Artificially sweet...Isn't that like fake nice?

Artificial sweeteners haven't been getting the attention they deserve. I have done a lot of digging on this topic, and it turns out that not only are they worse for you than the plain ole' sugar packet next to them, they may even make you fatter.
There are 4 main artificial sweeteners running around the globe wearing various brand names. The chemical names of these however are: Saccharin (think pink.), Aspartame (feeling blue?), and Sucralose (yellow is a pretty color!), and Acesulfame K (Potassium) a hider in most refined (see "boxed up") foods.

Saccharin, developed on accident as a byproduct of coal tar derivatives, seems to be surrounded by confusion as it has/hasn't/has/hasn't been deemed dangerous too many times to list. It was banned until the sugar shortages during WWI coincided with the reversal on it's ban in 1912. It has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats (the ammonia in the bladder "activated" (for lack of a better term) the saccharin's ability to pass into the cell causing mutagenic damage, though it has been said that the amount of saccharin used could never be replicated in "real world" conditions.

Sucralose is relatively new to the scene. It was accidentally discovered while attempting to create a pesticide. It is actually "manipulated sucrose" --but really, it is chlorinated sugar (chlorine being a known carcinogen). They remove the Hydroxyl groups in sucrose and replace them with 3 chlorine atoms. mmm yummy. In animal trials, the Thymus-a gland responsible for T-lymphocytes and protection against autoimmunity (things like diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), had shrunken as much as 40%. Lymph follicles were atrophied in they Thymus and Spleen. There were pregnancy concerns such as spontaneous abortion, decreased fetal weight, and lagging labor triggers. Not only that, but up to 2% of contaminated byproducts may be found in yon fake sugar such as: Heavy Metals, Arsenic, Triphenilphosphine Oxide, Methanol (again?), Chlorinated Disaccharides, and Chlorinated Monosaccharide. Google them...not fun. There have been no long term studies done for this product either. Some alleged adverse reactions are: gastrointestinal difficulties, skin rashes, chest pain, anger, severe mood swings, anxiety, wheezing/coughing, and depression.

Acesulfame K (aka Acesulfame Potassium) is lacking enough studies for conclusive evidence either way. One thing IS for sure, it does contain the carcinogen methylene chloride, and long term exposure to this chemical can cause anything from headaches to cancer.

Aspartame appears to be the most prolific, and I have even found it in my cranberry oatmeal that was labeled "all natural", and it also is the most controversial. There is even a condition labeled "Aspartame syndrome" that mimics the symptomology of MS (multiple sclerosis). To give you just a hint of why you should be so alarmed, let's look at the main molecular components of Aspartame. There's aspartic acid (an amino acid), and phenylalanine (another amino acid) that make up 90% of the "'sweetener", at first look not so alarming right? Wrong. Amino acids are fine when ingested as part of a larger protein, but when ingested in their pure form alone, they become excitotoxins and mess with the CNS, cause abnormal nerve transmissions that can be linked to headaches, fogginess, balance issues, and even seizures. And to make bad news worse, it has a cumulative effect on the body as well. They stimulate free radicals in the body, that can deteriorate organ functions as well. Not to be outdone, when Phenylalanine decomposes naturally (during long storage or high temps) it becomes diketopiperazine, a well-known carcinogen. Sound bad? Well, it's not over. The remaining 10% component of Aspartame is methanol, otherwise known as wood alcohol. Go ahead, Google it. Scary huh? A one liter diet pop/soda/carbonated beverage has 8 times the safe legal limit imposed by the EPA on this substance. And if you think you are safe from the carcinogens at high temps, think again--because methanol at cool temperatures gives rise to formaldehyde, which enters cells via the bloodstream and affects cell metabolism and even DNA, accumulating until your body goes wonky and you feel like a pile of dog shit wrapped in someone else's boogers, pissed on, wrapped in a used garbage bag, lit on fire, and then stomped on repeatedly. mmmm fun. The adverse reactions from aspartame consumption are endless as there a multiple toxic reactions stemming from the actives and their decompositions. Ironies of note: Aspartame complicates the complications of diabetes: it has been commented that it makes keeping blood sugar level controlling difficult, and contributes to blindness and neuropathies associated with diabetes as well. And the biggest irony of all--It makes you fat! The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells and when it needs storage, you don't lose! On average when one Doctor weaned his patients off of Aspartame, they lost an average of 19 pounds! Though this is just the tip of the iceberg, and too much for me to list. Go young padawan, research this for yourself.

To be sure, artificial seems NOT the way to go when trying to lessen your calorie burden while still enjoying sweet treats. The good news is, I have a fantastic alternative: Stevia. Stevia is virtually calorie-free, all natural "for realz", and needs no processing to use. "What is this 'Stevia'?" you ask... Stevia is a plant that you grow. Chop up. Put in your lemonade. It even has health benefits, and has been shown to help diabetics maintain blood sugar levels long term and in one study, lowered LDH levels as well.

I have a Stevia plant on my window sill that desperately needs to be transplanted as we speak, which shall supply me with endless sweet teas. There's nothing fake about that.