Low-Calorie Artificial Sweetener Soft Drinks: Beware of the Dangers!

Recently in an attempt to deal with a slump in sales a well-known soft drinks manufacturer rolled out a massive advertising campaign. The irony of this advertising campaign was the fact that it promoted their no-or-low calorie artificial sweetener drinks as weight loss, safe alternatives when in truth some of the most serious health problems; skyrocketing obesity, diabetes, various neurological or behavioral problems... are due to the affects of these soft drinks.

In other words, there is no real evidence out there to show that no-or-low calorie artificial sweetener soft drinks cause weight loss. On the contrary studies have debunked this claim and shown weight gain.

For example, there was a study carried out showing that low-calorie artificial sweeteners aspartame and saccharin in yogurt caused weight gain in rats compared to the sucrose (sugar) alternative. The low-calorie group had extra chow (food) in their diet during this 12 week experiment to equal the same calories as the sugar group. Other similar studies have supported this, some involved humans.

In light of the above there are 2 important points to get here which at least in part highlights the flaws in the well-known soft drinks manufacturer's claim.

1. Calorie counting is flawed because all calories are not equal: It is the quality of calories that counts not the number. The reason why a person puts on weight is not really due to a lack of exercise and too many calories. No, it's because they eat poor quality calories. Don't fall for those meaningless 'low calorie' advertising slogans.

2. Further evidence has shown that artificial sweeteners don't actually fool the body into thinking it has been given the real thing: In fact they increase appetite, especially for carbohydrates and promote fat storage.

Sweetened drinks

With extremely high sugar content real sweetened soft drinks is another product to avoid. Refined sugar such as the genetically engineered high fructose corn syrup present in some soft drinks is metabolic poison and indeed contributes to the obesity epidemic that has swept the western world nations. For example, USA children weigh 40% more today than 25 years ago and increased consumption of sugary soft drinks have been linked to this. Quite an eye-opener wouldn't you say? And what about the ill-health related to obesity such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes..?

Beware of artificial sweeteners and their harmful effects

Firstly, aspartame has received some serious questioning over the years as to how it was ever approved by the approval body for foods and medicines, the FDA, for public consumption. Contrary to the soft drinks manufacturer claiming that aspartame is safe, there have been a number of studies showing it is harmful.

In fruits and vegetables the naturally occurring methanol remains bonded to pectin when ingested and is therefore remains harmless. In the case of aspartame, when ingested and broken down the methanol component is non-bonded and is potentially harmful.

Aspartame and ill health

The reported ill health effects of aspartame are based on methanol poisoning. Symptoms include memory loss, dizzy spells, giddiness, weariness, digestive disorders, visual disturbances and behavioral problems... Unfortunately doctors are not that familiar with the affects of aspartame poisoning and the problem is worsened by the fact that these symptoms mimic several other well known conditions.

In conclusion

Calorie counting is meaningless because it's the quality of food that really counts. Quality food with its good calories is the answer to effective dieting and weight control.

The soft drink manufacturer's campaign with its deceptive advertising clouds the contrary that low-calorie artificial sweetener soft drinks do not help with weight loss nor are they safe. The evidence in fact shows that they cause weight gain the artificial sweeteners may produce a range of illnesses.

Real sugared soft drinks have made a significant contribution to the obesity epidemic.

The solution is to not only stop taking these drinks but to also eliminate all food containing artificial sweeteners to avoid weight gain and the potential ill health effects. Don't unwittingly let yourself be some laboratory guinea pig...