It’s Sodapressing!

Posted by: Janet on: June 15th, 2006  »  2 comments

I’m not a big fan of diet pop… or artificial sweeteners, to be more precise. Sorry. I used to be, believe me. But now that I’m older and wiser, I just can’t seem to stomach the stuff. There are so many dark clouds surrounding aspartame, Splenda, saccharin and the other fake sugars, I’d rather not be a human guinea pig while scientific researchers figure out what’s okay and what isn’t. Besides all of the neurological implications and accusations revolving around aspartame use (the stuff we read on the internet about headaches, dizziness, MS symptoms, etc.) the latest thing that science is trying to figure out is whether or not long-term use of aspartame is causing cancer. Great! I used to drink buckets of Tab Cola as part of my teenage weight loss plan back in high school. (That, along with cheese popcorn would be my typical menu for a day. Apparently, Madonna was following this Cheese Popcorn and Diet Pop Diet in the 80′s, so I figured it would work for me. I still can’t dance or sing, so I guess it didn’t work.) Let’s face it, those artificial sweeteners are just another juicy, unnatural chemical concoction that your liver has to figure out how to handle and get rid of. Toxic stuff in=toxic cells, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they dig up even more bad news.

Personally, I try to limit the amount of fake sugars I eat. Actually, I’m kind of at the “avoid” stage, to be honest. I’m not a super-radical kind of person, it’s just that I have too much doubt about their long-term safety. Another problem I have with sugar substitutes is that they encourage people to eat make junky sweets and processed diet food a regular part of their everyday life. You end up with Splenda in your morning coffee (and your yogurt), aspartame in the soda you have at lunch time, more sucralose in the energy bar you snack on, then more in the piece of sugar-free gum you chew, and then another dose in the ice cream you have for dessert. Next thing you’re up to your arm pits in fake sweeteners. And it’s just too much, if you ask me. Okay, a little’s not going to hurt. I’m sure it’s fine. Our bodies are very resilient, after all. But that much day in and day out? I’m not sure, and neither are scientists, so why risk it? Not to mention that these fake, manufactured diet foods are replacing the “real” food that we should be eating for optimum health and wellbeing: fruits, vegetables and all the other goods manufactured by Mother Nature.

Strictly from a weight-loss point of view, it seems that diet pop and other sources of fake sugars might actually be helping us to pack on the pounds! Recent studies show that artificial sweeteners can spur our appetites and boost insulin, the nasty fat-storage hormone. Who’da thunk? Studies are also finding that people who drink beverages loaded with artificial sweeteners may actually develop cravings for real sugar, leading them to pig out on Snickers Bars and Boston Cream donuts later. Regular use of sugar substitutes can change your perception of what’s sweet, making you crave more and more sugar in order to be satisfied. Some weight-loss aid, huh? Plus, preliminary studies at Purdue University show that consistently munching on sugar-free diet foods made with artificial sweeteners could inhibit the brain’s ability to regulate calorie intake. So later, when you inevitably chow down on regular, non-diet foods, you may tend to overeat.

If you want a treat, it’s better to skip faux foods and savor a SMALL portion of the real thing. Your best bet, actually, is to develop less of a taste for sweets in general, and view them as occasional, special treats. They’re not something we should be having every single day. And I’m afraid that’s what artificial sweeteners encourage us to do. If you’re a diet popaholic, limit yourself to one a day, okay?

It’s all about moderation, moderation, moderation. When it comes to sweets—real or artificial—just remember the famous saying by Confucius: He who have too much sweet, have too much seat!

Comments (2)

  1. Reply

    Patty | June 15, 2006 at 3:32 pm →

    Janet,

    I totally agree. Actually, it was my husband who convinced me to eliminate artificial sweeteners. I was annoyed at first, but it really did make sense. Interestingly enough, I have found tons of “healthy” recipes that uise artificial sweeteners. I appreciate your blogs and books, becaue they have reminded me that there is sooo much more to a healthy diet than just limiting calories. I have often been guilty of eating diet foods instead of the fruits, veggies and whole grains I should have. Thanks for the reminder that we should limit sweets. That is a really hard one for me, but I’m working on it.

    Patty

  2. Reply

    Sandy | June 16, 2006 at 2:13 pm →

    I think you’re right in your assertion that too much of anything probably isn’t good for you. But I also agree with you that sweetener consumption in moderation is okay. You’re right that our bodies are resilient, and often can withstand a lot of stresses, pressures, and outside chemicals. I don’t think that we should swallow gallons of the stuff, but I also don’t think we should go running for the hills if there is an artificial sweetener listed as an ingredient in a product. I’m gonna stick with having a little bit of diet soda now and then…I really think I’ll be okay…

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