Splenda & Aspartame: Splendid or Stupid?

I don't know about you, but I personally have had horrible side effects from Splenda.  I used to believe that a fat free-sugar free diet was the best way to stay healthy and lose weight; however, I was constantly bloated, got severe headaches,  gained weight, and I was hungry all of the time.

After years of research and actually putting what I read into play, I realized that living a healthy, active life isn't as hard as people think!  I now am living proof that eating things in their most NATURAL state will get you the results you have always wanted!  All natural products that contain more fat keep you fuller longer.  They are digested very easily in your body; however, products with artificial, and chemically enhanced ingredients will take longer to digest and will almost always cause a side effect. The WORST part about chemically enhanced products is that they change molecular structures while being digested in your body.  Let's take a look at two things that are running rampant in the food industry.

What is Splenda & Aspartame?

Splenda

is a sugar molecule that is manipulated into three chlorine atoms instead of the normal three hydrogen-oxygen atom.  Natural sugar is a hydrocarbon, but when turned into Splenda it is a man-made chlorocarbon. A chlorocarbon is a compound that contains at least one chlorine atom. The carbon-chlorine atom adversly affects a humans metabolism because our molecular structure is made to digest and metabolize organic, all-natural molecules like oxygen, hydrogen, etc...

Aspartame

is the methyl ester of a phenylalanine/aspartic acid dipeptide.  A methyl ester increases a compounds ability to dissolve in fats, oils, and lipids and reduces its solubility in water.  When aspartame is metabolized into the body it creates multiple by-products, one being phenylalanine.  "Upon ingestion, aspartame breaks down into natural residual components, including aspartic acid, phenylalanine, methanol, and further breakdown products including formaldehyde, formic acid, and a diketopiperazine" (Wikipedia). Aspartame is broken down into methanol in your small intestine, then 40% of the methanol is converted into formaldehyde then formic acid in your body.  These same chemicals are also used to make plastics, explosives, paints and textiles.

Methanol has a HIGH TOXICITY in humans if ingested!!!!

Studies: 

There have not been any long term studies done on Splenda.  Duke did a study on Splenda and discovered a direct link between weight gain and consuming Splenda (Duke Study on Splenda).

The study "Splenda Alters Gut Microflora and Increases Intestinal P-Glycoprotein and Cytochrome P-450 in Male Rats"  determined that digesting Splenda caused the following: 1) good bacteria in your body to SIGNIFICANTLY decrease, 2) fecal pH to increase, and 3) limits the bio-availability of orally administered drugs.  The bio-availability of prescription drugs is when a pill administered orally will have some incomplete absorption in your body; however, Splenda causes prescription drugs bio-availability to be LIMITED meaning that MORE of the drug is being absorbed in your body than is suppose to.  Bio-availability is "one of the essential tools in pharmacokinetics, as bioavailability must be considered when calculating dosages for non-intravenous routes of administration" (Wikipedia).


Some studies show that if you are healthier and have a good digestive tract, then you are MORE prone to absorbing MORE of the aspartame and Splenda chemicals into your system, thus potentially causing more side affects! 

 Side Effects:

There are MANY different side effects from Splenda and/or Aspartame.  Some side effects occur immediately, while others take there time to show up.  Here are just a few that most people experience:

1.  Gastrointestinal problems (nausea, abdominal pain, bloating)
2. Skin allergies (hives, itchy rashes, asthma)
3. Headaches
4. Insomina
5. Dizziness
6. Numbness 
7. Possibly Cancer
8. List of Symptoms sent to FDA 
9. Additional Health Risk Articles

Are there any healthy Sugar substitutes?

Yes, I recommend the following sugars and sugar substitutes:

1. All Natural (Raw), Un-heated, Un-filtered Honey
   
2. Stevia (no calorie sweetener found in NATURE)--I prefer liquid stevia
   
3. All natural Sugar Cane 
4. Agave Nectar

So, should I limit my Splenda/Aspartame Consumption?

I don't think that you should just limit your consumption, I think you should completely eliminate both products from your diet; however, if you feel you do not have any side effects from either product I would suggest you at LEAST MINIMIZE your usage.  

Although Splenda claims to be "from nature," it is nothing even remotely close to being all natural sugar.  Splenda DOES come from sugar, but after scientists chemically enhance the sugar molecule you get nothing more than man-made cholorcarbons.  

After doing my research, I have concluded that FDA is definitely the one to blame for the above products being on the market.  Along with false advertising and FDA approval, these companies have been able to market products that might be "okay" in small yellow and blue packet doses, but overtime will ultimately cause cancer and health issues.  So, if I were you I would completely eliminate ALL ARTIFICIAL SUGARS from your diet and start living a life that God intended, a life where we eat things FROM NATURE, in there All-natural, non-man-made form!