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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – We are a nation addicted to sugar and all its derivatives. The sweet substances are insidious, found in almost all processed foods. Years ago, you and I were convinced to use artificial sweeteners to avoid the calories in sugar, and we were reassured these were safe. Today, we continue to hear that artificial sweeteners are not harmful, despite contrary evidence.
I remember people getting behind the latest fake sugar in the yellow packets, thinking it was the answer to the suspicious substance in the pink packets. The stuff in the yellow packets is produced by chlorinating sugar and chemically changing the structure of the molecules. I mentioned this to a friend whose enthusiasm over the sweetener had me concerned. “I talked with my pharmacist about it and he said it’s fine,” she said. When will we learn? We don’t need to be eating chlorinated anything.
Besides, the last time I checked, pharmacists are not health experts. They distribute synthetic drugs to a nation that is becoming sicker by the minute. Although in Europe, pharmacists have much knowledge about herbs and natural remedies and aren’t afraid to recommend them.
The truth about artificial sweeteners has been difficult to come by. We are told to stay away from sugar to avoid obesity and lose weight. But when the nation turned to chemical substitutes it became fatter than ever. It’s not sugar that made Americans obese. We always had sugar. What we didn’t always have was processed foods, many of which contain sugars and artificial sweeteners that have been demonstrated to cause and contribute to the growth of cancer.
I believe it’s time we step into our own power, take our thoughts back from the all-pervasive advertisement culture we live in, and know what we are putting into our own bodies. Here is a brief background on just one of the very common artificial sweeteners: aspartame.
Manufactured by Monsanto Chemical Corporation, the same company responsible for pesticides that kill not only pests in your yard, but the earth itself – not to mention they manufacture Round-Up Ready genetically modified seeds which are taking an unknown toll on our food supply – you’ll recognize aspartame as “Nutrasweet” and “Equal.”
Despite this common knowledge, I still find these poisons on restaurant tables everywhere.
Aspartame is a neurotoxin and excitotoxin sometimes seen on labels listed as “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine.” It can be found in over-the-counter and prescription drugs often listed under “inactive ingredients.” It is also responsible for the majority of adverse reactions, such as headaches and allergies, reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A common additive in processed food, aspartame breaks down into methanol that converts to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has been shown to denature and mutate DNA. Classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, formaldehyde is deemed a probable cause of cancer by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This information was put out by the National Cancer Institute on their formaldehyde fact sheet.
It’s important for us to realize that artificial sweeteners in any form, no matter how they are advertised to us, are not healthy alternatives. You can’t afford to be misinformed about what you put into your body. If you do just one good thing for your health today, avoid all products with aspartame. This is but one more reason to convert your diet to whole foods that are found in nature, and to eliminate processed, packaged products.
Christina Grant, PhD, is a holistic healer and counselor. She has worked with thousands of people to help them achieve greater physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. She maintains the blog Dr. Grant Holistic and is currently completing a book detailing a true holistic approach to women’s health. To learn more, sign up for her monthly e-newsletter, or contact her, visit Christina Grant
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