Hi Everyone,
Today we’re looking deeper into the fake sugar issue. Before I get to the questions I’d like to point everyone to our Million Dollar Body page so you can check out the highlights of our annual awards show. I’m not an awards show kind of guy but this thing—as well as the entire Team Beachbody Coaches Summit—was extremely inspiring. So if you’re in need of motivation, check out the videos at:
http://www.milliondollarbody.comOn to your questions…
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I was recently diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that is operable. I will have surgery this April. I spoke with the top neurosurgeon of the Cleveland Clinic about artificial sweeteners since I drink a lot of Diet Coke. He started laughing and asking "where does this information come from???". He said that there is ABSOLUTELY no way that artificial sweeteners or cell phones could cause any kind of brain cancer or tumors. It is articles like these that keep these myths floating around. I believe that the sugar industry has planted these myths as their sales have plummeted with the increase of sweeteners in foods instead of sugar.
I am a former medical technologist who worked in a chemistry hospital lab and now I am a science teacher. I read everything that I can on artificial sweeteners. None of this is true about the cancer causing possibilities. If you understood how the body chemistry works in metabolism then none of this even makes sense to you.
Please be careful what you print.
Denise Risbeck
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I should start by pointing out that brain tumors weren’t at all the focus of the article, nor the main reason cited as to why artificial sweeteners are potentially hazardous. They were linked to in some studies, yes, but the main focus of this article was to show how artificial sweeteners are now linked to obesity and related illnesses.
Many different studies were cited in the article. Much is the evidence is pretty hard to refute (thousands of people, various places, diets, living conditions, etc, all with metabolic problems with only artificial sweetener in common, for example). These studies were all led by PhD scientists in appropriate fields. None of the studies cited in the article were funded by the sugar industry (though your accusation is accurate in that the sugar industry has funded some similar science). This is in contrast to one person’s opinion about one aspect of the science. A neurosurgeon is not required to know anything about nutrition. Further logic would suggest they probably would not have had time to study it even if it were of interest to them. I would deduce from this that your brain doctor may not be the best person to reference if you’re after nutritional advice.
The last paragraph you wrote makes little sense to me. Where are your references or, to be more direct, says who? As far as I understand it we really aren’t sure what causes most cancer or how to cure it. But there is one thing most cancer doctors I’ve spoken with are in total agreement on; that lifestyle habits—including getting regular exercise and practicing sound nutritional habits—are very effective for both staving off and fighting cancer.
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The article "Sweet Nothing" didn't address the issues of the number of people in the US, diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, that have benefited from the artificial sweeteners. Before the placement of artificial sweeteners in the grocery store, diabetics were severely limited in their food choices. Yes, the effects of artificial sweeteners are a huge "unknown," but the alternatives of a diabetic consuming even a "small" amount of regular sugar, as a sweetener or food additive, is worse that the mentioned "questionable" side effects of artificial sweeteners.
Donna Weddle
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No, it didn’t reference this at all but logic would conclude that many of the metabolic syndrome sufferers are now type 2 diabetic since they are directly related. The article was not defending sugar in any way except to say that its effects are known. I do think it brought up some controversy, at least, in your point that artificial sweeteners actually are helping anyone. What it pointed out was that in the first few major studies to come out those consuming the stuff regularly were much less healthy that those who were not. Diabetics have a lot of food choices other than artificial sweetener. Why roll those dice?
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Love your article. Very informative and reminds me why I don't use artificial sweeteners. Question: You didn't mention Agave. Do you have any research on it? I get it in the health food store near the stevia. I find it very sweet and so you don't need a lot. They seem to have different kinds i.e. blue agave as opposed to regular agave. Your thoughts please.
Sincerely,
Janice Mason
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Agave nectar is a natural sweetener with a very low GI rating. It’s still sugar, so I won’t say it’s healthy, but seems to be a better alternative than table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and probably honey.
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Can you please comment on this sweetener.
Xylo Sweet
All Natural/Xylitol Sweetener
100% Xylitol
Sugar Sweet/No Aftertaste
Safe for Diabetics & Hypolglycemics
Please advise.
Thanks
Dianne Strauss
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There –tol sweeteners were referenced in article. They seem safe enough though they do cause gastric stress in many people. Oddly enough a study just came out that showed they can help those with constipation problems by chewing on –tol sweetened gum. This is a good example of the right food for the right situation. Sometimes you want gastric stress; other times, not so much. I wasn’t aware that these were recommended for diabetics. They are still sugar. They are just less “intense” in their insulin response.
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I liked your article on sugar; however the problem is that none of the products you mentioned contain sugar, they all contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, which many researchers have shown to be worse than artificial sweeteners. If the products contained sugar there would be no problem and everyone could follow your advice. What you have done is probably increased the diabetes count in the US.
Charles
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I almost didn’t print this because it doesn’t make any sense. This article was about artificial sweeteners. You may have sent this in regards to another article but, I assure you, we know what high fructose corn syrup is and do not recommend it. But it should also be pointed out that it IS just sugar. Bad cheap sugar, yes. But sugar all the same. And apples to oranges compared to artificial sweeter. But, oddly enough, it suffers from the exact same problem in our culture: overuse. We add HFCS to WAY TOO much stuff, the exact problem with have with artificial sweeteners, not to mention corn and soy—but that’s another story.
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Awesome article...very informative. Thank you for providing such great information in one article in one place. I am a firm believer that diet soda does contribute to waist weight gain. As a person who celebrated my 50th birthday and who has always been trim (5'7"-125), I experienced last year excess weight gain around my middle and back area. In addition, I was experiencing fatigue and related symptoms to that of PMS. After seeking help from an endrocrinolologist, I found out that I had a hormone imbalance coupled with an unhealthy metabolism. I was miserable, forgetting things and not capable of great conversations seeking avoidance of social environments when I have always been a very active and socially engaged person.
Last May, I started taking a vitamin/nutrient supplement and following The Program by Diana Schwarzbein which suggests eating three balanced meals a day (consumption of a fat, protein and a non or starchy carbohydrate in each meal) coupled with two balanced snacks a day. Also, elimination of artificial sweeteners, refined sugar and processed foods, white flour, white rice, hydrogenated and trans fat oils and diet sodas! Although, I only drank a diet Coke a day, it was amazing what a difference it made in the weight coming off my middle section. It was significant. Of course, the other items I eliminated made a difference too but I believe the diet soda was the major culprit for me.
End of last year, I was working in a fund raising position for several months and started back into drinking a diet Coke each day, I soon noticed that my mid section started reflecting this. I quickly stopped my bad habit and of course, my mid section is back to what it was. Amazing!
Thank you again for educating the general population who does care about their health or they would not be on your site or receiving these informative articles in their email boxes. I have used several products from Beachbody and appreciate the great stuff you continue to produce. Keep up the great work!!!
Sincerely,
Dawn Corey
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I know, this isn’t really scientific or anything. I just wanted to share it. Take it as you will.
Below is one more. It’s LONG, and a bit rambling, but I’m going to publish it as an anecdotal response to the first letter.
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Finally, someone is telling others what I found out the hard way!
I was so sick from artificial sweeteners that, literally, I barely could remember my own name.
I was becoming afraid to drive because I would have flashes of thoughts like what will happen when I forget how to drive. This was a very scary time. I suffered with extreme pain in my body just to be touched hurt and I could feel pain for about 15-20 seconds after someone pressed on my limbs. I sought all kinds of doctors and was told it was stress. I have 7 children and I home school. I knew this was not causing this fatigue and pain! All I could say was "this is not normal there is something wrong."
Everyone wanted to heal me with antidepressants that I turned down. I was offered them and then I never returned to that doctor. I knew what I was experiencing wasn't normal and that I had always been healthy and I knew my body. I had always been strong and athletic from childhood. I began to lose my shape after my 5th c-section ( I have had 6 c-sec one set of twins) needless to say my abs are shot. But I am smart enough to know that this was not normal fatigue and i wasn't depressed. I was doing what I always wanted to do, which was to be a mom.
Then I began to get the label of fibromyalgia. I I would put my hand up toward the doctor and say “no” that is a catch all name when you don't know what is wrong. I refused to claim that disease! Strangely my blood work was odd during this time and it confused the docs. One showed possible lupus (not)!!
Finally I began seeking for myself when I would have a few bursts of clear thoughts. I started searching for direction on the web. I did know that I was sensitive to Aspartame prior to all this...I would get twitching in my eyes and head aches that were relieved after I removed aspartame and allowed my body to detox from it.
I was two years into searching for answers and I was at another rheumatologist appt. and a Diet Coke was sitting on the desk and a light bulb went off because I drank this stuff all day everyday. I had no energy and couldn’t get through the day without a two hour nap to get rid of my constant headache and back ache and body pain. My children’s hugs hurt me. They couldn't climb up on me because it hurt so bad. I have limited memories of my twins as toddlers because I was sleeping more than them and I felt sick/pain all the time.
When I got home I remembered to look at my Diet Rite can. I started putting in the ingredients in my web browser. The first two were sucralose ( I believed sucralose was was the holy grail of sweeteners since it was made from sugar.) What struck me that I had never thought of before was there might be more than one sweetener in a drink...every time sucralose was listed right behind it was acesulfame K. When I read the history of that sweetener how it was not marketed in the 80's because of the dangers of neurological issues). Hmmmm, I barely knew my name...couldn't remember things that had just happened....hmmmm blurred vision, headaches.... could it be? Now I'm not a doctor but this just made common sense. I was hit with the reality that I was sacrificing my health for a no calorie sweetener that at that moment was killing me and had already stolen 3-4 years of my life.
I called the rheumatologist to let him know that I figured out what was making me so sick, that his diet coke had triggered my mind to search sweeteners. His response was "then don't drink them." Duh! If I could have smacked him through the phone I would have!
I am sharing this info so if another person is suffering like me they might ask the simple question....What have you been eating and drinking on a regular basis? Had a doctor asked me that question we could have seen a common denominator of a lot earlier. If that doctor heard me he could maybe save some other poor suffering souls just by suggestion that they stop artificial sweeteners first and see how they feel before telling them they have Parkinson’s or lupus or some other debilitating disease.
In my search I read stories of people being wheelchair bound and when they stopped the artificial sweeteners they were able to walk with out pain again. The symptoms from artificial sweetener poisoning do mimic many of the serious debilitating diseases. Stop drinking the poison and see if you feel better.
Thanks again for sharing the truth about artificial sweeteners.
I am sure you have brought the light to at least one person suffering and hopefully many more.
God Bless,
Shawn
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I had to edit this quite a bit but Shawn is doing fine today. Thanks for sharing your story. That’s probably enough reading for today. We’ll end on a quick note from Rebecca, summarizing today’s topic.
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Great, keep writing about the artificial sweeteners, I have a difficult time getting this message across to my husband and some friends. Most people don’t want to know but there are those of us who do appreciate the information and apply it to our lives.
Rebecca
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Until next time, train hard, train smart, and have fun!
Steve
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