As the number of Americans consuming artificially sweetened products increased from 70 to 160 million between 1987 and 2000, obesity doubled from 15 to 30 percent while the number of Americans considered overweight has grown from 30 to nearly 65 percent in that time frame. Isn’t it coincidental that the beginning of our obesity epidemic coincides with the introduction of artificial sweeteners into the U.S. food supply?

Rather than starting with the technical research that states artificial sweeteners are unhealthy for us…let’s just start with common sense. The word ‘artificial’ should be a blaring warning sign for us all to STAY AWAY. For many of us, common sense is not enough to convince us, so we will also see what the research says about artificial sweeteners.

Why am I putting a chemical in my body in the first place?
Sugar…individuals serious about losing weight and getting physically fit understand the dangers of sugar (especially refined) and its effect on the body’s metabolism. You may challenge yourself to try to cut out sugar for 3 days and experience the substantial decrease or elimination of sugar cravings. But what happens when you have that occasional hankering for something sweet, also coined as the ‘sweet tooth’? Enter artificial sweeteners.

What are artificial sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are used in numerous products ranging from soft drinks to meal replacement shakes. The following is a closer look at some examples, including saccharin (Sweet-N-Low), aspartame (Equal or NutraSweet), and sucralose (Splenda):

Saccharin is… the grandfather of all artificial sweeteners and is considered to be 300 times sweeter than table sugar. Of all the artificial sweeteners, saccharin has been the most widely studied, partially due to its length of time on the market. Noted side effects include nausea, diarrhea, headache, irritability, insomnia, and some even claim they developed bladder cancer. The FDA labels it as an “anticipated human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent)”. Saccharin can be found in the little pink packets.

Aspartame is… the most widely used artificial sweetener and is considered to be 180 times sweeter than table sugar. Over 70 percent of Aspartame’s usage is in soft drinks and colas, though it is used in many other products. Research claims that methanol levels, a by-product and known poison of the breakdown of aspartame, are at a toxic level in diet soft drinks. Though aspartame is FDA approved, side effects associated with it include dizziness, visual impairment, pancreatitis, hypertension, depression, and birth defects. Aspartame can be found in the little blue packages.

Sucralose is… the virtual baby of artificial sweeteners and is considered to be 600 times sweeter than table sugar. Proponents claim that sucralose is all natural because it is basically sugar that goes through a chlorination process. The product is in the beginning stages of research being so new to the market. However, breakdown of the product claim adverse reactions including reduced red blood cell count, diarrhea, reduced growth rate, gland shrinkage, and kidney and liver enlargement. Sucralose is fast becoming a potential replacement for sugar in many baking goods. It can also be found in the little yellow packets.

Can artificial sweeteners make me fat?
According to the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience, a research team form Purdue gave two different groups of rats some yogurt sweetened with either natural sugar or saccharin. When monitoring the rats’ behavior, eating habits, and physiological changes over the next few weeks striking results were reported. The group of rats consuming the artificially sweetened yogurt showed a significant increase in overall caloric intake, gained a significant amount of more weight and increased body fat than the natural sugar group, and decreased core body temperature indicating that metabolism was slower.

Researchers theorized that since artificial sweeteners are sweet yet calorie free, the body will further crave sweet foods since it didn’t get the calories that it needed. Hormonal and physiological responses occur when we smell something yummy baking in the oven or sometimes by merely thinking of a favorite food. These responses prepare us for the food we are about to consume. For example, the brain sends us signals to maximize nutrient absorption in the small intestines and also helps us to maintain our natural hormone balance.

Substituting natural sugars with artificial ones like aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), saccharin (Sweet and Low), or sucralose (Splenda) confuses our body because it doesn’t know the difference between real and artificial. The brain senses sugar is on its way, so it gets the process rolling. When our bodies do not get sugar our bodies crave it, our appetite spikes…and the next thing you know you’re leaving Krispy Kreme with a 6 pack.

What is the bottom line?
Quality matters just as much as quantity. Fooling our bodies into thinking chemicals are the real thing doesn’t work. Our bodies recognize natural sugars like, honey, fruit juices, and Stevia (derived from plants), which can be metabolized naturally. My advice is to stop tricking your body and enjoy some real sweetness, in moderation, naturally. As always if I can be of any assistance or answer any questions, feel free to contact me at (859)221-4479 or supernat_us@yahoo.com. Yours in Health, Willie B. Ray