A lot of you know that I am pretty much a stickler when it comes to deciding what to drink. The answer is always water and plenty of it. I get asked a lot about drinks particularly, diet drinks, sodas, juices, etc. Everyone wants to drink something else besides water, especially now that summer is here!
Well, I understand that. I drink juice in the morning, so it's not like I don't understand what it is to have a particular fondness for a special beverage. But when it comes to drinking something with a meal, you gotta go for water. And water in-between meals, too. Water itself is a nutrient in that it helps your body run optimally and helps you to absorb the nutrients you've taken via your food. Important stuff, H20.
A brand, spanking new study just came out implicating sodas in weight gain both regular AND diet sodas! Now listen, I know it's summer and I know sodas go on sale in supermarket all the time right now and I know you like them. But bear with me for minute. You have to read these statistics!
The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio ran an eight year study to study the effects of soft drink use. Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, who ran the study, had this shocking statement to say, "What didn't surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity. What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher."
Of the 622 participants all of normal weight at the beginning of the study, about a third became overweight or obese.
For the regular soft drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
*26% for up to ½ can each day *30.4% for ½ to one can each day *32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day *47.2% for more than 2 cans each day.
But look at the increase for diet soft-drink drinkers!
*36% for up to ½ can per day *37.5% for ½ to one can per day *54.5% for 1 to 2 cans per day *57.1% for more than 2 cans each day.
For each can of diet soda consumed, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%!!!
One of the theories of why the difference may have something to do with trying to fool our bodies. We give them the sweet taste of a diet drink, but no calories. Another recent study showed that baby rats when fed artificial sweeteners craved more calories than baby rats fed real sugar.
Fowler says, "If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn't there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered."
She goes on to say, "People think they can just fool the body. But maybe the body isn't fooled. If you are not giving your body those calories you promised it, maybe your body will retaliate by wanting more calories. Some soft drink studies also suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite."
I don't normally do Food for Thought's with research and all that stuffed into them. But this got my attention, big time and felt you would want this info yourself. I hope it helps you make a decision to grab a water next time!
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The use of soybean protein dietary supplements may help reduce high blood pressure, according to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Findings from epidemiologic studies have suggested that blood pressure drops as vegetable protein intake rises. However, the authors note, only a few clinical trials have looked at this association and most have suffered from design issues, such as not enough subjects or not using blood pressure change as the main outcome measure.
To address these problems, Dr. Jiang He, of Tulane University in New Orleans, and colleagues assessed blood pressure changes in 302 adults who were randomly selected to take soybean or inactive carbohydrate supplements for 12 weeks. All of the subjects had slightly high blood pressures.
Compared with subjects who received the carb supplements, soybean-supplemented subjects experienced a significant drop in blood pressure. The net change in blood pressure was most pronounced among subjects with blood pressures of at least 140/90.
These results, the authors conclude, "provide new evidence supporting dietary soybean protein supplementation to prevent and treat" high blood pressure.
In a related editorial, Drs. Jeffrey A. Cutler and Eva Obarzanek of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, comment that the new study provides "another important link between blood pressure and dietary macronutrient intake," but add that further studies are needed before soybean supplements can be recommended to patients with high blood pressure.
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, July 5, 2005.
From Dr. Janet Starr Hull's Health Newsletter, December 2003 Dr. Janet Starr Hull's Health Newsletter
The following interview was conducted with Dr. Janet Starr Hull on the safety of sucralose found in Splenda.
Q: What exactly is Splenda? A: In a simple sentence, you would just as soon have a pesticide in your food as sucralose because sucralose (Splenda) is a chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have long been known for causing organ, genetic, and reproductive damage. It should be no surprise, therefore, that the testing of sucralose reveals that it can cause up to 40 percent shrinkage of the thymus: a gland that is the very foundation of our immune system. Sucralose also causes swelling of the liver and kidneys, and CALCIFICATION of the kidney. Note: if you experience kidney pain, cramping, or an irritated bladder after using sucralose in Splenda, stop use immediately.
Q: So sucralose is not found as a natural compound in nature, like real sugar? A: Absolutely not. No sugar molecule is compounded with chlorine anywhere in nature.
Q: Do you know how it is made in the laboratory? A: I found this information from a statement from the manufacturer, actually. 'Sucralose is made from sugar, but is derived from sucrose (sugar) through a process that selectively substitutes three atoms of chlorine for three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sucrose molecule. No artificial sweetener made in the laboratory is going to be neither natural to the body nor safer than unprocessed sugar', they claim.
People need to stop searching for excuses to eat all the junk food they want without penalty. In the long run, no one benefits from this product but the corporations.
Q: The corporate researchers claim that the chlorine atoms are so tightly bound; they create a molecular structure that is exceptionally stable under extreme pH and temperature conditions. Do you agree? A: They are testing these conditions in lab rats, and these types of corporate studies have forced and 'selective' results, in my opinion. Aspartame research is the proof of this!
Test these chemicals on a child and see how stable it is--but that would be cruel. So, why then do we buy it and give it to our children? I don't buy into manufacturers' claims when it comes to human beings using ANY man-made chemical. Plus, I have learned over the past 25 years of aspartame research to value independent research above that which is funded by corporations.
Q: The corporations say sucralose is safe. A: They said the same thing about aspartame, and look at the rampant disease and obesity taking over America since aspartame was put into the food supply over 20 years ago.
Q: Can sucralose cause cancer? A: Any animal that eats chlorine (especially on a regular basis) is at risk of cancer. The Merk Manuel and OSHA 40 SARA 120 Hazardous Waste Handbook states that chlorine is a carcinogen and emergency procedures should be taken when exposed via swallowing, inhaling, or through the skin.
It all depends upon how much you use and how often, your present and past health status, and the degree of other toxins you are putting inside your body. Good luck with this one .
Q: Sucralose has been thoroughly tested, they claim. Actually they have stated that sucralose is the most tested food additive in history. I quote, " . more than 100 studies on the safety of sucralose designed to meet the highest scientific standards have been conducted and evaluated over the course of 20 years. " A: I don't believe that for a second. They stated verbatim the same thing about aspartame. We are looking at the same scenario in so many ways. As with NutraSweet, no human studies, corporate payrolled researchers, selective result reporting, government involvement and personal financial interests and controlled media. I will say that sucralose is not as dangerous as aspartame.
Q: Splenda is approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar. How can that be? A: As I stated before, the product is a forced product, not a natural sugar the body uses for fuel. People forget that sweetness is a by-product of foods--a bonus so to say. Forced sweetness, revved-up sweetness, and artificial sweetness--all altered foods that are a trap for people to get addicted to the sweeter tastes. People with eating disorders, children who are just learning about food, and people with illnesses are all being 'sold a bill of rubbish' in my opinion.
Q: The manufacturer claims sucralose doesn't react with other substances in the body and is not broken down in the body. A: They claimed the same thing about saccharin, even though I feel saccharin is the only artificial sweetener with true merit. To answer your question, if the body is digesting properly, anything you put into the body will be assimilated. If it happens to be rancid, the stomach will throw it out immediately by vomiting or diarrhea. It is totally out of the realm of biological science to think the body will not immediately attack a toxic chemical. Henceforth, migraines from aspartame and diarrhea from Splenda.
Now, to add a note to this: if the body is fed an indigestible product such as plastic (like in margarine) that it is incapable of dissolving through normal digestion, it will pass through undigested (if it doesn't get stuck in the gall bladder, that is.) So, if sucralose is indigestible due to its laboratory compounding, then we have yet another serious health problem to consider, don't you think?
Technology is great, but we sure don't need to be eating it!
Q: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and government food authority committees and the Health Ministries in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil have confirmed the safety of sucralose. So have the countries of Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, Romania, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China, South Africa, and Tanzania. What do you think of all these countries confirming Splenda's safety? A: The history of aspartame has unfortunately proven that individuals within government agencies cannot and should not be trusted to make such empowering public decisions behind closed doors.
Now, re-read this list of countries . Mexico, Jamaica, Tajikistan and Tanzania? These are the countries in which Splenda is now marketed? (See the final question.) As an international geographer, I can comfortably say that these countries are not nations with the same technology and mass marketing strategies to be compared with the United States. These countries are more concerned with birth control, food staples, hostile take-overs, and drought--not diet sweeteners. Compare apples to apples.
Q: Is sucralose safe for children? A: The manufacturer actually made this statement for disclosure: "One should note, however, that foods made with low-calorie sweeteners are not normally a recommended part of a child's diet, since calories are important to a growing child's body."
Pay attention . Children should not be encouraged to grow up on fake foods. But just like cigarettes and alcohol, do what I say and not what I do? And we wonder why the younger generation is angry, ill, and ridden with ADD/ADHD and diabetes?? How many kids do you see taking a sip of mom or brother's diet cola?
Q: Who manufactures and markets sucralose? A: McNeil Specialty Products Company (MSPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, along with Tate & Lyle PLC, a world leader in sweeteners and starches, all share responsibility for developing and manufacturing sucralose for commercial use. Sucralose is the first product from McNeil Specialty, whose mission is to develop and market innovative food ingredients that help consumers control, maintain and improve their health. Internationally, McNeil Specialty markets sucralose in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East; Tate & Lyle markets sucralose in Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada. Internationally, McNeil Specialty markets sucralose under the name SPLENDAR Brand Sweetener. SPLENDAR is a registered trademark of McNeil Specialty Products Company.
Dr. Joseph Mercola's Comment: This is an excellent interview and one that I encourage you to read carefully if you think Splenda is safe to use. Please note that I do not advise using Splenda. Over three years ago I posted an article describing the dangers of Splenda (sucralose).
Why not use Splenda? Well, research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems such as:
Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage) Enlarged liver and kidneys Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus Increased cecal weight Reduced growth rate Decreased red blood cell count Hyperplasia of the pelvis Extension of the pregnancy period Aborted pregnancy Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights Diarrhea
Nearly every month we receive a report from someone who has had an adverse reaction to Splenda, and you can see many of these reports posted on our site.
I also encourage you to take a look at the links below to get a thorough understanding of the dangers Splenda poses to your health.
This article is also from the Dr. Mercola Website www.mercola.com/2003/nov/8/splenda_da ngers.
This site has been previously mentioned in other posts.
There are many other articles regarding Splenda's dangers if you go to www.google.com and type Splenda Dangers into the search box... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Splenda's Dangers: One Man's Personal Story That You Should Know
Contributed by Steve G. [last name withheld]
I just want to thank you guys, as without your Web site I'd be in the mental ward right now! I'm a big coffee drinker, but my family has a history of diabetes so I decided I should cut out the sugar I add to my coffee.
Well, I switched to using Splenda in my coffee about two months ago. Now I'm no wimp, and I'm not a health nut or anything like that! I'm a former football player, a vice president with a major banking institution and kind of a tough guy. Let me put it this way--the last time I cried was when the Green Bay Packers won the Superbowl!
So, anyway, I was using Splenda and I started getting withdrawn, had trouble focusing, and started to have problems with frustration. Gradually, I became more and more depressed. I thought it was stress or my job, something like that.
Well, last Thursday I completely fell apart! My girlfriend came over and found me crying uncontrollably for no reason, and all I could say was, "I'll be OK." She couldn't get me to move, she couldn't talk me down and I could not tell her what was wrong!
She was shocked as I had never done anything even remotely like this before and so she made me go to the hospital. The doctors there we so concerned about my condition they wanted to check me into the mental-health ward.
Being the way I am I refused but agreed to come back the next day and see a psychiatrist, which I did and he put me on a huge dose of Effexor. That night I was on the Web and for some unknown reason I did a search for Splenda and found the www.mercola.com Web site.
When I read your information on Splenda I was shocked--I simply had no clue! I am now 99.9 percent convinced that my mental health issues were a direct result of using Splenda. I even had the stomach cramps and chest pains that other people have mentioned after using Splenda, but I dismissed them as panic attacks and stress.
So the next morning I got up and had some more Splenda and, low and behold, I started feeling the symptoms of a deepening depression again! It was clearly due to the Splenda, so I tossed it out.
I just want to say thank you. I would love to help get this product off the market! By the way, I missed work because of my ordeal, so I had to tell my boss about my problems and now I have to explain to him that I'm not nuts or having a break down--how embarrassing!
This information regarding Splenda was found on the www.diabeticgourmet.com website...
They have an email forum in which others share information - much like Team21... One lady posted this not too long ago regarding her experience and research regarding Splenda...
<<I am posting this info due to my severe reaction to the horrible sweetener Splenda. The following info on Splenda was obtained from the following website:
In response to the studies about the dangers of saccharin and, more recently, aspartame (NutraSweet), along came Splenda. Splenda is the marketing name for sucralose.
Sucralose is a chlorinated sucrose derivative used as an artificial sweetener. It is sold in packets and in bulk for home use and is used in thousands of products, Splenda is everywhere and, according to reports from our visitors, so are the problems arising from its use.
The problem with Splenda, as it was with aspartame, is that it was rushed to market and through the FDA approval processes without thorough, long-term testing to prove or disprove its potential health hazards. The information is only now being considered by independent organizations and watch groups.
Based upon information supplied to us by our visitors, we note the following possible side effects from consumption of sucralose: * bloating * abdominal pain * gas * nausea * diarrhea * headaches * migraines (severe headaches) * heart palpitations (fluttering) * shortness of breath * depression * dizziness
EDITOR'S NOTE: Although the scientific community is still out on the controversy surrounding sucralose and its potential side effects, a visitor made an interesting observation: Although sucralose is supposed to merely be chlorinated sugar, that means there is a chemical alteration of the sugar. So, by altering the chemical makeup of the sugar, are we still getting something harmless? A terrific example is H2O (water). It is harmless. Add another oxygen atom and you get H2O2. H2O2 is hydrogen pyroxide. That is not harmless. & nbsp; We just thought we'd mention it.
UPDATE 2: We had previously cited information found in the 23 November 1991 article in the New Scientist. We had removed the information when we could not locate the article to confirm our information. Well, we found it.
Although the article points out that no conclusive studies have been done concerning negative effects of sucralose, the following comment from the close of the article is important to note: "The committee and the CSPI also want more data on the mutagenic properties of 1,6- dichlorofructose, a breakdown product of sucralose. Trace amounts of 1,6-dichlorofructose are sometimes found in canned drinks left to stand for several months. John Howlett, the secretary of the SCF, says: 'If they (Tate & Lyle) wanted to get the committee to give its endorsement, they should answer those issues.' "
According to the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory in Oxford, England, "mutagenic" is defined as "A mutagenic agent is one which is capable of causing mutations. It may also (but does not necessarily) act as a carcinogen."
A thorough discussion with your physician is in order if you believe you are suffering ill effects from the use of sucralose or related products. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ I had problems with Splenda. And decongestants cause the same problems as the Splenda. Depression and thoughts of suicide.
* * Increased cecal weight * Reduced growth rate * Decreased red blood cell count * Hyperplasia of the pelvis * Extension of the pregnancy period * Aborted pregnancy * Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights * Diarrhea It is important to recognize that Sucralose is not the safe chemical it is being promoted as. I would advise caution as many have started to report adverse reactions to it. Nearly every month we receive a report from someone who has had an adverse reaction to Splenda, and you can see many of them posted on our site. Interestingly, my position on sucralose has caused junkscience.com to call me a "dubious alternative health guru". I have no problem in the fatally flawed paradigm calling me names for pointing out the truth and remain grateful that the information on this site continues to help people avoid chemicals that will limit them from experiencing their optimal health. It is important to recognize that Sucralose is basically chlorinated table sugar and as such, may have many of the risks of chlorine. In addition, it is contributing to environmental chlorine pollution as well. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found dioxin (a toxic byproduct of chlorine) to be 300,000 times more potent as a carcinogen than DDT Dr. Joseph Mercola
