ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: Fattening AND Dangerous??? And DARK CHOC RULES!

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: Fattening AND Dangerous??? And DARK CHOC RULES!

Soooooooooo, if you are sitting in a restaurant and want to sweeten your drink, etc., which colored packet do you choose? 
I hope we ALL know the answer to this one.  Oh, and you will notice one color packet is missing! White, or refined white sugar!  (that is a brown packet on the end!)
Well, the answer is simple, pick the best choice, which for me would be the brown one, which is raw (not just caramel colored white, highly refined sugar) but more in it's natural state, not chemically made, raw sugar. It is definitely the "lesser of the evils,"  smile!

So why not the "sugar free" ones like the Yellow Splenda packet, or Pink Equal or Blue Nutrasweet??? 
Well, in my opinion, there are TWO reasons to avoid them, not just in these packets, but in ALL foods/POP, that have these ingredients that are in the yellow/pink/blue packets!


Theoretically, you may think, I'm trying to keep my weight in control, I don't want to promote diabetes or other disease, and I still enjoy the sweetness that these products give without the calories of white sugar!  But studies are beginning to show, that folks who eat foods/drink pops etc. with these artificial sweeteners are actually GAINING weight overall. Look at the number of people who drink diet pop only to be mildly to overly obese.  And this may be the reason why.


Use of artificial sweeteners may actually be a TRIGGER and have you craving sweets! You get used to liking SWEET foods/SWEET drinks, and so you give into desserts, candy, etc. in addition to your food choices made with the artificial sweeteners. And also, your mind subconsciously says, oh, I've used artificial sweeteners in some things, so I can splurge on the regular (refined sugary things.) My goal is for you NOT to deprive yourself of treats.  But my treats are planned treats, that are NOT made with refined sugars/flours (and mine are gluten free.)  This is important. The more whole/real foods you use, even in making your treats, such as having some dark chocolate not made w/white sugar, you will grow to DISLIKE the sweet sweet taste of both artificial sweeteners AND refined sugar/white flour treats. I PROMISE!  Since artificial sweeteners are nutritionally empty, but carry toxins due to it's synthetic, chemical makeup,  the body has nothing to process, and can only store the chemicals ingested, and does this in your fat cells!!  YIKES!!   Since the body didn't receive REAL food, the brain says, more, more, more food that I can really break down and use!  And you overeat sweets in the end!  That is why artificially sweetened pop drinkers drink more pop even, than regular pop drinkers! 


Also, there are continued studies that these artificial sweeteners can be involved in making unhealthy changes in the brain, as well as the verdict is not in on their relationship to the growth of some cancers, etc.  Remember saccharin, and how the FDA said it was SAFE for decades, until so many cases of cancer were found related to it's usage, and it was banned!  Why would you want to wait until the Pink/Blue/Yellow packeted artificial sugars may end up with the same evidence, which seems to be widely mounting??  And WHY does it say on products with these artificial sweeteners in them, do not eat when PREGNANT? Hmmmmmmm!!!


So think about whether you could begin to use less sugar,  less refined,  super concentrated sugar (like white sugar or high fructose corn syrup, etc.) BUT if it were a choice to me, I'd rather see you use any type regular/real food than these synthetic chemicals!  Try things like agave, evaporated cane juice, stevia, maple sugar granules, etc.  AND as a side note, ending to today's blog, GO FOR THE DARK CHOCOLATE  in your treats for special occasions.  Most Dark Chocolate is wonderfully high antioxidant, actually helps get rid of free radicals, and  has less SO much LESS refined sugar than milk chocolate.  Sorry, milk chocolate has no redeeming value, and I know the transition is an adjustment for you milk chocolate lovers, but try mixing it up, or just going totally dark chocolate! Find one 55% cacao or above that still is to 2die4~~~~~I'll be posting my favorites!

Everything is about moderation, and better food choices when we DO have treats. Think of the type treats you'd get at a FIVE star restaurant. They use real ingredients. Yes it may be decadent, but enjoy it, and go back to your regular healthier eating habits the next day. Don't feel like you are a failure because you ate a less refined/real ingredient treat. If you are truly addicted to sugar, then perhaps, we'll have to give you instructions on how to break that addiction!  I did it! Broke the addiction, and so can you! I will give your recipes for fabulous treats, made with unrefined sugars and non-gluten whole grain flours. And I'll wager, your family and friends will not have a clue they are eating something healthier if you use the right recipes!  In going on this journey with me, yes, I'm happy your clothes will fit better, and that you like the pounds off. But, this is so much more about obtaining OPTIMAL HEALTH and reversing the aging process!  Cheers! And thanks to all who read my blogs! CHEERS! If you have suggestions for recipes, COMMENT!