Why You Should Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

Let's talk about an ingredient you should AVOID eating at all costs - Artificial Sweeteners!

Some common artificial sweeteners include acesulfame potassium, aspartame and sucralose aka Splenda. Despite the fact that these are FDA approved, they can come with some serious health risks to the consumer. Curious? These risks include brain tumors, cardiovascular disease, mental retardation, birth defects, hypertension, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, heart attacks, fibromyalgia, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes - just to name a few.

There are hundreds of studies that show that they actually stimulate the appetite because it raises the insulin levels but yet there are no calories to go with it. Therefore, you have all this extra insulin running around your body which stimulate your appetite and increase your carbohydrate cravings. Because of this metabolism impairment it creates hormone imbalances which in return causes weight gain.

These artificial sweeteners change your tastes buds, making you crave more. This is the main reason people think "real" food tastes bad - it has everything to do with the fact that we are just so used to the artificial version that the sad thing is most times we don't know what "real" food tastes like.

Artificial Sweeteners have also been proven to increase fat storage, so if you’re thinking your cheating the system with Splenda and NutraSweet, you’re actually making it harder on yourself. They can promote the growth of gut bacteria, thereby increasing body fat. The worst part is that fat becomes deposited beneath skin in the most unwelcome places — hips, thighs and belly.

Let’s also not forget to mention that it is a cancer causing agent long-term. So for those of you out there who drink protein shakes - be aware. Always read the label before consumption as this is something that should never be in a “health shake.”

So some of you may be wondering what the sweetener is in Shakeology then? The sweetener in Shakeology is Stevia, literally from the plant in the leaf; it’s completely natural.
In its pure form, it contains no calories and does not affect glucose levels which is a huge advantage for diabetics and hypoglycemics like myself. In addition, it also contains no carbohydrates or fat which is great for dieters who watch their carb intake. When measured properly, quality Stevia has very little aftertaste unlike artificial sweeteners, Stevia has no known side effects and has been safely consumed around the world for decades.