Splenda. With reputations of aspartame and acesulfame potassium somewhat tarnished, it was ripe for a new kid on block: enter sucralose. It was discovered quite by accident by graduate student Shashikant Phadnis at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, while researching ways to use sucrose in chemical formations, in 1976. It was approved by Health Canada in 1991 and by US FDA in 1999. British Sugar Company Tate & Lyle collaborated with Johnson & Johnson (J&J), in 1980, to create an artificial sweetener from chlorinated sucrose through Johnson & Johnson subsidiary McNeil Specialty Products. The FDA’s own studies indicate that sucralose can cause lymphatic cell mutations in mice; nevertheless, FDA gave full approval to Splenda in 1999. It is promoted by J&J “as a calorie-free, carbohydrate-free sweetener that is save for diabetics, children and pregnant women” as it “does not break down body but, like others before it, passes harmlessly through body. Both FDA and independent Japanese research contradict that claim, however, and show that up to 40 percent of consumed sucralose is absorbed by body and with an undetermined amount concentrating in liver, kidneys and/or gastro-intestinal tract. Further independent research on rats, mice and rabbits demonstrates liver and kidney enlargement as well as structural irregularities of colon. Other animal research reveals that sucralose can cause up to 40 percent shrinkage of thymus gland, a decreased red blood cell count, reduced fetal weight and growth rate, genetic damage and birth defects. The FDA has stated that “aside from any direct toxicity from sucralose itself, it may also contain trace amounts of heavy metals, arsenic, methanol and other chlorinated saccharides (sugars) but that these contaminants are considered acceptable within current manufacturing guidelines.” It is available in Canada and USA under names sucralose and Splenda.

Alternatives. As otherwise noted, unrefined cane sugar is available with a little bit of effort and is a healthy, viable option, although it is not low-calorie. Other wholesome alternatives are organic rapadura or sucanat sugar, unrefined sugar cane juices that retain their naturally occurring nutrients and full flavor. Another is organic and mineral rich molasses, which stimulates release of serotonin. Grade C organic maple syrup contains vitamins and minerals. Raw organic honey contains protein and B complex (raw honey should not be given to young children). Finally, organic grain syrups such as barley or rice retain up to half of original whole grain nutrients.

The major problem with these wholesome, natural and very healthful alternatives is that they are naturally occurring and thus can never be patented. There thus is no incentive for drug and/or chemical companies to market these items; so search for “patents and profits from unsuspecting public” goes on….and on…..and on. The worst part of this? We are now into our 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st generation of observing and documenting what is happening to human beings because of these “harmless, non-nutrient, zero calorie” sugar substitutes. We have documented birth defects and DNA alterations. What does future hold, 1-2-3 generations into our future, for more distant results of obviously widespread, albeit minor, genetic alterations and birth defects? How healthy are your great grandchildren going to be? What are they going to look like with DNA alterations as well as birth defects? What are long-term ramifications for human race? Don’t you believe its time to make a healthy decision for you and your children and grandchildren? As a closing thought, it is already proven that there are, at very least, digestive problems with genetically modified grains. Where will this all end?

References: http://www.splendatruth.com/index.htm http://www.aspartame.org/index.html http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/ http://www.earthrenewal.org/saccharin.htm http://www.cspinet.org/new/saccharin_labeling.html http://www.caloriecontrol.org/cyclam2.html http://www.westonprice.org http://www.alive.com/intro.html http://www.xylitol.org http://www.thewolfeclinic.com http://www.finlandiapharmacy.com

Disclaimer: This article in no way should be taken as “medical advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a source of information upon which you may base your decision as to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a “greens” product as a dietary supplement.

If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a possible different opinion. The author does not bear any responsibility for your decisions nor for outcome of your actions based upon those decisions.

This article may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is copied complete with all links and text, including Authors Resource Box, intact and unchanged except for minor improvements such as misspellings and typos.

They were in fact so mild that I put them off as pseudo strokes and never saw a physician. What we did notice, my wife and I, was that my memory for words and names – of people, places and things including name of street I lived on – was very obviously getting worse over that summer. And in August, reading an article in Reader's Digest, I realized that I had actually had two very mild strokes.

So use of refined sugars can help bring on either an obese condition with all health risks pertaining thereto, or diabetes, or both. Killing you slowly. Aspartame can, over a very long period of time (I compare it to smoking) bring on cancer and then kill you, painfully and not quite slowly. Or, if you are like me, allergic, it could in a very short period of time cause a stroke or heart attack and lead to mild to more serious physical impairment including becoming a total cripple. Or death.

So what's my bottom line here? I limit my sugar intake. And I avoid with a passion any and all encounters with everything containing aspartame. You probably should too. And what should your "bottom line" be? Wellllllll, that's purely up to you. But I'd suggest, if you are not diabetic you should choose to avoid all aspartame/sucaryl sweetened products like plague. And cut down on your refined sugar intake as well. See: Artificial Sweeteners: The Real Skinny before you make your final decision on sweeteners.

Disclaimer: This article in no way should be taken as “medical advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a source of information upon which you may base your decision as to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a “greens” product as a dietary supplement.

If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a possible different opinion. The author does not bear any responsibility for your decisions nor for outcome of your actions based upon those decisions.

This article may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is copied complete with all links and text, including Authors Resource Box, intact and unchanged except for minor improvements such as misspellings and typos.