Most of us are aware of the increasing sugar consumption that is leading to increasing waistlines. The average American today consumes 150 pounds of sugar each year! That’s 2-3 pounds of sugar each week and 22 teaspoons of sugar every single day. That’s a big problem especially with all the research showing that sugar is addictive!
So many people, in an effort to be “healthy” or “lose weight” are turning to the sugar alternatives. More and more people are using the artificial sweeteners on the market to try and lose weight, only to find that their weight stays on. One sweetener that is touted on all the commercials as safe is Splenda. However, you using Splenda could be negatively impacting your desire to lose weight, be healthy, have more energy, and think more clearly.
Sucralose (Splenda) is an artificial sweetener that is made by binding three chlorine atoms to a molecule of sugar. The problem is when this chlorine reacts with organic materials (your body) and creates chlorination by-products that can trigger chronic symptoms like fatigue, headaches and brain fog. Given the fact that 7 out of 10 women in the United States consume Splenda on a daily basis…this poses a big problem.
Sucralose is found in nearly 4,000 different food items. It is found in everything from diet drinks, protein bars and toothpaste to gum, over-the-counter drugs and salad dressing. Some research has shown that up to 70% of people that ingest sucralose will have some adverse reaction to it.
So How Does Sucralose (Splenda) Thwart Your Best Weight Loss Efforts?
If you are struggling to lose weight, then no doubt you are aware of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is largely responsible for your basal metabolic rate, or your ability to burn calories efficiently. If you are working efficiently then you can lose and manage weight efficiently. Our thyroid is a sensitive gland that is largely affected by stress, toxins and malnutrition. When we are stressed our thyroid hormone conversion is affected leading to poorer thyroid function. When we are toxic our body’s become more acidic and our thyroid function is altered. If we are malnourished, or taking acid blocking medications which alter absorption of thyroid minerals, then our thyroid becomes negatively affected.
One absolutely essential component of proper thyroid function is your level of iodine…this is what serves as the backbone building structure for thyroid hormone. The problem is that chlorine can compete with iodine for binding spots on your thyroid and in the manufacture of your thyroid hormone. This means that you will alter the function of your thyroid and you can decrease your fat-burning ability by up to 40% with just this!
Working on cleansing, nourishing and balancing your body each day will help you and your thyroid function at optimal levels. You should not only avoid consuming excess sugar, but you should also avoid all artificial sweeteners…including sucralose.
If you have used Splenda heavily in the past, then you should consider using N-acetyl-cysteine at 600 milligrams daily for two months. This increases your levels of glutathione in the body which helps to flush the chlorination by-products out of your body. I personally use the product Cellular Energy at 2 capsules twice daily for NAC and other nutrients designed to support the mitochondria.
By eliminating Splenda you may feel that you are experiencing less of the following symptoms:
- unexplained tiredness and fatigue
- brain fog
- nausea
- joint pain
- cramps/bloating
- diarrhea
- headaches
- dizzziness
- mood swings
- depression
So commit to cleaning out the sugar and artificial sweeteners and stop ruining your chances to maintain a healthy weight!
