Excessive consumption of sugar isn’t healthful. But the natural, unrefined form of sugar found in whole foods isn’t a big problem, since our bodies are built to handle this.
Artificial sweeteners ARE a problem. These chemicals are specifically designed to be UN-natural, so that our bodies CANNOT process them and so cannot convert them into fat.
The six most common, FDA-approved artificial sweeteners include aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, advantame and acesulfame potassium. They’re found in so many foods and beverages that many people are unaware when they’re consuming them. The key question is, are these sweeteners actually, truly safe?
Research teams from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore investigated the six artificial sweeteners for toxicity. They added small amounts of each sweetener to samples of common gut bacteria which had been treated so they would glow if exposed to toxins. Researchers discovered that each of the six artificial sweeteners produced toxic signs in the bacteria!
Healthy, non-toxic gut bacteria are essential for good health. Poisoning such bacteria would be a recipe for ill-health. The very reason people might consume artificial sweeteners would be to protect their health, not damage it. Yet these chemical sweeteners remain on the market, promoted heavily as ‘safe’ alternatives to sugar.
The lesson here is a common one: Take nothing for granted. Don’t blindly accept the assurances of big business or even government regulators when it comes to chemical additives in foods. Do your own research, be pro-active. In almost every case, Mother Nature produces superior products compared to laboratory formulas. Just use common sense when consuming any food or drink. Moderation, not extremes, can maintain your health and extend your life.