More Bullshit From Artificial Sweeteners Like Sucralose (aka, Splenda)

All I wanted to do was re-live the glory days of my youth. Those days when I still had perky breasts. Those days when I could gnaw on 4,000 calories without suffering from stomach-enlargement and/or involuntary thundering of my thighs.

One of my earliest greedy memories was opening up some Swiss Miss and pouring the entire packet of dry chocolate powder mix down my throat.

Yup. It was fun.

I bought Swiss Miss for my kids a few weeks ago. Just wanted to share the instant hot cocoa nostalgia with my gremlin children. My 8-year-old got a headache about an hour after drinking his. I didn’t think anything of it.

He drank some Swiss Miss again a few days a later. And again, he got a headache.

That’s when the boy asked me to NOT give him Swiss Miss anymore. He was smart enough to make a connection between the Swiss Miss and his headaches. So I checked the ingredients label. And wouldn’t ya know it — Swiss Miss contains sucralose.

I was shamefully foolish to assume that a product favorite from my youth should be exempt from label-checking. Swiss Miss is NOT the same stuff I grew up on. It’s now chemically laden and harmful to our bodies. My kid stopped getting headaches once he stopped drinking Swiss Miss.

What is sucralose doing to the brain that it causes headaches? If you do a quick Google search for “sucralose toxicity”, you’ll see that headaches are just the tip of the iceburg.

Sucralose is toxic. Which means, so is Swiss Miss.

If you eat or drink artificial sweeteners and think that it’s NOT causing you harm because you feel fine and don’t have any symptoms, you really need to re-think that situation. What’s really going on inside your body?

“Out of sight, out of mind” isn’t gonna cut it. It’s gonna catch up to you.

I know some of you love your diet sodas and sugar free foods that are infested with artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame, but you really gotta stop eating that shit. It’s just not good for you.

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What Do You Think About Artificial Sweeteners in Your Foods {Poll}

(Photo Credit: La.blasco)
There is so much controversy about use of "artificial sweeteners" in foods. What do YOU think - take the poll below and let us know how sweet you are on sweeteners

I personally use Splenda, but it's use is limited to coffee which I have 3x a week; and probably a few flavored water, iced teas maybe twice a week - I ABHOR the taste of Stevia in these drinks (so far)!

All polls (past and present), can be found on our polls page.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here