Too Sweet for Sweetness? Natural vs Artificial Sugar

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All sugar is the same, white sugar, brown sugar, molasses, it all comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets.  We manufacture corn for sugar and make artificial sweeteners (Phenylalanine and Aspartame)  for products to add taste and freshness.

Common products with added sugar: (1 gram = 1 teaspoon)

• Chinese Fortune cookies one cookie 3.5 grams
• Baked beans one-cup serving 15 grams
• Ketchup single pack  4 grams
• Flavored Yogurt single serving size 24 grams
• BBQ sauce one-cup serving  9 grams
• “Reduced” salad dressings one-cup reduced-calorie French dressing 58 grams
• Lemonade single serving of the drink has almost 17 grams
• Caramel Flavored popcorn 18 grams per ounce serving.
• Granola bars 11 grams

Natural Sugar

There’s a natural sugar in fruit and plants called “fructose” which has gotten a bad name over the years.  The body metabolizes sugar into glucose so the brain can use it for energy and if a body already has ample energy readily available then anything extra will be turned to triglycerides and fats by the liver.  Fructose is easily converted to fat if not needed, which causes a problem for people who do not move alot or burn enough calories.  Overweight to morbidly obese persons have free-flowing sugar in their bodies waiting to be used and the build up of high blood sugar will contribute to bone, joint and heart diseases.   When I worked at the hospital my favorite patients to train were Type II Diabetics because 15mins of exercise helped control blood sugar and alleviate joint pain while burning calories to reduce fat stores and get them off medications.  I had a blast!!

Man-made Sugar

We manufacture sugar from plants and also use chemicals to make aspartame and phenylalanine (Equal, Nutrasweet and Splenda) which can increase desire for sweets, kill taste buds and decrease insulin absorption by the body and contribute to adult-onset diabetes.

Aspartame causes additional problems because of its chemical breakdown. A molecule of aspartame consists of two amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid) linked by a molecule of methanol, the alcohol found in antifreeze. At 30C (86F), lower than body temperature, the three components come apart and each has distinctive effects. The methanol is metabolized in your body to formaldehyde and then to formic acid. Both of these are very potent metabolic poisons.

Phenylalanine and aspartic acid both mimic brain neurotransmitters. They can disrupt the balance of these chemicals, causing depression, seizures, memory problems and problems with concentration and learning. They may also be a factor in the development of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease), as well as multiple sclerosis. (http://www.alive.com/)

I personally drink diet sodas with phenylalanine and I can’t pass them up when they are on sale, call it an addiction or craving, it doesn’t matter.   I would rather choose natural fructose over any manufactured sugars because factories mean profit and profits for big companies are not always health conscious.

The choice is yours.

Pick your poison.

Related Articles

• The Claim: Artificial Sweeteners Can Raise Blood Sugar (nytimes.com)
• Top Reasons for Avoiding Artificial Sweeteners (healthmad.com)
• Sugar Swap (lifescript.com)
• Are Sugar Free Sweeteners Safe? Part 1: Aspartame (food-facts.suite101.com)

Harmful or Fatal if Swallowed – Hidden Chemicals

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Think of this  

Since 1950 we have added chemicals to our bodies that were never heard of before we manufactured them and put into products we use: insecticides, cosmetic and personal-care products, cleaning solutions, paint, fuel, food, and industrial pollutants from factories.

Synthetic chemicals don’t belong inside the human body and it is only common sense to take into consideration that they’re not good for you.  Some of the chemicals pass inspection because levels present are not enough to elicit harm to our bodies.  Then one day they’ll have a huge recall because some food or toy slipped through the cracks and caused damage to children.

My biggest concern about these chemicals is that as we make new ones to industrialize the world, we are finding more sickness and disease.  More cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, obesity, aggressive flus, ADD, and immune deficiencies.

Heres some easy ways to protect yourself.

• Choose organic products.
• Eat fewer fatty and processed foods.
• Use soap and water instead of more chemically intensive household cleaners.
• Forgo optional treatments on carpet, furniture, and car upholstery.

I understand we can not  eliminate our exposer to all the harmful chemicals out there but if we are aware  (body awareness) then we can make change.

All of us can, if you will.

Related Articles

• Can Makeup Kill You? 6 Cancer Myths Exposed (lifescript.com)
• 5 Reasons to Go Organic as Early as Possible (non-toxickids.net)
• Can chemicals be washed off your fruits and vegetables? (mnn.com)