Artificial Sweeteners Make You Fat
Late last year, I’m sitting in an office building with the agent of an NFL Player and the player himself. We were working together to help the player lose weight.
While there was some initial success, he hit a little plateau. His agent asked the player "what are you drinking?"
"Crystal Light, diet soda, and water only. Chris said no liquid calories."
And his agent blew through the roof — "NO WONDER HE ISN’T LOSING" he said to me, "I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU TOLD HIM HE CAN USE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. Didn’t you see the report — artificial sweeteners cause you to GAIN weight more than regular sugar!!!"
And that’s when it got a little awkward in the room.
But that’s how the meeting started. And I’m now put on defense to defend my position…in front of the player himself who I did in fact tell "no liquid calories" because soft drinks and slurpees were a regular addition to the daily diet.
In another post I talked about if you should use Stevia. And just last week I talked about the new study suggesting artificial sweeteners cause heart disease. But now we’re shifting our focus to cover some more specifics about sweeteners — and there are a bunch, like Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), Sucralose, Saccharin, and Aspartame.
Are they a better option than calorie containing sugar options when trying to lose weight and burn belly fat?
Let’s delve into them a bit and discuss some of the realities and myths with calorie free sweeteners.
Each of the artificial sweeteners has an "acceptable daily intake" (ADI) — meaning according to the FDA, you should not consume MORE than the amounts listed below per day.
- Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal) = 18-19 cans of diet cola
- Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low) = 9 to 12 packets
- Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One) = 30-32 cans diet lemon-lime soda
- Sucralose (Splenda) = 6 cans diet cola
Fair enough? Now depending on who you talk to, or what you read, you’ll hear all different opinions — "I only use sucralose, because xxxx" or "stevia is natural, so I use that…"
If you look at the values above, you may notice that according to the ADIs, the max for Splenda is just 6 cans of diet cola/day, whereas Equal is 18-19 cans. Does that mean Splenda is more of a concern than Equal? It might.
But as a side note, if you’re drinking THAT many diet colas/day, your diet needs an overhaul as there are absolutely zero positive qualities to diet colas (or any diet soda for that matter).
Let’s cover a few of these in more detail.
Sucralose (Splenda):
While this one has received safety approval from the FDA, it’s surely not without controversy. Picking sides with this is like jumping in to the Health Care Reform debate!
But I’m ready to go for it.
First, the upside of Sucralose:
- it has virtually no aftertaste
- it’s stable when heated so you can cook and bake with it
- it’s stable at different acidities (pHs) so it can be added to things like lemon juice without affecting its sweetness
- it has a proven track record of safety in many research studies.
Cons:
- anecdotally (meaning personal stories) have tied intake to migraine headaches
- may affect healthy bacteria in the gut, according to animal data
- it may cause weight gain?
This last one is a bit more controversial. In a nutshell, one study using rats fed them different quantities of sucralose. At the end of the 24 week study, the rats consuming sucralose gained weight compared to the ones that didn’t take any in. And that’s the study this players agent was referring to.
Weird. Zero calories, how can it cause dangerous belly fat to creep up on us?
I will say at this time I’m not impressed with the data showing artificial sweeteners cause us to gain belly fat … I clearly need to see more research to support this theory. The thought was that while artificial sweeteners themselves don’t have calories, they "trick" the body into craving more sweet foods…
…voila, belly fat and overall weight gain is through the roof.
It’s correlation data, but if I remember anything from statistics, it’s that correlation doesn’t mean causation. In a nutshell, the correlation that those who used diet soda weighed more doesn’t mean the diet soda itself caused them to gain weight. More research clearly needs to expore this. Keep in mind, also, that the doses used in this particular study were very high if we tried to extrapolate these findings to humans. At this point I just don’t buy into that conclusions of this data and am surely calling for more. That’s what I said to this players agent.
Again, another red flag for me here is that the "maximum" recommendation is 6 cans of diet cola — for some, that’s a ton, but for others, that’s breakfast. Regulate your intake!
By the way, the agent and I never did come to an agreement — I’m still 100% confident that to have a person switch from 1-2L of regular soda each day (what this player drank) to diet soda is a huge positive step. Perfect? Nope. Better. Absolutely.
Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal):
You’ve seen the little pink packets … pink packets of poison, according to some. Like the others, this has the stamp of approval from the FDA. But opponents of this suggest it causes migraines, causes cancer,brain tumors, and evil belly fat.
Like the others, the research is mixed — some studies show a negative effect, others show a positive effect.
I hate to give the "more research is necessary" answer, but, well, it’s the best answer to give.
I talked about my feelings on the weight gain and artificial sweeteners with sucralose.
As for cancer — it’s a hard one to pin down. These data are all done in animals, usually given very high doses, to see what happens.
For some reason the review boards look very unfavorably at loading up humans with artificial sweeteners and seeing if they cause cancer (please read that with the intended sarcasm); therefore, we’re reliant on animal data. But even if there is that chance, that concerns me … stamp of approval or not!
Like I mentioned in another blog about sugar and high fructose corn syrup, I don’t like the idea of artificial … I don’t want artificial ingredients in my body and try to limit them as much as possible. I do that by knowing what I’m eating, being able to pronounce all ingredients, and eating foods as close to the earth as possible.
With that said, I AM supportive of making the transition to calorie free drinks if someone is a regular soft drink (or juice, or sweetened tea) drinker …
But as a whole, artificial sweeteners aren’t a favorite.
We also have yet to find one without an off flavor. Call us crazy, but we want to eat a food that, well, tastes like food — not have some bitter aftertaste that’s CLOSE to being real, but not quite there.
I’d personally rather have a REAL sweetener, infrequently. Moderation. That’s a very unsexy word in marketing and the media, but it’s true.
You want a cookie?
Eat a cookie — occasionally.
Is a fat free, sugar free, calorie free flavored chocolate chunk piece of cardboard REALLY going to help out your desire for a cookie?
Not a chance.
Eat the real thing, on occasion, then get over it. Fair enough?
Eating real foods is what will help you live as healthfully as possible, burn belly fat, and look and feel great!
August 19th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I must say I don’t understand why I see so many folks drinking diet cola. I agree; it is SO bad for you! Funny thing is, the FDA (Food and Death Administration) approve a lot of things that go in our foods, our vaccines, our medicines, etc. that they know are toxic! And if you have seen Food Inc or King Corn, or The Future of Food, one would see that the folks who are in charge up in Washington have financial ties to the companies that produce such toxic products.
From my reading, aspartame turns into a neurotoxin at 86 degrees. SO — that cup of coffee (that is definitely hotter than 86 degrees) immediately becomes toxic when you add Aspartame to sweeten it. That soda, the first sip entering your 98.6 degree body, also becomes instantly toxic.
According to another article, unfortunately I read so much that I don’t remember when or where, I read that one of the biggest contributors to the American Diabetic Association is Coca-cola. So when I found this out I realized why there are SO MANY diabetics being told DIET COKE AND SODAS ARE OKAY!
Pretty scary in my opinion that our government has so much control over our food source, and the quality of our food is continuing to go downhill.
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Carlos Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Some aspartame might convert into a neurotoxin but it is in such minute amounts, that it will have NO detrimental effect on your health. We take in toxins all the time but they are in such small amounts that they have no negative effects.
There was an article I believe last year that talked about Pharmaceutical drugs in our drinking water but what it neglected to mention is that it is such a small amount that it does nothing.
I have seen Food Inc. I believe that the movie does exaggerate many things but one thing it fails to mention is that people shouldn’t be eating so much processed food anyways! I was especially angry when they had that one family making excuses that they have to eat at McDonald’s because they are so busy. I guess they forget that they can make healthier decisions even in McDonald’s! I’m also sure they do have time, just too lazy to cook for themselves. Just excuses in my opinion.
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lisa Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 6:12 pm
I drink diet pop because I’m big enough I don’t want to imagine how much more weight I would gain drinking regular pop.
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August 19th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Even my kids tell me not to drink diet colas. Out of the mouths of babes. Thanks for the information.
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August 19th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Awesome article! Thanks, Chris! As a migraine sufferer, I noted with interest the data re: Splenda and migraine. I am more of an Equal girl myself, but I would imagine they could have some of the same effects. Great advice re: eating the real thing, in moderation.
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August 19th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I strickly refuse to eat/drink anything diet because I suffer from intense migraines. Since my daugher became a vegetarian, I even gave up refined white sugar. (Part of the refining process includes tumbling the sugar with animal bones.) We now only use natural/organic sugars and local honey. My daughter\’s eating habits have affected our entire household for the better. We all eat much less meat, zero processed meats, zero products with HFCS, and many more fresh veggies. Grilled eggplant and mushrooms are our favorite meat replacements and we are very happy with all of the changes resulting from this. The one result I have not seen is any weight loss. Even with an increase in exercise, my metabolism just doesn\’t seem to catch up! While I\’d love to blame sugars, that just isn\’t the case for me. Even so, I\’ll stick to the rule that if Nature made it, then it has got to be the healthier dietary choice.
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Kim Naber Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
I love eggplant and would really like the recipe for “grilled eggplant and mushrooms.”
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Learner Reply:
July 9th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Referencing your note about “The one result I have no seen is any weight loss. even with an increase in exercise, my metabolism just doesn’t seem to catch up.” – Guaranteed and from personal experience, you are not eating enough protein. It’s very very difficult to properly balance a vegetarian diet and 90% of them are actually unhealthy, due to lack of knowledge.
Talk to a nutritionist and get assistance with the right balance of 1: clean, natural, grass-fed organic protein – chicken breast, fish, turkey, eggs, etc.. 2: slow burning carbs (yes you need them), sweet potatoes, brown rice, etc… 3: healthy fats – flax oil, fish oil 4: your dark green leafy vegetables – kale, collards, spinach, etc…
Once you get the right amounts of these in your nutrition plan, coupled with correct portions, meal timing and your vigorous exercise, you WILL, I repeat, you WILL see results.
Best of luck.
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nancy bender Reply:
August 11th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
im trying very hard to loose weight but im on a blood thinner and cant eatl leafy green vegies any other suggestions?
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
August 16th, 2011 at 10:32 am
Any veggies are great for you.
August 19th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Excellent article. Very thorough for something that has always been a mystery to me. This is my first article I have read and am very interested in what else you may have out there. Thank you!
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August 19th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
All very interesting and unnerving. But please do say more about stevia.
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August 19th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
i am so scared of artificial sweetners….i don’t even touch the stuff. if i am going to drink, dare i say it, SODA….i usually will opt for the regular soda because i figured that the sugar in it wasn’t artificial and at least i wasn’t getting aspartame in my body which i thought was dangerous. but i suppose that regular soda has a lot of chemicals in it as well and then i am also getting more calories and sugar along with it.
i think the bottom line is…..DRINK WATER. add a little lemon and it’s even better.
thanks for the information chris and kara.
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August 19th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
As always, excellent information! I don’t choose to add sugar or sweeteners to my green tea or cereal, and I do attempt to decipher the food labels. That said, it does get confusing, and it seems like one minute something is safe and then the next minute, it isn’t. Thanks for offering clear information and for taking the guess work out of this!
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August 19th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
My thinking on aspartame is this:
We know that it seems to cause cancer in animals.
We know that it converts to formaldehyde at a certain temperature
We know that formaldehyde exposure has been linked to cancers.
And we know that in some studies – a moderate consumption has been shown to be safe.
But long term – what if you don’t excrete it immediately?
So e.g. I take in 1g per day.
But the half life is for example – 48 hours.
Then after 7 days — I’m sitting at 2g in my system.
Compound this out for a thousand days (a couple of years) with high intakes and it’s theoretically possible that you could have a shitload in there.
Let’s just say that on a scale of 1-10 (10 being cancer) that I have a genetic risk of 8.
Maybe it puts me over the edge?
I don’t know. I just know that I no longer consume it
I used to drink 10 cans per day very regularly.
I also was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer
Coincidence? Maybe. But I’m not risking it.
AC
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August 19th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
About moderation and cookies: isn’t telling an obese person to eat one cookie on occasion a little bit like telling an alcoholic to have just one drink every now and again?
As a long-time consumer of them, one thing about these artificial sweeteners is that your taste buds adjust. I’ve been drinking diet sodas since I was 12, since Tab was new and all the rage. I don’t remember ever being a six-pack-a-day kind of soda drinker (maybe for a few years in college), but after all this time, REGULAR soda tastes incredibly nasty.
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Tracy Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I agree with you. I can’t stand regular soda. There have been no scientific studies linking migraine headaches and/or cancers in humans and that includes the brain tumors, to using aspartame. they say it is safe to use and the people that have had cancer and tumors they have found out that those headaches and cancer were linked to something else. They had problems to begin with. They just saw a chance to get into the news with what they would like to see happen with aspartame and other artificial sweetners. They just want to have drama and keep this drama going. They really have no knowledge if aspartame is bad or not. If you search online you will eventually find something bad about everything. I have done many many searches on this and I can’t find any solid facts that link aspartame to health problems. I think that some people have nothing better to do than waste out tax dollars on a bogus research. I have used aspartame for years and years and years, I also know of other people that have used it for many many many many years. They are all healthy and so am I. I use aspartame and like I said I am healthy, and I am NOT overweight. I am NOT fat. And neither are my friends that use it.
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August 19th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Chris,
Interesting you should mention this today as I recently touched on the topic in my own blog. Being that I had read the article in Time magazine and talked to my own bootcamp about it the day you touched on it also (great minds think alike, eh?) Anyway, i mistakenly mentioned to her that diet soda’s can cause weight gain, and she said “kind of like exercise makes you fat” (referring to the article in Time)?
I replied with an apology and the same correlation statement you had made in that correlation is not causation.
Thank you for this post and thank you for doing so much research on this touchy topic.
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August 19th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Chris and Kara, thanks for the great info on artificial sweeteners. I\\\’m going to forward the article along to my friends and family. Many of them still buy foods with a list of ingredients a chemist would have to decipher.
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August 19th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I was told by my FIL this past Sunday that a study had shown artificial sweeteners to be healthy! Use and abuse it said, and was backed up by some radio personality who seemingly had some credibility. I wouldn’t kow, I never listen to the radio if they yack rather than play music; but I was shocked that anyone would even say something like that.
At the same time, it was stated that drinking regular soda or diet, was the same thing! Go ahead, enjoy the version you prefer.
Now, my FIL isn’t a stupid man, far from it; yet he bought into this – swallowed hook, line and sinker!
Last year he and my MIL had read an article saying too much water was bad for you, so I heard “you drink to much water” as soon as I swallowed one gulp! I found the article in question – it talked about 4 gallons at a shot being dangerous! Not 4 liters a day on a hot summer day including a trip to the gym!
I’ve given up. Frankly, if people want to be mis-informed and gain weight steadily while watching my husband and myself drop our bodyfat safely and keeping it off; preferring to believe quack programs rather than our information (verbal and forwarded links) then … let them.
The day they wake up and say “hey, I must have this al wrong, what do YOU do?” then I’ll talk. Until then I’m obviously wasting my breath, my time and my energy. Sad to say, but unless you tell people to pop some magic pill and keep living as they are doing, they won’t listen.
The second you say “workouts” and “healthy food choices” their eyes go blank and they’re obviously thinking of where to go for teir next burger, fries and shake.
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August 19th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I appreciate the information that you have posted so far. One product that I have not seen much feedback on but would appreciate your opinion on is Whey-Low products. Their website indicates that their sweetners have a caloric value of one calorie per gram versus the 4 calories per gram that regular sugar has. Supposedly the combination of fructose, lactose, and sucrose in one compound cause an inteference with each other so as not to be as readily absorbed into the bloodstream. The glycemic index is supposed to be 70-80% lower than regular sugar. In baking or home use, it is a 1:1 ratio with regular sugar.
I have tried the product and there is no odd aftertaste. It looks similar to sugar(a little more powdery) and has worked well in baking for me. However, as the child of a retired research biochemist, I learned to be wary of claims by companies about their products and would appreciate some outside vewpoints.
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August 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Good information…thanks….diet pepsi, hard habit to break.
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August 19th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Wow, enjoyed the first half of Are artificial sweetners poison? I am looking forward to what you say about Stevia. My doctor is big anti-soda but I still sometimes need the caffeine boost from diet Coke that I can’t get from my green tea. I do try to keep my intake to no more than two a day. After reading this I may have to cut back to one.
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August 19th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Oh my! Thanks for this article it has open my eyes, I do not drink soda but do use splenda, in average 8 packets of spelnda everytime I drink coffee for example and I can say I do this at least once a day, I do use it deliberately because I “know” it is not SUGAR. Also I can see the correlation with weight gain. there’s many products out there that are “sugar” free such as cookies, etc when I buy them I also eat them deliberately, although I know they are not LOW CALORIE. Thanks for this info and I really hope you post a “part 2″ to this article!!!
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August 19th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
How much of a sweetener does a can of soda contain? this is just to give me an idea since I do not drink soda but do use lots of splenda.
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August 19th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Julie — I just want to mention the book — What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause. I have been reading it lately. I am just 31 but have been experiencing lots of pre-menopause and menopause symptoms. You mention your metabolism, it could be something with your hormones. I highly recommend you to pick up this book as it is very insightful. There are some great docs here who are helping women with hormones. I wouldn\\\’t see your regular doc or ob/gyn. I would see someone who specializes in hormones with an alternative approach.
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Julie Reply:
August 20th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Thanks, I’ll check it out. That’s not something I’ve explored yet but I am at “that age.”
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Elizabeth Reply:
August 20th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
That is the thing, which is what this guy points out over and over again — women starting even in their mid-thirties having pre-menopausal symptoms.
It is a great book!
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Tracy Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
What does this article on artificial sweetners have to do with menopause???
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August 20th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Thanks for great info….I’ve tried all of the artificial sweetners and think they all taste bad so don’t use them. EXCEPTwhatever nasty chemical is in diet pepsi….which I drink occasionally (1-2 cans per week.). Curious about this stevia….I’ve heard lots about it but don’t see it much here in the beautiful midwest (MN).
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August 20th, 2009 at 9:22 am
As of this morning’s coffee, I am artificial-sweetener free. I found I was using more and more and feeling vaguely guilty about it. Thanks, Chris, for the kick I needed to do what I know is best for me. (This switch had the unintended effect of cutting down on how much coffee I want to drink, too. Sigh. I didn’t say it was easy.)
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August 20th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Published toxicologists and bio-chemists would defend ACE-K as a superior sugar substitute (least negative impact on your body) and your analysis would hint that to be true.
* Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal) = 18-19 cans of diet cola
* Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low) = 9 to 12 packets
* Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One) = 30-32 cans diet lemon-lime soda
* Sucralose (Splenda) = 6 cans diet cola
Higher doses are safer than the other choices. ACE-K passes through the body in its original state, only affecting the taste sensation. Read peer reviewed articles and studies about ACE-K. None of the sugar subs taste good to me, so I avoid them all as much as possible.
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August 20th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Great article and very informative. I , too, was glad to see you mention the distinction between correlation and causation. That distinction seems to cause a lot of confusion in media reports. I’m wondering if there was some confusion in the article re: aspartame and saccharin. (Saccharin is “the little pink packet”)
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August 13th, 2010 at 7:46 am
I only use Stevia but I went through 5 different brands before I found one that tasted good to me. If you are new to Stevia and try it but don’t like it, switch to another brand. You might be pleasantly surprised.
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August 13th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Chris,
So glad to see you make the statement about correlation and causation because I really dislike it when people read one study and make the assumption that drinking diet soda makes you fat. Keep the good info coming!
Brian
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August 13th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Great article!
The evidence is overwhelming that artificial sweeteners are safe so that is one less thing to worry about.
If it causes you problems then don’t use it but don’t tell other people that it is so dangerous when it has been proven to be perfectly safe!
The safe levels are actually 1/100 of what has been shown to be safe so these levels are ultraconservative.
The problem is drinking so many sodas not the artificial sweeteners!
Moderation is the key. Too much of anything is bad for you including water!
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Tracy Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Thank you Carlos, very well spoken.
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August 13th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Great article!
The evidence is overwhelming that artificial sweeteners are safe so that is one less thing to worry about.
If it causes you problems then don\’t use it but don\’t tell other people that it is so dangerous when it has been proven to be perfectly safe!
The safe levels are actually 1/100 of what has been shown to be safe so these levels are ultraconservative.
The problem is drinking so many sodas not the artificial sweeteners!
Moderation is the key. Too much of anything is bad for you including water!
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August 13th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Well, I want to hear what you have to say about Stevia.
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Sara J Reply:
August 19th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Me too! I used to use Splenda all the time…it was initially recommended to me by my dentist to prevent cavities become I’m an avid green tea drinker…then “un” recommended by my fertility specialist because he wanted me on as natural a diet as possible. So, I switched to Stevia which I’ve been loving and have actually grown in my backyard so it’s gotta be all natural, right?!
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Paula Reply:
August 19th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
You grow your own stevia? Seriously? I had no idea you could even do that, but it makes perfect sense, if it’s all natural, huh?
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Carlos Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Many years ago when I went to visit my family in Paraguay, my aunt gave me some Stevia plant to bring back to my dad. They were in plastic bags and I guess looked suspicious to the customs agent. They took me to a room and handcuffed me. Pretty scary… lol. Luckily another agent knew what it was so they let me go
August 13th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
I drink about 80-100oz of diet coke each day. I have been doing this for the past year. I also consume about one gallon of water each day. I am 11% bodyfat with 7-site, and I feel great each day. I will more than likely get cancer or at minimum kidney stones.
Think of it this way…you are putting a black, carbonated fluid through your body…it will not repond well. I have time and time agian the calorie theory to weight gain and weight loss is not accurate. The reason for weight gain is the local toxin. This is just one more of the 100s of new enviornmental toxins we deal with on a day to day basis. We are 10 time more stress, on a cronic level, we use plastic everything, we breathe air from a global exhaust pipe…ask any training coach how much harder it is to put muscle on a client compared to 20 years ago. A lot in our day to day has changed.
(I don’t even have to turn around to back up in my car….I have a camera do it for me
)
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August 13th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
I drink about 80-100oz of diet coke each day. I have been doing this for the past year. I also consume about one gallon of water each day. I am 11% bodyfat with 7-site, and I feel great each day. I will more than likely get cancer or at minimum kidney stones.
Think of it this way…you are putting a black, carbonated fluid through your body…it will not repond well. I have time and time agian the calorie theory to weight gain and weight loss is not accurate. The reason for weight gain is the local toxin. This is just one more of the 100s of new enviornmental toxins we deal with on a day to day basis. We are 10 time more stress, on a cronic level, we use plastic everything, we breathe air from a global exhaust pipe…ask any training coach how much harder it is to put muscle on a client compared to 20 years ago. A lot in our day to day has changed.
(I don\’t even have to turn around to back up in my car….I have a camera do it for me
)
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December 11th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
There are NO benefits to artificial sweeteners no matter how you try to justify “not enough research” supporting it’s adverse effects. Maybe I’m naive to think everything is alright when people are getting sick and fatter by the day using artificial sweetener because “There’s no evidence to suggest otherwise. You do such great service with your nutrition advice but then negate it all by such a blind statement. I see the entire country as a testing ground on a losing battle. No manufacturing company is going to fund research to prove that their products are helping to kill people. Common sense and intuition is needed here to make the changes for the better in our lives.
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February 23rd, 2011 at 9:56 am
Good overview of the various artificial sweeteners.
I agree with you that water is a much better choice than either diet or regular sodas, but I recommend that everyone use some sort of water filter. There are plenty of chemicals in most tap water, and bottled water isn’t necessarily any safer or healthier than tap water. Bottled water is also terrible for the environment – a lot of fossil fuel is used to manufacture and transport the bottles, and almost 90% of the bottles end up in landfills.
Using a water filter is an easy and inexpensive way to make sure that your water is clean and healthy.
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June 11th, 2012 at 9:21 am
My evidence is anecdotal, however, because of food allergies, I am hyper-aware of foods that I eat and their affects. I had replaced sugar in my coffee to comply with my dentist’s request not to spend hours sipping on sugary beverages. Over the course of two years I began to gain belly fat. Despite regular exercise I continued to gain weight during this period. Finally, I decided to replace the sucralose in my coffee with regular sugar and to just drink it faster to minimize exposure to my teeth. I noticed within a few weeks that my belly fat was slowly diminishing. Removing sucralose from my diet was the only significant modification that I made and it is difficult to attribute the results to any other cause. I am avoiding all artificial sweeteners at this time. I think too little is known about their effects on the human body for them to be a viable part of my diet.
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August 3rd, 2012 at 10:00 am
I am a big fan of the casino cruises, and have been going on them for more than ten years.
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