Are artificial sweeteners a better substitute for sugar?

Although there is so much information on this topic, this is what strikes me the most - sugar is not good for anyone regardless of whether it is real or artificial. It contributes to tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, mental illness, depression, chronic fatigue, PMS symptoms, hyperactivity, anxiety, irritability, and many more. (just because you eat sugar does not imply that you will get every single one of these side effects). But is it really possible to avoid sugar completely in our diets? Of course not! Sugar is in almost every single thing that we eat. Therefore, i decided to research on whether or not artificial sweeteners are a good substitute for sugar (since we need sugar in our diet).

Currently, artificial sweeteners are attracting people mainly because of the words "low-fat" and "low-calorie". It seems to be the perfect sugar substitute as it is as sweet as sugar, but has no calories, no surge in insulin, or any side effects. Well, that's what we think at least...

In my research, it seems that aspartame is the worst chemical/artificial sweetener. It was actually discovered as an ulcer drug, not a sweetener. Therefore, it has very harmful and toxic side effects. Think about drinking a diet coke, that actually consists of a chemical that was once a drug. It also has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders (panic attacks), mood changes, visual hallucinations, seizures, manic episodes, dizziness, and headaches. There are many other types of sweeteners as well. Acesulfame K was regulated as safe by the FDA. However, it "stimulates insulin secretion in a dose dependent fashion thereby possibly aggravating reactive hypoglycemia" ("low blood sugar attacks"). It also created tumors in many studies done with rats. Saccarin is another artificial sweetener. Ingestion of saccharin-adulterated milk by infants is connected with irritability, hypertonia, insomnia, and many others. It is not good for children, or women who are pregnant. Sucralose is yet another artificial sweetener. There have been studies about its potential toxic effects, its impact on migraines, its impact on the thymus, and many others. Although there are many artificial sweeteners, these are the most prevalent in our diets. After reading this paragraph, i hope you can understand the potential harmful effects of these sweeteners. If you are not convinced that these chemicals are bad for your body, take a minute and check out this list...

Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:

Eye
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes

Ear
tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment

Neurologic
epileptic seizures
headaches, migraines and (some severe)
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias

Chest
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS

Other
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
death
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)


Now are you convinced? Artificial sweeteners are not a good substitute for sugar if they are taken in large quantities. In my opinion, a small amount of these sweeteners or a small amount of sugar every couple days is a good amount. We cannot completely avoid sugar, but it is very easy to limit our intake.

A knowledge of chemistry is important here because these artificial sweeteners are essentially chemicals. They are formulated by taking certain chemicals and working in the lab. Without knowing a little about chemistry, it would be hard to understand where these sweeteners are coming from.


Aspartame Dangers Revealed! 2002. Sweet Poison. January 28, 2008.

Artificial Sweeteners. 2008. American Heart Association. January 28, 2008.

Artificial Sweeteners: No calories…Sweet! 2008. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. January 28, 2008.