Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners

Roz Burnham

Metabolic Clinical Nutrition

www.mysite.verizon.net/rozburnham

The artificial sweeteners of Splenda, Equal and Nutrasweet are common additives to low calorie foods and beverages and are a billion dollar a year business for the food manufactures.

We are a nation of sweet lovers! From candies, cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, sodas and snack foods, the average person is now consuming over 60 teaspoons of sugar a day. One 8oz. soft drink contains the equivalent of 16 teaspoons of sugar. The large 64 oz sodas which have become common beverages for many on the go contain 128 teaspoons of sugar!!!

Artificial sweeteners are a popular substitute for foods which are high in sugar calories. These artificially and chemically treated foods and beverages are mass marketed to children and adults alike.

No one is told about the health risks of consuming large amounts of the artificial sweeteners. There are no warning labels alerting the consumer about the dangers of these sugar substitutes.

Splenda, for example, is marketed as a safe and natural form of sugar without the calories. Do you know that Splenda is made by a chemical process which combines a sugar molecule with a chlorine molecule? Yes, chlorine-the same chemical used to disinfect your swimming pool, disinfect your tap water and bleach your clothes!!!

Aspartame marketed as Equal and Nutrasweet is made from three chemicals: aspartic acid+ phenyalanine+ methanol. Methanol is a wood alcohol and a known nerve poison. High amounts of aspartic acid depolarize nerves and contribute to seizures.

These sweeteners are associated with over 90 symptoms including:

headaches, migraines, numbness, weight gain, depression, irritability, insomnia, memory loss, dizziness, nausea, muscle spasms, rashes, fatigue, tachycardia, anxiety attacks, loss of vision, hearing, and taste, ringing in the ears, and muscle and joint pain.

Is it really worth jeopardizing your health for that sweet taste?!?!?!