Is your low-calorie sweetener making you fat? Wait, what?How can my low calorie sweetener be making me fat? Isn't that the point? Low calories sweeteners so that I can eat what I want and not get fat? What gives? Diabetics are told by the doctor and dietitians to consume products that are low in sugar. Usually these low- calorie or no sugar products are laced with artificial sweeteners. In fact, we have been led to believe that we can have our sweets and eat them too if we consume those containing artificial sweeteners. We can sweeten our drinks, flavor our water all without guilt because artificial sweeteners keeps our weight in check. I just cringe when I see someone drinking a “diet” soda, or a “no sugar added” food. When I first started dating my husband he drank Diet Coke. I did not care what he was drinking, and I do not judge however, I made it quite clear that if he was going to drink Diet Coke, to switch to plain Coke as it is much better for him than a Diet Coke. This was not so much for the waist-sparing effect rather the brain effect.  How did we become a society that just believes what we read on a label and never question? Why is it we don't ever look past what it says on the label? Is it clever marketing that silently gives sinful permission to indulge? We think to ourselves If a product says “sugar free” or “no sugar added” it must mean that I can’t gain weight, right? I think more than this, if we took the time to look into what the ingredients is, how it made, we probably would not eat. At least if we stay ignorant to the truth and blindly put our faith into the truth of label we are not only given permission but have someone else to blame when something goes wrong. After all, this is much more convenient than spending the time educating ourselves to make our selves better, right? Sadly, I will see someone on the street, let's call her Jane, sucking back her diet sodas with artificial sweeteners, eating the “no sugar added” bonbons and treats, the low-fat diet and her waist-line keeps expanding. I can’t help but think of how Jane must feel when she looks in the mirror. She gets up turns the shower on, slowly undresses, gazes into the mirror looking at the bulges and wonders why this is happening? Jane stares disgustingly at her bulging thighs and thins I am doing everything right and yet I can’t seem to get rid of the bulge. Why me? No guilt, No Pain We have been led to believe that Sucralose and aspartame are the gifts from the heavens taking away our guilt and shame for sinfully lusting after sweet desires. We have been led to believe we can have our sugar-free cake and eat it too. A George Washington University study suggests that we may have been blindly led indeed. According to the study, artificial sweeteners may actually increase a person’s risk of becoming obese. Looking at metabolic syndrome, consumption of low-calorie sweeteners could promote metabolic syndrome and predispose people to prediabetes and diabetes, particularly in individuals with obesity. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors--high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels and abdominal fat--that double the risk of blood vessel and heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes According to the findings of the study "Our stem cell-based studies indicate that low-calorie sweeteners promote additional fat accumulation within cells compared with cells not exposed to these substances, in a dose-dependent fashion--meaning that as the dose of sucralose is increased more cells showed increased fat droplet accumulation," said Sabyasachi Sen, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. "This most likely occurs by increasing glucose entry into cells through increased activity of genes called glucose transporters.” If you are not worried about gaining weight, still be leary. According to the cell culture study, researchers found that sucralose appears to promote oxygen radical accumulation - a highly reactive particles that can cause disease and inflammation inside cells. Most diseases, autoimmune conditions and cancer are an inflammatory state. The underlying cause is inflammation. These oxygen radicals interfere with cell activity and slow down metabolism, which promotes accumulation of fat in the cell. According to the researchers "This provides another explanation of how sucralose may interfere with metabolism.” You CAN have your Sweets and Eat them TOO!I have always advocated that when it comes to eating something sweet at the very least stick to something that is in its natural state, or pretty close to it. Honey, maple syrup and dates are the better choice. And, of course, do not make a daily habit of consuming just sweet things. You have to have balance. A diet of
Having something sweet that is made with nut flours, quality oils and a natural sweetener is by far the better choice to maintain your waist line. Sticking to a Paleo type diet, or low carb diet is the healthier choice in my opinion. I find that when I switch my clients to this type of a lifestyle they can have their paleo cake and eat it too without guilt or detrimental health effects. If you are struggling with your weight, what to eat or just need some guidance, I am here to help. If you need help weaning yourself off of the neurotoxic effects of artificial sweeteners I am a phone call or an email away. I do offer 20 minute free consolation session so that I can learn more about you and how I can coach you to the greatness you envision!
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