You have seen all the products out there that are “sugar free” but do you know what that means? For many that is a health, or diet food. We all know that sugar is not a healthy additive to our diet, and that is true. It is best to avoid processed sugar, and for the most part, even raw sugar (also called turbinado sugar). But, the manufacturers of artificial sweeteners have taken advantage of that fact and used it to promote the use of their product. Let me inform you that artificial sweetener is 100 times more detrimental to your health than sugar will ever be. If you are going to use a sweetener, use a natural sweetener; Stevia, raw honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, just to name a few (you can find more natural sweeteners in your health food stores). Stevia is a natural sweetener that is very sweet, and for many can be the perfect substitute for Splenda, Equal and Sweet N Low. I want to add extra caution on the use of Splenda, it has to be one of the worst substitutes, and I am appalled at how they are marketing that in the use of kids foods.
Splenda, is a chemical compound that is closer to the molecule of DDT, than that of sugar. If you don’t know what DDT is, it is an insecticide that was outlawed because the of effect it had on the environment and bird shells. Splenda was actually discovered accidentally in a lab where they working on a new insecticide. Splenda is an organochlorine, and the only one ever put on the market for human consumption. Here are some other organochlorines you may recognize… DDT, Mustard Gas, Chloroform, PCBs, as well as other insecticides, pesticides, and solvents. It is a chlorine molecule attached to a sugar molecule, chlorine is a toxic substance. There are many side effects, and if you have been consuming Splenda for any length of time you may be feeling them without realizing the cause. Just google “side effects of Splenda” and you will find tons of information.
I was inspired to write this here as I have a personal experience of the effects of artificial sweeteners. For many years I have not touched aspartame, found in most diet sodas, gums and other “sugar free” items. Before that, I did drink diet sodas because I just liked the way they tasted. Last year, I decided to drink one as a treat. For the rest of the day I had a splitting headache, and ended up nauseous and throwing up…all this from one, 8 oz. diet soda. It took me a little while to figure out the cause of my ailment. I knew that artificial sweeteners had this kind of side effects, so I was able to put it together, but I had never experienced this before so I didn’t know it could happen to me. But because my body was not used to it, it was very pronounced. I vowed from then on, that no matter how much I liked it I would never do that again. And when I am tempted I remember that miserable day! That is not the end of my experience, just recently I bought a pack of gum on the run. I didn’t pay much attention to the label. I usually chew a natural based gum, but only certain stores sell that, and I just wanted some gum. I should have known better, but for some reason it just slipped my mind. For about a week or two I chewed that gum. Week one I didn’t notice too much, any changes. I only chew one piece a day so, there is very little aspartame per piece. But the second week, I thought there was something really wrong with me. I began to get canker sores, headache to the point of nausea for 5 days straight. Then finally one day I went to get a piece of gum and it clicked…what is in this gum, it says “sugar free”. Of course, aspartame!!! It hit me, this is what is going on. I never thought a little piece of gum could be doing this to me. I threw it away and haven’t chewed a single piece of gum since. The canker sore that was starting, went away the next day, and no more headaches. It actually took me a couple days to feel completely normal again. I was also feeling very cloudy headed and very blah.
This is just an example of how powerful these chemicals can be. I normally eat a very clean diet, raw milk, grass-fed meat, free-range eggs and chickens, fermented foods, soaked grains and such. So, when something like this enters my body, the effects are very pronounced. When you eat a diet filled with artificial, and refined foods you are in a normal state of discomfort, you can’t even tell what you are feeling. There is no base line for feeling good, mentally focused and clear minded. You have nothing to compare to, the body is in a constant state of discomfort that is defined as normal.
There are many additives to our foods today. Food has become a commercialized, money- making industry. If you are buying anything in a box, think twice about feeding it to your family. Shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store, stay out of the processed foods. This is not meant for human consumption, just because “someone” says it’s okay, does not mean it is good for you. As the years go by, the body will suffer. Just because it doesn’t kill you today, doesn’t mean it is not harmful. It will just be a slow decline in your health, and your quality of life in your old age will not be good.
The Homestead Company 