Somehow someone somewhere came up with the concept that eating sugar was not a healthy idea. But people love sweeteners, so if someone could could invent a sweetener that didn't have the calories of sugar, then a whole bunch of money could be made. All they had to do was convince the FDA and the public this was a good idea.

Well this has been a great financial success for a handful of companies. There are a number of artificial sweeteners in our food chain today. There is only one problem, these chemicals are not safe to use.

By the way, adding sugar to your foods is also a real bad idea in itself.

We have listed out the major artificial sweeteners and information about each. Do your self and your loved ones a huge favor and read this information. Word of caution: READ the packages of things you eat or drink. This stuff is everywhere. Get this out of your diet and protect your children from it.

ASPARTAME

200 times sweeter than sugar
Found in diet sodas, chewing gum, cereal, children's vitamin tablets, baby foods, diet foods,
low calorie foods, candies, juices, etc., etc.....

	Brand names include NutraSweet,  Equal, Spoonful
	Found in other artificial sweeteners
	When ingested, aspartame is converted in the body to methanol and two amino acids- aspartic acid and phenylalanine
	Adverse reactions include in part: cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, brain defects, non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, hyperactivity in children epileptic seizures, migraines, severe depression, high blood pressure, low blood sugar,
	May trigger, mimic, or cause - among other illnesses: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,  Epstein-Barr, Grave’s Disease, ALS, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
	When the FDA first approved aspartame it had the warning that aspartame should not be heated or used in cooking. This is because heating aspartame over 86F turns the methanol into formaldehyde. It is very easy to find many studies that discuss the damaging effects of formaldehyde on the human body.
	More information on Aspartame.....

SACCHARIN

	200-700 times sweeter than sugar
	Brand names include Sweet'N'Low, Sweet Twin, Necta Sweet
	Found in baked goods, soft drinks, jams, chewing gum........

Acesulfame-K (potassium)

	200 times sweeter than sugar
	Brand names include Sunett and Sweet One
	Found in beverages, baked goods, frozen desserts, candies, beverages, cough drops, breath mints.......

Neotame

	7,000/13,000 times sweeter than sugar
	General purpose sweetener
	Found in baked goods, soft drinks, chewing gum, frosting, frozen desserts, jams, jellies, gelatins, puddings, processed fruit and fruit juices, toppings, and syrups.

SUCROSE

	600 times sweeter than sugar
	Brand name  Splenda
	Sucrose - advertised as the most "popular and safe" sweetener  used has a story of its own. As of 2005, only six human trials have been conducted on Splenda (sucralose). Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. only 36 people were tested - 23 using Splenda - the rest a placebo. The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance. Children and pregnant women were never tested. Sucralose (Splenda) starts off as a sugar molecule. However, it is what goes on in the factory that concerns us. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. In the five-step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine atoms are added to a sucrose or sugar molecule. A sucrose molecule is a disaccharide that contains two single sugars bound together: glucose and fructose. This chemical process  alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is converted to a chlorinated fructo-galactose molecule by their patented process. This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature and therefore your body does not possess the ability to metabolize it properly. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes a claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, making it have zero calories. It is not that Splenda naturally has zero calories. If your body had the capacity to metabolize it, then it would no longer have zero calories. Your body does not digest Splenda! The entire issue of long-term safety has never been established. Let’s look at the facts again:
	There have only been six human trials to date
	The longest trial lasted three months
	Only an average of 15% of Splenda is not excreted from the tested people’s bodies in a timely manner

Considering that Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT (both are organochlorines) than it does to sugar, are you willing to bet your health on this data? Remember that fat-soluble substances, such as DDT, can remain in your fat for decades and devastate your health.    Read More

SUGAR
We can't have a sweetener page without mentioning the initial culprit - sugar.
The average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week, which is not surprising considering that highly refined sugars in the forms of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are being processed into so many foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and a plethora of microwave meals.
In the last 20 years, we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. 26 pounds to 135 lbs. of sugar per person per year! Prior to the turn of this century (1887-1890), the average consumption was only 5 lbs. per person per year! Cardiovascular disease and cancer was virtually unknown in the early 1900's.
 

Here is a list of ways excess sugar can affect your health:

Sugar can suppress the immune system. Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance. Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children. Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs). Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs). Sugar can cause hypoglycemia. Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection. Sugar can cause kidney damage. Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency. Sugar can cause copper deficiency. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose. Sugar can promote tooth decay. Sugar can produce an acidic stomach. Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease. Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair. Sugar can increase total cholesterol. Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Sugar can contribute to . Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity. Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease. Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure. Sugar causes food allergies. Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children. Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries. Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver. Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney. Sugar can cause depression. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance. Sugar can cause hypertension. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly. Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes. Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets. Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon. (Source: www.nancyappleton.com)        Read More about how excess sugar can affect you.....

Footnote

Dr. Joseph Mercola - http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm
Dr. Janet Hull - http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

Source: Donabee.com