Artificial Sweeteners Cause Weight Gain, Health & Brain Problems

Today I want to quickly talk about an ingredient that’s found in over 5000+ different products. Something that’s used primarily in “health” products, but ironically – it’s horrible for your health and that’s artificial sweeteners.

These “fake sugars” are:

• Linked to serious health problems
• Cause weight gain
• Neurotoxins to your brain
• Raise insulin levels
• Ironically, they increase your appetite and sugar cravings

Serious Health Problems

Over the past few decades and years, artificial sweeteners have been linked to various serious health problems.

The first artificial sweetener, Saccharin – was invented in 1879 by accident. Yet, it took almost 100 years (1970) before it was revealed that Saccharin was linked to bladder problems.^1,3 With more research, scientists discovered that it also caused urinary, lung, stomach, and reproductive tumors.^4,5

Then came along Aspartame (e.g., NutraSweet® and Equal®), which was linked to blood and brain problems.^1,6

And a few years ago (2002) Sucralose (known as Splenda®) was invented. It took over all the other artificial sweeteners because it tasted better, it was heatable, and “safe”. Unfortunately, new research shows that it’s been linked to blood problems.²

Of course, there are studies that also show no correlations to using these artificial ingredients to health problems, but this always seems to be the case.

Then years later, almost 100 years later in the case of Saccharin, it’s confirmed and it’s usually worse than we thought.

So it’s up to you, but I wouldn’t want to gamble with my health when over and over again it’s been proven that these artificial ingredients will cause health problems and irreversible damage to your body and mind!

Weight Gain

Now, if you don’t care about health, maybe you care about gaining weight since after all, that’s the primary reason people take these fake sugars – to lose weight.

It’s found in diet foods, drinks, snacks, and candy.

But ironically, 8 years of scientific research and data has shown that people who consume these fake sugars, especially in diet drinks, gain weight!⁸

In another study it also showed that the longer you use these ingredients, the more weight you gain.

But there were additional problems — larger waist circumference, as well as a higher incidence of heart problems, metabolic syndrome,  and cardiovascular events.⁹

We don’t know exactly why.

Some speculate that it could be because these fake sugars actually increase your appetite and sugar cravings. Or the fact that they increase your insulin levels, even though you’re not taking in any “calories”. Or because they confuse your metabolism and cause disruptions with various hormones and neurotransmitters such as Leptin (appetite control) and Dopamine (pleasure).

Neurotoxins

Finally, artificial sweeteners are linked to neurological side effects. They are “neurotoxins”. They cause brain and memory problems. ¹⁰ This happens because they disrupt serotonin and dopamine production, as well as receptor sites in your nervous system.¹¹

Natural Alternatives

So my suggestion is that you limit, or best of all, avoid any of these artificial sweeteners. If you want something sweet, try a NATURAL sweetener called Stevia. It’s an herbal extract that’s been used safely in Japan for decades and now it’s gaining a lot of popularity in the US.

You can also try “sugar alcohols”. These end in “ol”, such as xylitol glucitol, sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, glycerol, and lactitol.

They have minimal calories but they do cause stomach discomfort in many people, especially at higher dosages.

Or, if you just want to sweeten your coffee or tea or something, a little bit of regular sugar is just fine.

Remember, nature already has the answers!