The article below my suggestions was sent to me this morning & I found it to be interesting, (yet I'm not surprised by the findings within the content). As a natural health enthusiast and formerly working in alternative health, we advised against this "food" from the onset. It is unfortunate however, that for the most part people continue to be deceived into thinking this product was & is o.k. even when many in my former field released information and studies showing these side effects and more.
My grandmother used to say "a story can always sound good from one side, its important to get the other side as well so you can make informed decisions".
Miss Yna
So, what are the alternatives?
There are many (if you just have to have something sweet)
- Whole organic fruits - nothin' beats the desserts God created!
- Stevia - comes in liquid or powder or the leaves. (using the leaves leave less aftertaste) 0 calories by the way!
- Agave nectar -one of my FAVORITES! Tastes like light honey with a hint of butter! A low glycemic food with little calories.
- Yacon - is a distant relative of the sunflower with edible tubers and leaves.The undigested portion of yacon serves as food for "friendly" bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species, in the colon.Yacon syrup has a strong potential in international markets as an ingredient in diet, diabetes, and colon-related heath food products. (notice it helps the good bacteria unlike splenda)(can be a bit pricey, but, its your health)
- SweetLife - a sweetener made from an ingredient called "Lo Han". In China, Lo Han is commonly used as a beverage and a seasoning, and it has even been declared a "national treasure". Lo Han is 15 times sweeter than sugar, making SweetLIFE a delicious replacement for other less desirable artificial products‡. With no unpleasant aftertaste, zero calories and fat, and less than one gram of sugar (from low-glycemic fructose) per serving, it's perfect for beverages, cereals, meal replacement shakes, yogurt, and all of your favorite baking or cooking recipes‡(this is another one that promotes healthy bacteria in the gut)
- Finally, there's always pure organic cane sugar, but just remember, this form of sweetener is acidic and let's face it, sugar is highly addictive. If you choose to use this one, discipline in its use is certainly a necessity!
Blessings,
In Yashua's Jesus' name
Miss Yna
Chairman of Citizens for Health Declares FDA Should Review Approval of Splenda
New Study of Splenda and Sucralose Reveals Shocking New Information About Potential Harmful Effect on Humans
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James Turner, chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists at Duke University. "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study, published this past week in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A, confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label," said Turner.
Among the results in the study by Drs. Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, Eman M. El-Masry, Ali A. Abdel-Rahman, Roger E. McLendon and Susan S. Schiffman is evidence that, in the animals studied, Splenda reduces the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%, increases the pH level in the intestines, contributes to increases in body weight and affects the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the body in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected. Turner noted that the P-gp effect "could result in crucial medications used in chemotherapy for cancer patients, AIDS treatment and drugs for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines rather than being absorbed by the body as intended."
The study was conducted using male rats over a period of twelve weeks. The manufacturers of Splenda also used a rat study when they applied for and received approval to market the product from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At the time, the findings from their rat studies were extrapolated as to possible effects on humans. This is standard FDA practice and this study is consistent with that practice.
Turner said, "This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda. It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria." Although the effect of consuming Splenda does not result from a one time use, the side effects do occur after accumulated use. Turner also noted unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to the claims of Johnson & Johnson.
Turner announced, "We are calling today on the FDA to immediately accept our petition filed over a year ago and initiate a review of its approval of sucralose and to require a warning label on Splenda packaging cautioning that people who take medications and/or have gastrointestinal problems avoid using Splenda. The new study makes it clear that Splenda can cause you to gain weight and lose the benefits of medications designed to improve and protect your health. The FDA should not continue to turn a blind eye to this health threat."
Citizens for Health will testify in Sacramento, CA, on October 3, 2008, before the California Assembly Committee on Health which is examining the use of deceptive advertising to promote sales of potentially unhealthy food additives, particularly artificial sweeteners.
About Citizens for Health
Citizens for Health (www.citizens.org) is an international non-profit consumer advocacy group working to broaden healthcare options, create an integrative health system based on wellness, and advance the freedom to make health choices. The group promotes the fundamental policies needed to improve health choices and information in the U.S. and internationally. The group works with grassroots and education organizations and partners to ensure consumer access to dietary supplements, safe foods, a healthy environment and a wide range of healing therapies. Citizens for Health fosters active citizen leadership and organizes natural health consumers to create political and legislative solutions that support those rights.
CONTACT: Citizens for Health
Jim Turner
202-255-8040
jim@swankin-turner.com
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