Why Does The FDA Approve Aspartame, But Not Stevia?

February 12, 2008 | 3 Comments

Photo by MR+G
Japan is using the natural sweetener stevia in food and beverage products, while here in the U.S. it is illegal.

I’ve read that the Coca-Cola company has expressed a strong interest in producing drinks with stevia. But they cannot do so because the FDA refuses to approve stevia as a food and beverage ingredient. The FDA states that current information is not sufficient to prove stevia safe as an ingredient in food products. Yet, they continue to allow aspartame to be added to our foods despite the FDA’s own findings that it is unsafe. Some stevia supporters feel the FDA’s agenda is to protect the profits of aspartame. It is their strong belief that the FDA fears products with stevia will harm the sales of products with aspartame. Could there be some truth to this?

Let’s compare the two sweeteners.

Stevia is an all-natural herbal sweetener with virtually no calories. It is much sweeter than sugar and has none of the unhealthy flaws that sugar has. It is low glycemic and will not raise blood sugar levels. It can be consumed by many diabetics, however, please consult your doctor on this issue. Although it has a slight aftertaste, it is a popular natural sugar alternative. Stevia has been thoroughly tested around the world and found to be non-toxic. It has been safely consumed for the past 25 years in Japan. Early studies from the 1980’s did show there was a possibility that stevia caused cancer and infertility. While anything can cause problems when eaten in large amounts, there is currently no compelling evidence that stevia actually causes cancer or infertility when consumed in reasonable quantities. In fact, incidences of cancer in Japan is very low despite the fact that stevia has been used there for over 25 years. Likewise, as far as I can tell, there is no actual evidence in Japan indicating that stevia causes infertility.

Aspartame (aka NutraSweet) is a low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of foods and drinks. It is a dangerous chemical food additive. While NutraSweet claims that aspartame is completely safe, research tells us that it may trigger weight gain, memory loss, anxiety, migraines, birth defects including mental retardation, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Alzheimer’s, brain damage, depression, suicidal tendencies, and even death … just to name a few. Health problems caused by aspartame are commonly misdiagnosed. If you ever go to the doctor with symptoms for which can’t be found a cause, take a look at your diet. Are you consuming aspartame?

Despite the differences between these two sugar alternatives, the FDA has only approved stevia as an ingredient in dietary supplements while aspartame has been approved to be added to any and all foods and drinks. I have to admit, one has got to wonder about the FDA’s credibility here.

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Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Most Popular Articles, Wellness

Eating Disorders: Dying To Be Thin

February 9, 2008 | 2 Comments

Photo by Pluotsyum’s
How thin is too thin?

My teenage daughter wears a size 0. She doesn’t have an eating disorder. She’s always been skinny, yet she satisfies a big appetite. I recall her as a toddler and doctors wanting to run tests because she was below the average. The test results always showed her to be a healthy girl. My daughter is just small for her age. Yes, I know. That’s a common excuse among the anorexic. But as long as she is healthy and happy, the doctors told me, I shouldn’t worry about her. And I don’t.

But the last time I went clothes shopping with her, I was blown away by the new sizes they now have for young girls. While size 0 used to be the smallest size in young women’s clothing, they now carry -0, -1, and -2. Who could possibly wear these, I thought. I believe these negative sizes are giving girls negative thoughts. With so many wafer-thin supermodels already impressing upon young girls that it is important to look like them, our stores are now in a sense confirming that fact by providing the negative sized clothing. Keep on reading.

The new ~~holocaust~~ eating disorder.

We’ve all heard of anorexia and bulimia. But the popular eating disorder now is called “pro ana” and “thinspo” (short for thin inspiration). I say popular because it is in fact just that. “Pro ana” stands for pro anorexia. It is a movement consisting of mostly young women who starve themselves to the point that one can see the definition of their ribs. They flaunt their disorder by sharing pictures of themselves on the Internet. And they strongly encourage others to do the same. They make comments such as, “I’d rather die than be fat,” and, “Size zero equals perfection.” They completely disregard the risks they are facing.

But severe weight loss results in severe health problems.

For anyone reading this whose goal is to achieve extreme weight loss, imagine living with:

brain and nerve damage
seizures and loss of feeling
heart disease (a common cause of death among anorexics)
constipation and bloating
type 2 diabetes
gallbladder disease
teeth and gum problems

So much for the “perfection” status.

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Technorati Tags: eating disorders, pro ana, thinspo, anorexia, bulimia, dangers of weight loss

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Most Popular Articles, Weight Loss

Whey Protein: The Real Breakfast For Champions

February 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Photo by Mike Baird
Whey protein provides wonderful health benefits, but just how safe is it?

Whey protein is a hot item among athletes, bodybuilders, and people who do high-impact exercise. And for good reason. A supplement mix containing all the essential amino acids, this high-protein powder supports the immune system, builds muscle, burns fat, and increases athlete performance. It has the highest amount of protein for the fewest number of calories. Whey is a great source for cysteine, a major building block of the prostate cancer-fighting agent glutathione. It’s a wallop of wellness in one convenient source.

Many athletes drink whey in place of breakfast. A healthy option, as long as they are choosy about which whey they drink. But it stuns me that while these athletes appear to be concerned about their health, several of them have no idea what ingredients whey supplements contain. Many protein powders contain toxic ingredients such as aspartame, sucralose, fructose, and artificial flavors and colors. They are sweetened with chemicals known to cause serious health problems. Aspartame, originally discovered as an ulcer drug, breaks down into the chemical compound formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, when ingested, causes damage to the optic nerve, brain cells, and nerve cells which control body movement. It has been linked to migraine headaches (which I can attest to), muscle tremors, vision problems, and mental confusion. Sucralose is not as dangerous as aspartame. Still, it is an artificial sweetener that causes migraines and it is believed that long-term use could cause serious health problems.

Are there any safe whey protein powders?

Definitely! They just are not as numerous. Look for whey that contains no added sugar and no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners. A good sweetener alternative is stevia, a natural herb that contains no calories and does not affect blood sugar levels. Also look for whey that is certified free of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). I recommend whey sold at MyNutritionStore.com. They carry hydrolyzed whey (most digestible whey, leads to better absorption) with none of the bad ingredients mentioned but do contain these important ingredients:

Whey peptides - for faster protein absorption
Lactoferrin and immunoglobins - support immune system and recovery from physical stress.
Bovine serum albumin- contains cysteine, a necessary ingredient that is often destroyed in other products during heat processing.

How to drink it.

Follow the instructions on the container or spiff it up a bit by making a smoothie with milk, yogurt, or ice cream and your favorite fruits. It’s not only for breakfast either. You can drink it any time of the day, although some people claim whey is most effective before a workout. Here is a good recipe from The Abs Diet:

Belly-Bursting Berry

1 scoop low-fat vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup each frozen blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1 tablespoon vanilla whey protein powder
3 ice cubes

Interesting facts:

Ricotta is a great source for whey protein.
Mothers’ breast milk contains 60% whey protein and 40% casein protein, making breast milk the best source of nutrition for a newborn.

Technorati Tags: whey, protein, benefits of whey, wellness, weight loss, fitness, artificial sweeteners, breast milk, Abs Diet

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Fitness, Most Popular Articles, Weight Loss, Wellness

Should We Kill The Carbs?

February 1, 2008 | 2 Comments

Photo by Al-Fassam
Carbohydrates. Either you love ‘em or you hate ‘em.

As I read various blogs on the topics of good health and dieting, I find that some claim all carbs should be avoided in order to maintain weight while others claim carbs are essential for good health. The Atkins Diet is probably ringing a bell right now. So in this post, I want to share with you the scoop on carbs, from both sides … the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is, my take from what I’ve learned.

The good.

We’ve all learned it. In order to maintain good health we need to eat all the proper nutrients: water, protein, fats, and even carbohydrates. Carbohydrate-rich foods contain vital nutrients important for disease prevention, plus carbs supply the body with energy and, therefore, should not be avoided. But not all carbs are the same. There are two types of carbs. There are simple carbs, which are digested quickly and include fructose, sucrose, and lactose. We get a lot of simple carbs through processed foods such as soda and cookies. These foods have few nutrients but lots of calories. And then there are complex carbs, which take longer to digest and contain fiber and starch. Examples of complex carbs are legumes, whole grains, and many vegetables. According to Wellness Magazine, “Both simple and complex carbs are converted to blood glucose, which fuels our body’s cells and is the only source of energy for the brain.” That statement alone explains why carbs are essential to our health.

The bad.

Now for the bad, and it can be really bad. The amount of carbs we consume can go way over the body’s energy needs, and when that happens it is stored as fat. When too many carbs are consumed, blood glucose is raised and the pancreas releases insulin so as to lower the glucose level. When insulin is released, it promotes the accumulation of fat. That is why so many people have difficulty losing weight and why they are at risk for diabetes. On top of all of this, excess insulin stimulates the liver to make more cholesterol.

In addition, if you are doing high intensity sports or exercising, a low-carb diet could be a bad choice. You will feel lethargic if you don’t have enough carbohydrates stored up since they are your body’s main energy source.

The ugly.

Many foods that are high in carbohydrates taste wonderful! Just take a look at the picture above. The food in the picture doesn’t look ugly, but the damage it can do to one’s body when consumed in large amounts sure can be ugly. We need to differentiate the good carbs from the bad carbs and stay away from the bad. Even with the good carbs, we must learn to eat in smaller portions. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Things to remember when you grocery shop.

Choose only good carbs and keep the servings small. Eating complex carbs, which are digested more slowly and are higher in fiber, will prevent blood sugar from spiking.
Look for whole grain foods such as oats, whole wheat, and brown rice. These foods are more nutritious than say french fries or white bread.
Eat more beans and vegetables. These foods have fiber with many health benefits.
Read the label and look for the fiber content. The higher the fiber, the better. Also remember that “low carb” on a label doesn’t always mean what it says. The FDA has not yet provided a definition for low carb. A low carb message on a package does not necessarily mean it is nutritious or lower in calories.
Skip processed foods which tend to be lower in fiber. These are usually flour products which can raise blood sugar levels quickly.

One good website to check out is the Home of the Glycemic Index. The GI is a numerical system that measures the rise in blood sugar triggered by eating carbohydrates. The higher the number, the greater the spike in blood sugar. Another good site is GoodCarbs.org, which provides a simple guide to eating the right carbohydrates for health and weight loss.

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Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Most Popular Articles, Weight Loss, Wellness

Lybrel: Freedom From The Dreaded Curse?

January 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Photo by Dusdin
Some women feel menstrual suppression liberates women. Others feel it is a threat to womanhood.

In July 2007, Lybrel entered the market as the first oral contraceptive designed not only to prevent pregnancy, but also to eliminate periods. And with this new pill, many women yelled, “freedom!”

The use of oral contraception to prevent menstruation has been around for a long time. But in the past it was kept quiet and only recommended to women who had unbearable menstrual pain or other health issues. But according to Natural Resources Magazine, doctors are saying that they are receiving Lybrel inquiries from young women with reasons ranging from camping trips to being sexually active. So, have we entered the era of no periods?

Some women see menstruation as a sign of good health and an important part of womanhood. It is natural and it shouldn’t be messed with. But others see it very differently. In fact, it is quite the controversy and women seem to be divided on the issue. We now have TV ads implying that periods are bad, disabling, and most importantly, unnecessary unless you are planning to have a baby. We are told not to worry though as we can stop them and finally be freed from the dreaded curse, thanks to Lybrel.

Things every woman should know before taking Lybrel.

First, I’ll state the benefits Lybrel provides. Lybrel prevents unwanted pregnancies and it stops menstruation which can be quite painful for some and simply quite bothersome for others. Women can take Lybrel for the sake of convenience when vacations and honeymoons are being planned. And I cannot leave out that taking contraceptive pills, even the conventional kind, decreases the risk of ovarian cancer by 40 percent.

But it is just as important to know the risks as it is to know the benefits. The risks which we know about are the ones that come with all birth control pills. Mainly, estrogen levels in contraceptive pills can be four times higher than the levels during a regular menstrual cycle. And research shows that as a result of these higher levels, women taking the pill double their risk for strokes and heart attacks. The pill has also been linked to depression and cervical cancer.

There could be long-term risks that we do not yet know about.

With continual-use pills, such as Lybrel, being on the rise, there is the possibility that we will start seeing an increase in risks. Leading concerns include,

Women taking these new pills may have significant bone loss compared to women not taking the pills.
There may be more estrogen than the breast tissue can handle.
Some doctors feel that bleeding cleanses a woman’s body of harmful elements. Menstrual suppression may prevent the cleansing of precancerous cells in the uterine lining.

Only time will tell, of course. And whether research proves that menstrual suppression is safe or dangerous, either way, Lybrel is bound to teach us more about the health benefits of a menstrual cycle.

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Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Most Popular Articles, Wellness, Women's Health