Artificial sweeteners

How come artificial sweeteners (AFS) get such a bad rap?  They are low calorie and still taste great!

Well AFS are just that, artificial.  I could post many things that are artificial in our diets these days.  It seems that as long as it comes in a box or wrapped or frozen in a box, people want to consume it.  Less cooking, less mess, less wasted time.  Ever put a frozen dinner box in the microwave and get upset because you have to wait 3 mins for it to heat up.  When did we become so absorbed with fast fast fast.  Instant is the word of the day.

Back to AFS...When consumed at any rate, AFS creates inflammation in our bodies.  And you might think, so...I don't feel bad..I must not have that problem.  Problems don't occur over night, it takes several weeks, months and even years for these problems to occur.  Look at the rate of disease and obesity in America today.  Not to pin it solely on AFS, but its a big contributing factor.  AFS is in a lot of products that we eat.  From our canned fruits to our yogurts (low fat, low sugar usually), teas, packaged foods, boxed foods, coffees, and the beloved "natural water sweeteners" that we put in our water to get us to drink more water.  Low calories or NO calories.  That's a win win right!  I don't gain weight and I drink water!  Meanwhile your body is being forced to breakdown tons of chemicals it can't.  Over years, problems develop.  Hair loss, skin blemishes, nail problems, reflux, low blood sugar, high blood sugar (diabetes), just to name a few.   Not that just eating AFS causes all those problems, but when you consume those chemicals on a daily basis, what do you expect your body to do?   You wouldn't put gas in an engine and oil in your gas tank would you?  Maybe putting some diesel fuel in your regular gas tank.  It causes problems and won't run right!  Well, then why would you put all those chemicals that rats can't process in your bodies?

So what can you eat or drink?  If you're reading on a label and it has less than 5 ingredients, its probably a better product, although not always (ahh!).  If you're using canned/jarred products, then find the products that have the least amount of ingredients and stick with that.  This tends to cost more, but whether you pay more for your food now or more for your health later, I believe it all equals out in the end.  Especially when you can enjoy yourself with better health later down the road.  With AFS specifically, try and avoid them at all costs.  Just because something says its "Natural" doesn't mean its good for you.  There's a good chance that the artificial stuff is still in there.   There are no regulations in the food industry for "Natural, or All Natural" .  It's typically a marketing strategy getting you to choose that product over another.  
Start small and look at what you have in your cart.  If you grocery shop and most of your food is in boxes when you get to the check out line, then maybe you should re-evaluate what your eating.