You may think by changing sugar for artificial sweeteners you are choosing a healthy option, but you may actually be making your health worse. In effect you are choosing to substitute a natural food for a chemical one-- never a good idea. Your body is not designed to cope with it.
For years, manufacturers have denied a wide range of side effects from sweeteners like saccharine, which in the 70s was found to cause cancer. More recently, it was discovered that aspartame, found in NutraSweet, has some 92 recorded side effects and it is known that prolonged use leads to the laying down of formaldehyde in the body.
Now the latest, Splenda, has been described as being more like a pesticide than food. With no long-term studies as yet available, I would urge caution in believing this to be any less of a threat than earlier products. Additive sweeteners are not subject to rigorous testing and it is the public who end up being the guinea pigs for a money-biased industry.
Some people will never notice any effects; it all depends on individual metabolism. However, reported side effects include: skin rashes, flushes, panic attacks, dizziness, numbness pins and needles in limbs, diarrhea, muscle fatigue, headaches, cramps, bladder problems, digestive problems, bloating, obesity and cancer. Reports also include shrinking of the thymus gland responsible for aiding the immune system, enlarged kidney and liver as it struggles to deal with the toxicity involved.
Artificial sweeteners have no food value. You do NOT need them. Instead, simply give yourself time to retrain your taste buds to cope with a less sweet taste. Over a period of time you can cut down your sugar intake slowly and you will find it much easier to cope with than a sudden change. Oh yes, and READ THE LABELS - if it contains any chemical compound the chances are that your body will not like it. Your body is your best friend, listen to it and don't abuse it.
