A few weeks ago, I filled you in on a fantabulous upcoming event, The Power of Compassion with Kim Barthel, presented by Tribus. The event is already 50% filled, so if you want in, waiting to register is not likely a good plan. Click HERE to learn more and/or to find out how to register. Woot woot!
In other news, I was having a conversation last week with one of my coaching clients, and the question came up about artificial sweeteners. I say ?the question? and not ?a question? because about 95% of my clients and students have the same question about using artificial sweeteners: ?are they a good choice?? So, I thought you might have the question too!
Here?s the short answer: Artificial sweeteners are made up of chemicals that erode your Body Sass?. They contain neurotoxins (damage your brain) and carcinogens (cause cancer) and are therefore a sure way to de-Sass your sweet bod. Let?s explore?
Artificial sweeteners gained a lot of headway a few decades back because we wanted to taste sweetness without the calories. So, food manufacturers created a mass influx of diet drinks and foods that use, mainly, sucralose (Splenda) and aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Equal-Measure). Now, it is indeed true that these sweetly deceptive chemicals do not add calories to our food. What?s not true is that they?re harmless, and that they don?t affect our blood sugar. Let?s unpack both of those, briefly (trust me, I could really get on a roll/rant on this subject!).
Artificial sweeteners DO affect our blood sugar, hormones, and metabolism. Research published by Mass General Hospital, and in the Public Library of Science, associate these artificial sweeteners with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, increased appetite, impaired glucose tolerance, high blood pressure, and abnormal elevation of fats in the blood. It was found that drinking aspartame-sweetened diet soda increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 67%!!! And these drinks and foods are marketed heavily to dieters. Not cool.
Further, these chemical sweeteners are NOT ?harmless.? What I?ve shared above (neurotoxic, carcinogenic, upset biochemistry, etc) is the short version. In addition to all of that, diet foods, especially diet drinks, are marketed as ?an option for diabetics to enjoy sweet tastes with fewer carbohydrates.? Well. That IS true, in that the diabetic IS enjoying a sweet taste and there ARE fewer carbs. The small print is that aspartame actually worsens insulin sensitivity and leads to insulin resistance, which is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes. And, studies have also linked chemical sweeteners to obesity, brain tumors, and Alzheimer?s disease. Hm. Not so harmless.
In my coaching work, I?ve had some very ?interesting? experiences with these sweeteners, and how damaging they are for the whooooole body. One example was a woman who came to me with debilitating abdominal pain, especially in her stomach area. She?d been to various docs and specialists and surgery was being suggested. We sat down and I went through her food journal and I noticed a lot of diet drinks and foods, and gum. Short story is that she took all that chemically-sweetened Fake Food out and VOILA! No more stomach pain. Like, ZERO.
I know, right?!?!?
SO, if you want to increase your Body Sass?, avoiding chemical sweeteners is a big leg up. As I often quip, ?the foods you avoid are as equally important as the foods you choose.? It pains me to say it, but sugar is safer for you than these chemical imposters. (Note: I?m not promoting a sugar frolic with that statement!)
Create Vibrant Health: BodyMindSpirit?!
With love & sass,
Laurie
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