"Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly." - Oswald Chambers

Living a health-filled life doesn't have to be complicated! God designed our bodies to be fit, healthy and available for His use.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Truth About Splenda!

This article is titled "New Study..." but I actually came across this about a year ago so it's not really all that new.  But it amazes me how many people are STILL using Splenda, thinking it is making them "healthier"!  And then they can't figure out why the weight just won't come off!  Seriously, people, the ONLY road to true health is by eating what comes from nature!  If you are filling your system with chemicals, you WILL reap the results!  (Wow, that sounds so harsh coming from me!  And I'm always so  nice!  But this is something I'm passionate about!)  BTW, this article came from Dr. Mercola.  If you want to read the personal testimonies he mentions or find other similar articles, go to http://www.mercola.com/

New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects
James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose).

In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines, contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.

The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines, rather than being absorbed by the body.

According to Turner, "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 ... confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label."

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It’s very important to realize that Splenda (sucralose) is actually NOT sugar, despite its marketing slogan “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar”. Rather it’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with aspartame and saccharin, and with detrimental health effects to match.

Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy desserts, fruit juices, and gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.

The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human safety studies, but as you’ll soon find out, out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one was conducted for four days!

There’s overwhelming evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on your body. Previous news has centered mainly around artificial sweeteners’ ability to impair your appetite regulation and leading to weight gain.

For example, it’s been discovered that diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome and, ultimately, heart disease.

However, the study mentioned above, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, found even further disturbing news besides weight gain. Splenda:

• reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
• increases the pH level in your intestines, and
• affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’re on certain medications

They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims.

It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria, as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-organisms, and support your general health. Many people are already deficient in healthy bacteria due to choosing highly processed foods. This is why a high quality probiotic is one of the very few supplements I highly recommend for nearly everyone.

The Diet Fallacy

The belief that consuming artificially sweetened foods and drinks will help you to lose or maintain weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still opting for diet choices for this reason, please understand that you have been sorely misled.

In reality, these diet foods and drinks can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry and ruin your body's ability to control calories. As a matter of fact, it’s been shown that diet soft drinks can double your risk of obesity!

Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:

• Stimulate your appetite
• Increase carbohydrate cravings
• Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar.

Now, I am definitely not a fan of sugar, but if I had to choose between sugar and any artificial sweetener, I would choose sugar, hands down, without question. I strongly believe artificial sweeteners are even more dangerous to your health than an excess of sugar.

The Health Dangers of Splenda

According to James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health:

"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."

The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.com lists a variety of consumer complaints from Splenda consumption, such as:

• Gastrointestinal problems
• Migraines
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Allergic reactions
• Blood sugar increases
• Weight gain

My site also contains a long list of personal testimonials from readers who have suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval!

The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products:

• Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have.
• Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath.
• Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches).
• Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing.
• Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery.
• Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.
• Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering.
• Joints -- Joint pains or aches.
• Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression.

Beware – You Could be Consuming Splenda Without Your Knowledge

You also need to be aware of the fact that although the bulk of Splenda is sold to processed food manufacturers and soft drink bottlers, it could turn up in your medicine as well, as nearly 10 percent of all sucralose is sold to drug companies.

Many times sucralose (Splenda) will not be listed in the drug information, so there simply is no way you would know you are consuming a potentially dangerous artificial sweetener. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above even though you’re avoiding Splenda and other artificial sweeteners, then it may be worth investigating the ingredients of any medications you’re taking as well.

Splenda Has NEVER Been Proven Safe for Human Consumption

As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda. Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption, and the two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects.

36 people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse: only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing, and here is the real kicker -- The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.

Even more shocking, the absorption of Splenda into the human body was studied on a grand total of six men! Based on that one human study, the FDA allowed the findings to be generalized as being representative of the entire human population. Including women, children, the elderly, and those with any chronic illness -- none of whom were ever examined.

The FDA claims they reviewed over 100 studies conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies were on animals. And, those animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as:

• Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day
• Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain lesions at higher doses
• Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.)
• Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the control group
• A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group

Chemically, Splenda is More Similar to DDT Than Sugar

Yes. Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar.

Sucralose is in fact a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. It does start off as a sugar molecule. Then, in a five-step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose (sugar) molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule.

This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature, and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, hence it has zero calories.

But, if you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated from animal studies) you will see that in fact an average of 15 percent of sucralose IS absorbed into your digestive system, and according to this latest study, it is also absorbed into your fat cells.

Unfortunately, if you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may be at HIGHER risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines!

Your Healthiest Alternatives

If you have a craving for sweets, rather than trying to find "healthier" ways to continue indulging in them, it is in your best interest to learn ways to relieve your cravings.

The obvious one would be to stop eating any of the products to begin with. But sweets are powerfully addictive – sugar has even been shown to be more addictive than cocaine. Stevia is a preferable natural substitute, which can be used in making most dishes and drinks.

However, complete avoidance of sweets is often necessary to break your addictive cycle, as your hormones insulin and leptin likely play an important role in your cravings.

Monday, May 23, 2011

It's Time to Cleanse!

So, I posted on my Facebook Accountability Group that I decided to start the Shakeology Cleanse today!  Yep, it's that time again!  I've already gotten some feedback from those of you who want to give it a go as well so I'm reposting the details of the Cleanse here.  For more detailed info on the Science of the Cleanse, you can go back to this post here.  To join in on my Facebook Accountability Group for support and encouragement, email me and I will add you to the group!  Don't have any Shakeology to get started?  Click HERE to order!  I recommend ordering it on Home Direct (autoship) as this way you get free shipping and 2 free gifts and you can always cancel at any time.

So here's the info:

The Cleanse
Essentials
  • 3 Shakeology shakes per day
  • 2 cups of green tea per day
  • 1 or 2 pieces of fruit per day (optional)
  • 1 salad for dinner - can include poultry or fish
  • No dairy or extra sugars (this includes almond and soy milk)
  • Drink 1 to 2 liters of water every day
  • Only use low-fat dressings, and go easy on the salt and/or pepper to taste
  • 2 snacks before/after any of the major meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • Fruit is optional, and it is discouraged (however, some of you will need the calories while others may not)
  • Power-workout participants (those who are already super conditioned) are recommended the higher number of calories
  • For maximum results, do NOT use additives
  • Dinner salad may include WHITE GRILLED PROTEIN - poultry or fish only
Daily Regimen:

1 cup of green tea to start the day

 Breakfast:

 1 scoop Shakeology (140 calories)
 1/2 cup fruit (60-90 calories) - optional
 Ice to taste
 8 to 10 oz. water

 Snack 1 (85 calories):

 1 piece of fruit (apple, pear, orange, banana, mango, etc.)

  Lunch:

1 scoop Shakeology (140 calories)
Ice to taste
8 to 10 oz. water

1 cup of green tea or a detox tea

Snack 2: (you can have the second snack before or after dinner)

1 scoop Shakeology (140 calories)
Ice to taste
8 to 10 oz. water

 Dinner:

 Salad with grilled white fish or poultry (roughly 340 calories)
   - Greens - 3 servings of vegetables, plus 4 oz. of grilled white meat (fish or poultry)
   - 2 tablespoons of dressing - no more!
   - poultry or fish only

There you have it - the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. Feel free to email me at coachsueann@yahoo.com if you have any questions or if you would like me to mail you a sample of Shakeology (specify flavor - Chocolate or Greenberry).

Sunday, May 22, 2011

What Are You Doing For Your Health TODAY?

So, what ARE you doing for your health today?  If you're one of the many who put exercise or eating healthy on their 'to-do list' for tomorrow, it's time to make some changes TODAY!  Here's a few small changes to get you started:
  • Determine your motivation!  Summer is practically here!  That's a perfect motivation right there.  Or how about, "I want to feel better and be more physically able to care for my family!"  Another great motivation. 
  • Cut out sodas or any other sugary drink!  Drink water!  I know, you may, "YUCK!"  Believe it or not, after a couple of weeks of drinking ONLY water, you will find you actually LIKE it and lose the taste for the other stuff.  Give it a try!
  • Get rid of the artificial sweeteners as well!  Don't get me started on this one!  They are BAD for you - probably even worse than sugar!  These are chemicals!  Even Splenda is on my bad list - I'll try to post more on this later.
  • Get outside and MOVE!  Take a walk, go for a light run or a swim, play a game outside with your kids (or ask to borrow someone else's kids if you don't have any -  you'll have fun and the parents will thank you for giving them a break for a little bit!)
  • Eat your meats grilled or broiled, NOT fried!  Hey, want to know what happens when you consistently down all that grease and junk?  Google unhealthy heart images or heart disease images and see what you come up with! 
  • Eat those fruits and veggies!!!!  Raw is best!  Again, it's an acquired taste - if you cut out the sugary and salty foods and replace with fresh fruits and veggies, it won't be long before you lose the cravings for the bad stuff and start to crave the good stuff.
  • Try to get some stretching in every day!  Yoga or pilates is great - start with some running in place or jumping jacks to get your muscles warms and then do some stretching along with deep breathing.  You'd be surprised at the energy it will give you and over time your flexibility will improve as will your posture.
If you need help getting started with exercise or eating healthy or just need a push to take things up a notch, I'm here to help you!  I can coach  you for FREE so just email me for more info or click HERE to have me become your coach!  Then let's get you started on the road to better health!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Shakeology Bars

This has become a family favorite at our house! 

1 Cup uncooked oatmeal
1 cup natural peanut butter
1/3 cup honey or agave
1 cup Chocolate Shakeology powder

Mix all ingredients together (you'll need to get your hands in there - yeah, it gets messy!).  Press into a baking dish, cut into bars and enjoy!

For more info on Shakeology, click HERE!

Disclaimers

I am not a doctor or health care professional in any way. Information posted on this blog is simply what I have found to be helpful to me and is never intended to be used in place of professional medical advice.

Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach's income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings for the most recent information on the actual incomes for all our Coaches.