Humans have conditioned themselves to love sweet things and see them as a treat. Nothing satisfies the day like drinking a cold glass of soda or enjoying that sugar-free snack to make a break enjoyable. However, we know that sugar is bad for us and so we’ve responded to our need for this treat by creating “healthy” artificial sweeteners to fulfill our cravings. We’ve been told by the media that artificial sweeteners are healthy – they don’t spike your sugar level, have no side-effects, and can help you lose weight, but unfortunately all of these claims are completely false and this article sets out to make you aware of what you are ingesting.
Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners And What You Need To Know
It’s important to know first that the big names to watch out for in the artificial sweetener industry are Sucralose, Aspartame, Neotame, Saccharin, and acesulfame potassium (also known as Acesulfame-K). The two most common being Sucralose and Aspartame. These are not only the most common, but are also the most potent. We are going to discuss them and show you ways to not only avoid them but replace them with healthy, all-natural alternatives.
The Types of Artificial Sweeteners Commonly Used
Sucralose
From restaurants to cafes, and possibly your kitchen table: this artificial sweetener hides under the mask of the brand name Splenda. They claim their artificial sweetener is a healthy alternative to regular sugar, but what they don’t tell you is it’s made up of denatured sucrose. In order to make it, they prep it first by chlorinating the sucrose in order to change three chlorine atoms into three hydroxyl groups. The danger of this process is that Chlorine is a well known Carcinogen. Just take a look at what Carcinogens can do.
- Carcinogens are an infamously known substance that can cause cancer – they catalyse cancerous cells to grow in the vital organs like your bladder or liver.
- Most people know that smoking can cause cancer and one of the reasons it can, is due to it containing a large amount of different carcinogens. As of a matter of fact, second hand smoke relies on carcinogens: primarily converting dangerous chemicals to cancer inducing ones. For those who refuse to smoke; it’s important to understand that Sucralose poses the same threat.
The first step in ridding yourself and your family of these harmful chemicals is to read the fine print and throw out any foods that contain Sucralose. If you see the name brand Splenda displayed on the product, toss it immediately.
Aspartame
This is another harmful artificial sweetener that is sold under two household names known as ‘Equal’ and ‘NutraSweet’. Both brands contain aspartame and its horrible derivatives. It’s not chemically made by changing the structure of its molecular make-up like Sucralose, however it is just as potent and can be found in yoghurt, pudding, sodas, and sugar-free gum. It is reported that the US Air Force, in an official letter to its pilots, clearly warn its pilots to not ingest aspartame. Here are the scary, untold side-effects of Aspartame:
- Reports show that Aspartame causes a spike in blood sugar levels and it increases insulin resistance. That’s a big red flag for people with diabetes or those susceptible to type 2 diabetes.
- Additionally, it adds to the threat of developing epilepsy and brain tumors. Not only does it increase your risk, but can later be passed to unborn children.
Avoid aspartame at all cost by checking the ingredients on the back labels of all products. If it says it contains aspartame, toss them. When you see the brand logos of Equal or NutraSweet then you know right away it contains aspartame so throw it out. And here’s something shocking about Aspartame: it is made from bacteria feces.
Alternatives To Artificial Sweeteners
So normal table sugar is bad for your teeth, blood sugar, and weight; artificial sweeteners will slowly kill you with toxic chemical additives. What can we do to enjoy a sweet break without all of the health risk? Fortunately, Mother Nature has provided us with the right plants we need to enjoy a sweet session.
Agave Nectar
This little miracle sweetener comes from cactus nectar and when extracted using 100% natural methods, it can add some sweet to your treat without causing high blood glucose spikes. Just be careful when you buy this product in your local store since some companies market refined glucose under the same name. Make sure it truly is Agave Nectar and that it’s extracted organically.
Stevia
This is a little miracle sweetener that is derived from the Stevia leaf. It does not cause your normal blood sugar to spike like normal sugar and it forgoes all of the harmful side-effects of artificial sweeteners. It’s 300 times sweeter than normal sugar so it doesn’t take much to fulfill your sweet craving.
Break the cycle of the dangerous artificial sweetener deception for good, by avoiding most products claiming that they’re sugar free or slapping the deceptive slogan of “diet” on the outside of their labels. If you are looking to enjoy a sweet drink then adding honey would be a better choice. It’s all natural and contains essential minerals that is beneficial to your body. Enjoy a sweet treat that’s safe to eat and your body will thank you!
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