CHEMICAL SWEETENERS
Chemical sweeteners used as sugar substitutes do not aid in weight loss, in fact there is evidence that they cause weight gain.
Equal, Nutrasweet or Spoonful (Aspartame) - AVOID
Recent studies in Europe show that aspartame use can result in an accumulation of formaldehyde in the brain, which can damage your central nervous system and immune system and cause genetic trauma.
Aspartame breaks down into methanol (wood alcohol).
Methanol quickly converts to formadehyde in the body.
Formaldehyde causes gradual and eventually severe damage to the neurological system, immune system and causes permanent genetic damage at extremely low doses.
Aspartame, considered even worse than refined sugar, has been linked with MS, lupus, fibromyalgia and other central nervous disorders as listed below.
Possible side effects of aspartame include:
seizures and convulsions
dizziness
tremors
migraines and severe headaches (Trigger or Cause From Chronic Intake)
memory loss (common toxicity effects)
slurring of speech
confusion
numbness or tingling of extremities
chronic fatigue
depression
insomnia
irritability
panic attacks (common aspartame toxicity reaction)
marked personality changes
phobias
rapid heart beat, tachycardia (another frequent reaction)
asthma
chest pains
hypertension (high blood pressure)
nausea or vomitting
diarrhea
abdominal pain
swallowing pain
itching
hives / urticaria
other allergic reactions
blood sugar control problems (e.g., hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia)
menstrual cramps and other menstraul problems or changes
impotency and sexual problems
food cravings
weight gain
hair loss
burning urination & other urination problems
excessive thirst or excessive hunger
bloating, edema (fluid retention)
infection susceptibility
joint pain
brain cancer (Pre-approval studies in animals)
death
It may also contribute to male infertility.
Aspartame Disease has been shown to mimic or worsen symptoms in the following diseases:
fibromyalgia
arthritis
multiple sclerosis (MS)
parkinson's disease
lupus
multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)
diabetes and diabetic Complications
epilepsy
alzheimer's disease
birth defects
chronic fatigue syndrome
lymphoma
lyme disease
attention deficit disorder (ADD and ADHD)
panic disorder
depression and other psychological disorders
To avoid purchasing products that contain Aspartame, read the label and watch for the words aspartame or neotame.
Note: Neotame is a newer sweetener, with a structure similar to Aspartame, perhaps more toxic than Aspartame. Neotame is 8,000 times sweeter than sugar.
To learn more about the dangers of Aspartame visit the Aspartame Toxicity Information Center at
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
Splenda, (sucralose) AVOID
The advertising for this product is very misleading. Although sucralose may start out using sugar, the chemical transformation used creates a product that the body does not recognize as food.
Splenda is not a natural substance, it is an artificial chemical sweetener manufactured by adding three chlorine atoms to a sugar molecule.
There have been no long-term human studies on Splenda to determine the potential health effects on people, no one can say with certainty that the substance is safe to eat.
Some of the common side effects of Splenda include skin rashes/flushing, panic like agitation, dizziness, numbness, diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues and stomach pain. If you suffer any of these symptoms avoid all use of this product to test if the symptoms continue.
Short-term studies showed that sucralose caused shrunken thymus glands and enlarged livers and kidneys in rodents.
Sweet’N Low, Sugar Twin, Sweet’N Low Brown, Necta Sweet (Saccharin) – AVOID
Chemical sweetener derived from coal tar has been approved by the FDA, but studies link this product to bladder cancer.
Replace with:
Stevia
Agave
Rice Syrup
Date Paste
Fruit Juice Concentrates
Barley Malt Syrup
Honey
To learn more about the natural, recommended sweeteners please refer to the page on
Refined Sugar
Return from Chemical Sweeteners to Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis Home Page
This information is not designed as or intended to be used as medical diagnosis or advice. Patients should consult their physicians about diagnosis and treatment
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