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For each study
that claims artificial sweeteners are safe (mostly conducted by the FDA
or producers of the sweetener), there is another one (mostly
independent) claiming that they're dangerous, and vice versa. So what
it all boils down to, is that you have to make up your own mind. If you
do decide to consume artificial sweeteners, we advise you to use common sense,
and do so
sparingly!
Let's have a look at some of the most common issues that over the years
have been linked to the use of the artificial sweeteners approved by
the FDA - splenda
side effects, and the countless dangers
of aspartame, saccharin
and acesulfame K: all of these have been the topic of a lot of debate
and investigation. If you are sensitive in any way to any of the
problems described below, you should consider switching to a natural
sugar substitute.
 Although
artificial sweeteners are used in
"light", "diet" or "low
calorie" products, they trick the brain into thinking that consuming
sweet tasting food and drinks is okay. They throw the human body's
natural ability to count calories off balance, thus stimulating
cravings. Stevia is known to suppress
cravings despite its sweet taste,
and is considered a safe and natural sugar alternative.
This is the
most common side effect of them all.
Both independent
studies and consumer complaints have associated artificial sweeteners
with an increased frequency of migraine
attacks. The headaches suddenly
stopped after renouncing the artificial sweeteners. So did allergic
reactions such as skin rashes and the formation of zits and boils.
- Depression and
panic
attacks:
For people who
are sensitive to depression and
panic attacks,
artificial sweeteners are particularly dangerous. They invoke mood
swings, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest and
muscles, and
other symptoms linked to anxiety. A study on aspartame and depression
had to be cut short because the side effects on the subjects were too
severe.
- Gastro-intestinal
disorders:
As with sugar
alcohols, this is a common
complaint about artificial
sweeteners, especially sucralose which has the toxic substance chlorine
added to it. Symptoms include bloating,
gas, and diarrhea.
It's very
difficult to conclusively assign
long-term illnesses such as
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and carcinogenic traits to the use of
artificial sweeteners. So many studies have been conducted trying to
link the dangers of artificial sweeteners to cancer, that it has become
hard to see the forest for the trees. Studies funded by aspartame
producing companies refute all the dangers associated with their
product, while independent studies often point out that artificial
sweeteners can definitely be tied to malign side effects in the long
run.
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