunity.

3. Gum Base

It's quite a mystery what "gum base" is actually made out of, but the investigators found it's usually a blend of elastomers, resins, plasticizers, and fillers. Most manufacturers do not reveal more specifics than this. After all, why would they want you to know that you're potentially chewing on petroleum-derived paraffin wax, polyvinyl acetate (carpenter's glue) and talc, all of which are linked to cancer.

4. Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is often used as a whitening agent in chewing gum, but it's been linked to autoimmune disorders, asthma, and Crohn's disease and is potentially carcinogenic – especially in its nanoparticle form. One study found children are highly exposed to titanium dioxide in confections, with chewing gum containing the highest levels.8

Why Are You Chewing Gum?

I generally recommend that you shouldn't chew gum or if you do use gum, use it very rarely or right before a meal when the acid and enzyme stimulation may actually be beneficial. If you'd like to give up gum chewing but are finding it difficult, consider whyyou're doing it. Below are several common reasons why people chew gum, along with alternative options to help you kick the habit, but feel free to list your own creative solutions in the comment section below.

• For stress relief: Try these eight stress-relief tips instead, along with the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is based on the concept that a vital energy flows through your body along invisible pathways known as meridians. EFT stimulates different energy meridian points in your body by tapping them with your fingertips, while simultaneously using custom-made verbal affirmations.
• To freshen your breath: Carry a toothbrush and toothpaste with you so you can brush your teeth even when you're on the go. A natural breath spray also works well for this purpose.

• To overcome food cravings: The tapping and positive affirmations of EFT are frequently effective at reducing food cravings.
• For the flavor: If you're chewing gum because you're hooked on the flavor, remember that both artificial and natural flavors are trying to simulate the flavors that nature readily provides. For healthier flavorful options, try sipping on a glass of water infused with fresh mint leaves, cinnamon, or citrus fruit.

[+] Sources and References

 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/03/6-chewing-gum-side-effects.aspx

Splenda Side Effects

by Dr. Josh Axe on October 10, 2012

We are all familiar with the little yellow packages of Splenda that promise to satisfy our sweet tooth without the extra calories and the carbohydrates. You may have used Splenda in place of aspartame and saccharine and the -now banned by the FDA- cyclamate because you know they are composed of dangerous chemicals. And Splenda is natural, right? Well, not quite.

 

“Splenda” is the commercial name used for sucralose. The manufacturers advertise Splenda as being more “natural” than other sweeteners, as the main substance, sucralose, comes from sugar. This is very misleading though, as it leads consumers to believe that sucralose comes from sugar the same way that cheese comes from milk.

 

The way that sucralose is produced is much more complicated, but to put it simply splenda is chlorinated sugar (chlorocarbon).  Other common chlorocarbons include carbon tetrachloride, and methylene chloride which are all poisonous!  Chlorine in numerous studies has been proven as toxic to our bodies and can accumulate in our systems over time.

 

The reason that a chemically altered molecule, like sucralose, can be threatening for our health if ingested, is the fact that our bodies are not made to recognize these substances and do not know how to properly deal with them. This is not the case with sugar (sucrose, lactose, fructose) that we have been ingesting for thousands of years.

 

So, What Are the Splenda Side Effects?

 

Sucralose accumulates very slowly and with habitual use. To make it more clear, if we eat something containing sucralose once, our body will manage to eventually get rid of sucralose. But if we ingest it every day, our body does not have enough time to deal with it.  A study showed that with a moderate consumption 96.7% of sucralose leaves our bodies, while high consumption the percentage falls to 92.8%.  This means chlorine is being stored in other areas of your body causing your cells to become toxic!

 

You may say, if it’s so dangerous, then why is it FDA approved?  (FYI, the FDA approves a lot of things that later are pulled off the market once enough people die like cyclamate and Vioxx).  The FDA points to over one hundred studies that claim sucralose is safe. The problem is these studies are typical, and usually conducted by companies who are financially invested in Splenda, and all were short term studies. One of the studies tests if Splenda causes teeth decay, for example, which is of course a serious issue, but not life threatening. The vast majority of the studies used rats, not humans and in very, very limited amounts.

 

What about the other studies though? The ones that show that in amounts of 500 mg/kg sucralose is hepatoxic and nephrotoxic, meaning that it causes damage to the liver and kidneys. Those studies are not taken seriously by the FDA, as the test subjects were -guess what- rats. And their defense mechanism are not considered adequate to simulate the human body’s response. The controversy of the FDA’s behavior here is of course obvious. It is a fact that the amount of sucralose used in these studies is very high, but it is chosen as they want to test the effects of accumulated sucralose in the human body after years of everyday use.

 

Apart from the liver and kidneys, a 2008 Duke University study found that Splenda alters the intestine flora as it destroys beneficial bacteria. This is a major problem because we need good bacteria also known as probiotics for a healthy immune system.

 

Many people report the side effects as resembling allergic reactions. The most commonly reported Splenda side effects are:

• migraines
• dizziness
• intestinal cramping
• rashes
• acne
• headaches
• bloating
• chest pain
• tinnitus
• gum bleeding

And the list goes on! Of course, it’s hard to pin point that Spenda was exclusively responsible for these side effects, but in the reports people claim that they felt better once they stopped using Splenda.

James Turner of “Citizens for Health” is fighting for the labeling of products containing Splenda, to give consumers a choice to avoid sucralose. There is a good reason for that, as even if someone chooses not to use Splenda in their beverages, it is used as an additive in so many low calorie and/or sugar free foods and prepackaged goods, that it is quite hard to avoid it.

What Sweetener to Use Instead of Splenda?

Concluding, Splenda does not have any long term research and we know by its chemical makeup that it is not good for you.  Too much chlorine in your system is toxic and there are healthier, natural sweeteners available today like Whole Leaf Stevia. I suggest you make the switch to Stevia or raw local honey to satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way! I recommend a brand called NuNaturals Stevia ($10 Amazon).

Sources and Further Reading: Mayo Clinic article on artificial sweeteners:, National Cancer Institute on artificial sweeteners and the link to cancer:, A complete guide to sweeteners by Brian Rigby, A blog with reports about “Splenda Sickness”

http://www.draxe.com/splenda-side-effects/

Killing You Sweetly: Why Sugar Substitutes aren't Worth the Risk

24 July 2013

Newsletter #311
Lee Euler, Editor

Here's something that will make you want to take your coffee black: sucralose might cause cancer. You probably know sucralose under the brand name Splenda, widely available in those little yellow packets. It's marketed under other names as well, so if you don't know what's in your artificial sweetener, you should check (I recommend avoiding ALL of them).

    The risk was uncovered by an Italian laboratory that found the sweetener caused leukemia in mice. I'll tell you a why a risk exists in the first place for this popular sweetener. But — what's most important -- there are plenty of healthy, non-disease-causing sweeteners out there, as long as you know where to look. Discover your options below. . .

The scary truth about Splenda

    Most people choose Splenda/sucralose because they've been told it's healthier than sugar. It prompts neither blood sugar nor insulin spikes. The FDA blessed its use as a tabletop sweetener in 1998, and most of the public still believes the FDA.

    In 1999, it was approved as a general-purpose sweetener. And it's better than sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium (found in candies and gum , it's also known as Ace K and marketed as Sunett and Sweet One).

    Sucralose is a chemically-altered form of sugar. The process is patented, but essentially comes down to inserting chlorine into the sugar molecule. That makes it a chlorocarbon. Unfortunately, chlorocarbons have long been known to cause organ, genetic, and reproductive damage.

    Sucralose is also known to shrink the thymus gland by up to 40 percent. Given that the thymus is the foundation of your immune system, shrinkage can lead to many other problems.

    To put it bluntly, any creature that eats chlorine risks cancer. It's a known carcinogen as stated in both the Merck Manual and the OSHA Hazardous Waste Handbook. Obviously the risk varies according to the amount you take and how often you take it, but no matter how you look at it, chlorine is still a toxin.

    That's why the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recently downgraded sucralose to a "caution" rating, as opposed to listing it as safe to consume. The CSPI has reviewed the Italian study and finds it used a superior protocol, even though the study is yet to be published. According to CSPI senior scientist Lisa Lefferts, "That's why we put 'caution' instead of 'avoid.'" A "caution" label means "try to avoid it, we need more testing."

    Defenders of sucralose might argue that chlorine embedded in a larger molecule differs from unbound chlorine. But the new studies suggest sucralose is toxic, too.

 

Natural and not-so-natural sugar substitutes

    Of course, sugar itself is still a risky beast in the health world, and the daily mass quantities consumed are the main reason for our shockingly high rates of obesity and Type II Diabetes, in my opinion and that of many other researchers. I would love to be wrong — nobody's more fond of cake and pie than I am — but this substance is a killer.

    Because of the risks that come from ingesting too much sugar, the CSPI says diet soda—commonly sweetened with aspartame—is still better than sugary-sweet sodas. (I should note here that aspartame has also been linked to cancer in laboratory settings. As I said earlier, there is no good artificial sweetener.)

    What can you drink instead? The CSPI urges plain water (know as "still" water), sparkling water, or unsweetened ice tea. Works for me (just don't drink so much tea you disturb your sleep patterns.) The average American consumes an incredible 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, which adds up to 355 calories. If you're on a kick of avoiding GMO foods, be aware that half the white table sugar made in the U.S. is beet sugar made from genetically modified beets.

 

There is life after sugar

    In a moment I'll suggest some natural (or mostly natural) sugar substitutes. But first let me pitch you on giving up sugar completely. It CAN be done, and this may actually be easier than trying to cut back or use substitutes.

    You see, sugar is an addictive substance. It is the heroin of foods. Thus when you cut back, what happens is that a mere taste of it sets off all the pleasure centers in your brain and you end up going on a binge. You may start with the intention of having a bowl of ice cream but you end up eating the whole quart.

    For this reason it's actually easier not to touch it at all rather than wrestle with yourself day and night about whether a little bit will be okay, or whether you can do it "just this once." Don't try to make a decision every day about sugar. Make one big decision and stick to it.

    I weaned myself off soft drinks a long time ago, and I take my coffee and tea without sugar. Soft drinks now disgust me. I once spat out a mouthful of Hawaiian Punch, a drink I used to love as a child. I couldn't believe how sweet it was — utterly saturated with sugar. And believe it or not, coffee and tea taste excellent without sugar. For the first time in your life, you'll actually taste the beverage, not the sugar.

 

Now for the "safe" sugar substitutes

    If you really can't live without sweetening up your morning cup of Joe, there are better ways. Consider these alternatives:

Agave nectar: This is a tiny improvement over cane or beet sugar. Also known as agave syrup, this sweetener comes from the agave plant, a relative of the cactus commonly found in Mexico. Agave nectar can also be extracted from the blue agave, which is the same plant used to make tequila. The syrup is 25 percent sweeter than sugar, which is a pro because you end up using less of it. It also dissolves quickly and contains a prebiotic that nourishes intestinal bacteria. But I wouldn't call it healthy. It has the same amount of calories as table sugar—that's 16 per teaspoon. On the processing scale, agave has to be hydrolyzed down to fructose. That's one more step than honey and one less than high-fructose corn syrup.

Stevia: This sweetener comes from the leaves of the South American shrub Stevia rebaudiana. It's between 25 and 30 times sweeter than sugar and has been used for years in Europe, Japan, and South America. Yet stevia isn't as natural as most people want to believe. The stuff is highly processed to remove its natural and slightly bitter aftertaste that smacks of licorice, though some brands don't bother with this, so the slight licorice taste remains. It also gets blended with maltodextrin so it pours like table sugar. It does help you cut calories and avoid blood sugar problems. It's just a question of whether you can stand the taste.

Truvia: This one comes from rebiana, which is a compound found in the leaves of stevia. Truvia is trademarked as a "natural" sweetener, but is the brainchild of Coca-Cola and Cargill and is sweetened with erythritol. It doesn't pack any calories, but also doesn't taste much like stevia.

Honey: It's a kitchen staple, yet most people don't think of using it when they're looking for a sweetener. But honey packs a concentrated dose of antioxidants. If you buy honey local to your area, it can even help you fight seasonal allergies. Setting aside the nutrients and just considering honey as a sweetener, I doubt if it's much healthier than cane or beet sugar. It still packs calories and raises your blood sugar.

Blackstrap molasses: Molasses is a by-product of sugarcane processing and can be used to replace as much as half the sugar in any recipe. It's also a proven way to sweeten everything from coffee to beans. Plus, this black-gold liquid has iron, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, and several antioxidants—more than any other natural sweetener. Again — better than table sugar but not what I'd call healthy.

    I think a good rule of thumb is to never eat anything artificial. Real food doesn't have to be tested for unheard-of risks. And while sugar should be consumed in moderation just like everything else, at least consider using these alternatives so you can ingest somewhat fewer calories while you curb your chemical, processed food exposure.

 

References:

"12 Questions You Need to Have Answered Before You Eat Splenda." From Janet Starr Hull's Health Newsletter, December 2003, reprinted by Mercola.com.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/01/10/splenda-questions.aspx

"How Safe Is Splenda? CSPI Urges Caution for Artificial Sweetener." By: Rachael Rettner, LiveScience Senior Writer, Huffington Post. 12 June 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/splenda-health-risks-cspi-leukemia-artificial-sweeteners_n_3431024.html

"Everything You Need to Know About Acesulfame Potassium." By Int'l Food Information Council Foundation, Nutrition Express.
http://www.nutritionexpress.com/article+index/vitamins+supplements+a-z/showarticle.aspx?id=120

"Jane Says: All Sugar Substitutes Are Not Created Equal." By Jane Lear, Take Part. 22 August 2013.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/08/22/jane-says-all-sugar-substitutes-are-not-created-equal

"Naturally Sweet: 4 Chemical-Free Sugar Substitutes." By Ashley Gartland, Oprah.com, April 2012.
http://www.oprah.com/health/Sugar-Substitutes-Healthy-Natural-Sweeteners/2

"SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener & Your Health." By Splenda® Truth, McNeil Nutritionals, LLC.
http://www.splendatruth.com/health_2

"Splenda May Not Be So Splendid After All." 13 June, 2013. Takepart.com, through Yahoo! News.
http://news.yahoo.com/splenda-may-not-splendid-194239789.html

"Which Diet Sodas Do Not Contain Aspartame?" By Laura Blunk, Livestrong.com, 15 March 2011.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/232708-which-diet-sodas-do-not-contain-aspartame/

 

http://cancerdefeated.com/newsletters/Killing-you-sweetly-sugar-substitutes.html?

CSPI Downgrades Splenda From "Safe" to "Caution"

June 26, 2013

Story at-a-glance

• The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has finally downgraded Splenda from its former “safe” category to one of “caution” following an unpublished study that found Splenda may cause leukemia in mice
• Splenda is anything but natural, it is an artificial sweetener that has been found to reduce the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent, while no one knows what happens when humans consume this substance for long periods of time
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Splenda in 1998 based on more than 110 safety studies, only two of which were actually conducted on humans; these two studies consisted of a combined total of 36 people, of which only 23 people actually ate sucralose

By Dr. Mercola

The  artificial sweetener sucralose, better known by its brand name Splenda, has been on the US market for fifteen years. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Splenda in 1998 based on more than 110 safety studies, only two of which were actually conducted on humans (these two studies consisted of a combined total of 36 people, of which only 23 people actually ingested sucralose!).  

Since then we’ve seen many red flags that this artificial sweetener is anything but safe, not the least of which are the many personal anecdotes of adverse reactions to Splenda, which are posted on my site 

Research has also been conducted showing that Splenda is not the safe sugar alternative it was promoted to be (see below for a few examples), and now even the consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is sounding an alarm against this popular artificial sweetener.

CSPI Finally Gets It Right About Splenda

CSPI, a consumer watchdog group that focuses on nutrition and food safety, has finally downgraded Splenda from its former “safe” category to one of “caution.” The move came following an unpublished study by an independent Italian laboratory that found Splenda may cause leukemia in mice.¹ According to CSPI:²

“The only previous long-term feeding studies in animals were conducted by the compound's manufacturers.”

After more than 10 years, CSPI has finally gotten it right about Splenda, but generally this is an organization whose guidelines need to be taken with a grain of salt. For starters, while recommending that people avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin, they also consider drinking diet soda to be safer than drinking regular soda.  

Yet, there's little doubt in my mind that artificial sweeteners can be even worse for you than sugar and fructose, and there is scientific evidence to back up that conclusion. I am glad they finally came to their senses. I remember pleading with Michael Jacobson, their director, many years ago to reevaluate his position, but at the time he was convinced of Splenda’s safety.  

CSPI also spearheaded a campaign against the use of healthful saturated fats during the 1980s, touting trans fats as a healthier alternative. It was largely the result of CSPI’s campaign that fast-food restaurants replaced the use of beef tallow, palm oil and coconut oil with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are high in synthetic trans fats (linked to numerous chronic diseases like heart disease).  

In 1988, CSPI even released an article praising trans fats and saying “there is little good evidence that trans fats cause any more harm than other fats” and “much of the anxiety over trans fats stems from their reputation as 'unnatural.'”³  

It wasn’t until the 1990s that CSPI reversed their position on synthetic trans fats, citing it as the greater public health danger, but the damage had already been done. Even to this day, many still mistakenly believe that margarine is a healthier choice than butter… but getting back to Splenda, it’s a step in the right direction that CSPI has sounded an alarm over its use.

"Caution" Regarding Splenda Is Putting It Mildly...

I would instead say that this artificial sweetener should be avoided like the plague. In 2005, I wrote Sweet Deception, in which I expose the many concerns related to the consumption of artificial sweeteners. It's an extremely well-researched book, and it's every bit as valid today as it was when I first wrote it. I spent over three years, and had five health care professionals work on it with me to be absolutely sure of our findings.  

I did this because the maker of Splenda, Johnson & Johnson, had their New York legal firm write me a 20-page letter threatening to sue me if I published the book. Needless to say, the book was published and they never sued me as the information was all true.  

Splenda is a synthetic chemical created in a laboratory. In the five-step patented process of making it, three chlorine molecules are added to one sucrose (sugar) molecule. Some will argue that natural foods also contain chloride, which is true.  

However, in natural foods, the chloride is connected with ionic bonds that easily dissociate. In Splenda, they're in a covalent bond that does not dissociate. In fact, there are NO covalent chloride bonds to organic compounds in nature, only ionic. Covalent chloride bonds only exist in synthetic, man-made molecules. Aside from Splenda, other examples of synthetic covalently bound chloride compounds include:

• DDT
• PCBs
• Agent Orange

Your body has no enzymes to break down this covalently bound chloride. Why would it? It never existed in nature, so the human body never had a reason to address it. And since it's not broken down and metabolized by your body, they can claim it to be non-caloric—essentially, it's supposed to pass right through you. However, the research (which is primarily extrapolated from animal studies) indicates that about 15 percent of sucralose IS in fact absorbed into your digestive system, and ultimately stored in your body.

Splenda May Wreak Havoc Within Your Digestive Tract

Splenda has been found to be particularly damaging to your intestines. A study published in 2008 found that Splenda:⁴

• Reduces the amount of beneficial bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
• Increases the pH level in your intestines
• Affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you're on certain medications like chemotherapy, or treatments for AIDS and certain heart conditions

Further, some of the initial studies done on Splenda revealed:

• Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day
• Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain lesions at higher doses
• Enlarged and calcified kidneys
• Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the control group
• A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group

Worse still, the longest of the two human trials conducted on Splenda lasted only four days and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance! So if you’ve been ingesting Splenda for years, you’re actually acting as a human guinea pig, as no one knows what happens when humans consume this substance for long periods. Even the health food giant Whole Foods counts sucralose on its list of unacceptable ingredients for food…⁵

Aspartame Also Linked to Leukemia

Splenda is not the only artificial sweetener that has been linked to leukemia. The longest-ever human aspartame study, spanning 22 years, found a clear association between aspartame consumption and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and leukemia in men.⁶ 

The long-term nature of this study is really crucial because one of the primary tricks manufacturers use to hide the toxicity of their products are short-term trials. The longest study prior to this one was only 4.5 months, far too short to reveal any toxicity from chronic exposure. Unfortunately, because there are so many of these short-term trials, manufacturers get away with saying that aspartame is one of the most studied food additives ever made and no health concerns have ever been discovered. Splenda’s maker has used similar tricks as well.  

Aspartame is primarily made up of aspartic acid and phenylalanine. The phenylalanine has been synthetically modified to carry a methyl group, which provides the majority of the sweetness. That phenylalanine methyl bond, called a methyl ester, is very weak, which allows the methyl group on the phenylalanine to easily break off and form methanol. This is in sharp contrast to naturally-occurring methanol found in certain fruits and vegetables, where it is firmly bonded to pectin, allowing the methanol to be safely passed through your digestive tract.  

Methanol acts as a metabolic Trojan horse; it's carried into susceptible tissues in your body, like your brain and bone marrow, where the ADH enzyme converts it into formaldehyde, which wreaks havoc with sensitive proteins and DNA. All other animals, on the other hand, have a protective mechanism that allows methanol to be broken down into harmless formic acid… but, according to aspartame expert Dr. Woodrow Monte, there's a major biochemical problem with methanol in humans, because of the difference in how it's metabolized, compared to all other animals. This is why toxicology testing on animals is a flawed model. It doesn't fully apply to humans who are unable to convert the toxic formaldehyde into harmless formic acid. 

Download Interview Transcript

Take the Artificial Sweetener-Free Challenge

It’s quite possible that you could be having a reaction to artificial sweeteners and not even know it or be blaming it on another cause. For instance, the following reactions have all been reported after the consumption of Splenda: 

Gastrointestinal problems	Blurred vision
Migraines	Allergic reactions
Seizures	Blood sugar increases
Dizziness	Weight gain

To determine if you're having a reaction to artificial sweeteners, take the following steps:

• Eliminate all artificial sweeteners from your diet for two weeks.
• After two weeks of being artificial sweetener-free, reintroduce your artificial sweetener of choice in a significant quantity (about three servings daily).
• Avoid other artificial sweeteners during this period.
• Do this for one to three days and notice how you feel, especially as compared to when you were consuming no artificial sweeteners.
• If you don't notice a difference in how you feel after re-introducing your primary artificial sweetener for a few days, it's a safe bet you're able to tolerate it acutely, meaning your body doesn't have an immediate, adverse response. However, this doesn't mean your health won't be damaged in the long run.
• If you've been consuming more than one type of artificial sweetener, you can repeat steps 2 through 4 with the next one on your list.

If you do experience side effects from Splenda, aspartame or any other food additive, please report it to the FDA (if you live in the US) without delay. It's easy to make a report — just go to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator page, find the phone number for your state, and make a call reporting your reaction.

Try This Natural Alternative to Artificial Sweeteners

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, the herb stevia is one of my favorite options for an occasional sweetener. It's a safe, natural plant that has been around for over 1,500 years and is ideal if you're watching your weight, or if you're maintaining your health by avoiding sugar. It is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and has virtually no calories. 

Further, research suggests it may actually have some beneficial properties, as one study revealed that diabetic rats given stevia had a delayed but significant decrease in blood glucose level,⁷ without producing hypoglycemia, while also demonstrating a loss in body weight. 

Personally, I believe stevia is the best sweetener available today. Many complain about a bitter aftertaste with stevia, but this is typically related to the processing. I prefer to use it in its liquid form in flavors like English Toffee and French Vanilla (it only require a few drops to sweeten a drink). That said, like most choices, especially sweeteners, I recommend using it in moderation, just like sugar.

[-] Sources and References

• Center for Science in the Public Interest June 12, 2013
• The Safety Report June 12, 2013
• Fox News June 12, 2013

• ¹ Center for Science in the Public Interest June 12, 2013
• ² See ref. 1
• ³ CSPI, The Truth About Trans Fats 1988
• ⁴ J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2008;71(21):1415-29
• ⁵ Whole Foods Market, Unacceptable Ingredients for Food
• ⁶ The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition December 2012 [Epub ahead of print]
• ⁷ J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011 Apr;3(2):242-8

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