There are certainly a variety of factors that have contributed to the growing obesity in America, but I believe that the use of chemical sweeteners has contributed greatly to the problem. Aspartame, which is the most used synthetic sweetener today, has been shown in multiple studies to increase appetite and cravings, particularly sweet cravings. Isn’t it ironic? People are using huge amounts of these chemicals to sweeten everything, yet these very chemicals are making them crave more sugars and more sweets from other sources.

Aspartame may be responsible for a wide variety of diseases and conditions. It is routinely diagnosed as the cause of elevated liver enzymes. Elevated liver enzymes are the precursor to full blown liver disease and doctors take it very seriously. When liver enzymes become elevated it means that the body is unable to process and ultimately rid itself of environmental or ingested toxins. Once aspartame is discontinued the liver enzymes usually return to normal.  Other conditions that have been attributed to aspartame are chronic headaches, depression, dizziness, anxiety disorders, attention problems, memory loss, slurred speech and even vision problems. These symptoms are often referred to as “aspartame disease”.

Aspartame is made of two different amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Aspartic acid acts to excite the neurotransmitters in the brain and if other calming amino acids are not available this over stimulation can lead to mood disorders and nervous system problems. Phenylalanine also directly effects neurotransmitter function in the brain and interferes with normal brain chemistry.  Altering of the brain chemistry is also thought to be responsible for the very addictive nature of aspartame. Many people say getting off diet drinks can be harder than quitting cigarettes.

There is another component of aspartame called methyl ester. Once methyl ester is digested it turns into methanol. Methanol is a wood alcohol that is used in everything from formaldehyde to powering internal combustion engines. It has a high toxicity in humans. If enough methanol is consumed it can cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve and 30 milliliters can be fatal. It is no wonder that one of the most common symptoms of “aspartame disease” is vision problems, since this alcohol directly affects the optic nerve.

There is absolutely no reason today to be using chemical sweeteners. Why risk your health when there are great natural no calorie sweeteners such as Stevia readily available? Stevia is truly all natural and is not a chemical in any way. It comes directly from the Stevia plant that grows in South America. There are some natural soft drink companies currently producing Stevia sweetened sodas. I hope as Stevia becomes more popular the major players, Coke and Pepsi will get on board.

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These fake sugars are one of the leading cases of elevated liver enzymes, because our livers are forced to work way too hard to attempt to process and rid our bodies of these toxic substances. Elevated liver enzymes are one of the first warning signs of deeper health concerns, because they are the initial indicator of toxicity in our bodies. There are mounds of research connecting these chemicals to many forms of cancer. Using these substances to me is just not worth the health risk.

What are the alternatives? First let’s take a look at Stevia. Stevia is a completely natural plant that grows is native to South and Central America. Stevia is 300% sweeter than table sugar, and it is virtually calorie free so it works great in a low calorie or low glycemic index diet program. It does not elevate glucose (blood sugar) levels so it is useful for diabetics as well.  It is available in both powdered and liquid forms, and is very convenient to use.

Next, there is Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is was originally derived from the bark of the birch tree, but is also now extracted from the fibers of many fruits and vegetables including corn, plums and berries.  Xylitol is an organic compound and is not molecularly altered in any way. It has roughly two thirds the calories of traditional sugars and does not significantly elevate blood glucose levels. It also has the benefit of being extremely tooth friendly and is used as a cavity preventer in various gums and toothpastes.

Both Stevia and Xylitol are far better sugar alternatives than any of the nationally advertised chemical sweeteners that are being marketed as safe. Try switching to one of these natural and healthy products for your sweetening needs.

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