There are foods that trigger inflammation, foods that cause indigestion, foods that reduce athletic performance, and foods that cause migraines. What you put into your body can influence many aspects of your health. Alcoholic drinks can cause sleep troubles and trigger migraines. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common migraine trigger, and so are the other foods in this article. Read on to inform yourself about foods that may be causing your migraines. 

Alcohol

While all alcoholic beverages can trigger headaches, it is red wine that can be a migraine trigger for some people. There are tannins, which are flavonoid phenolic compounds, in red wine and wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, are higher in them. Drinking wines that are high in tannins may cause migraines. Additionally, drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration, which can also cause headaches.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is the sodium salt of the common amino acid glutamic acid, which is naturally present in the body, in addition to tomatoes and cheeses. It is a flavor enhancer commonly used in Asian cuisine and a lot of processed foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers MSG in foods to be generally safe. That said, it is still a potential trigger for migraines. 

Aged Cheese

Research confirms that aged cheeses are some of the most prevalent sources of tyramine. This compound may interact with neurotransmitters in the body and cause migraines. Cheddar, camembert, and gorgonzola are common examples of aged cheeses that are migraine triggers. Soy products, smoked fish, Chianti wine, Fava beans, and hard sausage also contain tyramine. 

Legumes

Beans, lentils, peas, and other legumes are suspected migraine triggers. Unfortunately, health experts haven’t established why legumes seem to bother some people, especially when these plant-based foods can ward off beaches in other people. More research is necessary to understand this relationship. 

Peanut Butter

Nuts, including peanuts, peanut butter, and even seeds, are common migraine triggers. Peanuts contain phenylalanine, an amino acid that can affect vascular tone, which may play a role in migraine development. 

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is commonly used in diet beverages, gum, mints, and other food and beverage products. When people stop consuming foods in aspartame, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia. Aspartame can also trigger migraines in some people. Make sure to read your food labels and avoid packaged foods that say “sugar-free” or “light” on the packaging. Diet sodas, breakfast cereals, puddings, yogurts, and gelatins typically contain aspartame. 

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant and many people rely on it to power them through the day. Some people find it to be a cure for migraines, while others know it to be a trigger. A 2020 study found insufficient evidence to recommend that everyone with chronic migraines stop consuming caffeine. That was true despite the fact that overuse can cause migraines. Sudden caffeine withdrawal can also trigger migraine development. 

There are many other foods that can trigger migraines, including chocolate, citrus fruit, and cured or processed meats. More research is necessary on these foods, though, as there is currently insufficient scientific evidence supporting these claims.  

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A lot of people, especially overweight people, turn to diet soda to reduce their caloric intake. The appeal is that it is a sugar-free, carb-free, fat-free, zero-calorie beverage. It does, however, contain aspartame, which is about 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. So why is it that a calorie-free drink makes you hungrier?

Let’s remove diet soda from the equation for just a moment. It stands to reason that if you are hungry, you eat something and the hunger goes away. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. You have more than likely eaten meals that fill you up more than others, even if you’ve eaten the same amount of food. For example, you go back for chow mein when you’ve already had a full serving. 

Sometimes, it’s not the nutrient density (or lack of nutrients) of the meal that gets in the way of satiating you. It can often be the beverage you drink alongside your meal. A new study found that non-caloric sweeteners that are typically found in diet sodas interfere with the brain’s hunger responses. Basically, these sweeteners make it more difficult for the brain to discern if you are actually full or not. They may even make you feel hungrier. 

How Do Non-Caloric Sweeteners Mess With Hunger Cues?

Aspartame, sucralose, stevia, and erythritol are the most popular sugar substitutes used in diet sodas and some low-calorie processed foods. Unlike regular sugar, these substitutes do not add additional calories. The problem is that consuming these types of sweeteners confuses the brain. In an ideal situation, the brain perceives calories coming in when you consume a food or beverage. That isn’t the case with diet soda, so the brain increases appetite in order to obtain other calories. 

To put it in simpler terms, non-caloric sweeteners confuse the brain. The body is programmed to expect some calories when it consumes something sweet. Zero-calorie sweeteners do not fulfill that expectation, so that mismatch stimulates the brain’s hunger cues and you end up eating more than you normally would as a result. 

Although artificial sweeteners can confuse hunger cues for every person, some people don’t experience as severe an effect as others. During the study, researchers noted that men and women with obesity had a heightened response to non-caloric sweeteners. The difference in reactions between people with obesity and people without obesity was quite evident. People with obesity had a very strong response in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates hunger. If people with obesity drink diet soda, they are more likely to overeat than people without obesity who drink diet soda. 

How To Better Understand Hunger Cues

Why do people with obesity experience a greater impact? Researchers don’t exactly know at the moment, but they suspect it to be a consequence of obesity. Being overweight is just the tip of the iceberg regarding obesity. Many bodily functions and processes influence how a person responds to food. The only thing you can do to fight back is to better understand the body’s hunger cues. 

All dietitians and researchers recommend avoiding diet sodas and other non-caloric sweeteners whenever possible. Ideally, avoid sugar as well, but it can be difficult to do that. Sugar consumption is linked to weight gain, but so is non-caloric sweetener consumption. Hunger and thirst are also easily confused. The body sometimes sends the same signals for hunger and thirst, due to overlapping mechanisms. This can result in unnecessary snacking, so with that in mind, make sure you maintain proper hydration levels.

If you feel hungry all the time, you most likely are not consuming satiating nutrients, including protein, healthy fats, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Focusing on foods that contain these nutrients, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds, can help you get more of those nutrients. Practice mindful eating, chewing each bite slowly to savor the flavors. Additionally, try to have a dedicated space for eating and don’t sit on the couch, for example, as that can cause mindless eating, so you’ll consume more than you need to without realizing it.

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One of the biggest lies in the modern world is that artificial sweeteners can prevent diabetes and obesity. These sweeteners exist in low-calorie and diet foods and beverages. Although the marketing makes it seem like these are healthier food and beverage options, there are serious health risks associated with these artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda (sucralose). Research continues to uncover the negative health effects of artificial sweeteners like sucralose. 

Instead of grabbing one or two white or brown cane sugar packets, people opt for yellow or pink packets of artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda. The “sugar-free” option is a healthier substitute, or at least that’s what manufacturers want you to think. The reality is that it is better to opt for healthier sugar alternatives that provide natural sweetness, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. 

What Is Sucralose?

As a chlorinated sucrose derivative, sucralose is derived from sugar and contains chlorine. There is a multistep process that goes into creating sucralose. One has to replace three hydrogen-oxygen groups of sugary with chlorine atoms. This process ultimately intensifies the sweetness of sucralose, which was found via the development of an insecticide compound. Later, the public was introduced to sucralose as a “natural sugar substitute.” And in 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sucralose for use in 15 food and beverage categories. These categories included products like gum, water- and fat-based products, baked goods, frozen dairy desserts, and beverages. 

Data shows that the range of product utilization with sucralose is quite extensive. It is very popular in food and beverage products because it is readily soluble with ethanol, methanol, and water. For this reason, it has applications in water- and fat-based products. Other artificial sweeteners, like saccharin and aspartame, are not as soluble. 

Reasons To Avoid Sucralose

Linked To Leaky Gut Syndrome

As of now, the understanding is that the body cannot digest sucralose. It travels through the digestive tract and damages as it goes, harming the intestinal walls, which can potentially cause leaky gut syndrome. According to one animal study from Duke University, Splenda reduces beneficial bacteria in the gut and increases fecal pH levels. That indicates the amount of nutrients you can absorb in the gut. 

Associated With Weight Gain

Isn’t it interesting that the food that was supposed to help you lose weight does the opposite? There are epidemiological human studies that suggest an association between the consumption of artificial sweeteners and weight gain. Artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Although these studies didn’t directly identify sucralose’s effect on weight gain, they did show that it doesn’t help with weight loss. 

One study monitored two groups of children, which received either an eight-ounce can of no-calorie sweetened beverage or sugar-sweetened beverage. At the end of the study, the overall calorie consumption was greater for the group that consumed sugar-sweetened beverages. That said, the sucralose group gained more weight during the study period. 

Increases Risk Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ongoing evidence supports that sucralose may cause symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. One researcher made note of this years ago after examining a rapid increase of IBS among residents of Alberta, Canada. Sucralose seems to have a more detrimental effect on gut bacteria than other artificial sweeteners. A more recent study found that the use of artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, doubles the risk of Crohn’s disease. 

May Increase Diabetes Risk

One study found that consuming sucralose dramatically increased the risk of diabetes. Another small study found that daily consumption of diet soda increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and type 2 diabetes by 67%. Researchers note that these findings indicate that sucralose is one of the many unexpected triggers of diabetes. The answer, then, is that sucralose is dangerous for diabetics and non-non-diabetics alike. 

For the first time, researchers evaluated this phenomenon in human subjects. 17 obese and insulin-sensitive individuals took oral glucose tolerance tests after consuming sucralose with water. The tests revealed an increase in peak plasma glucose concentrations, but they also noted a 23% decrease in insulin sensitivity, which prevents glucose absorption in cells.

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Do you know what you’re consuming? This season, The Toxic Inspector will go over everyday household items that contain toxic chemicals and health risks. This week, we’ll be going over ASPARTAME. Have we been increasing our health risks all along?

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At any given moment, there are millions, perhaps billions, of people who want to lose weight or cut down on calories. In an effort to be healthier, many people switch to artificial sweeteners, which are commonly in pudding, candy, jams and jellies, diet soft drinks, and dairy products. While the zero-calorie or low-calorie aspect may seem enticing, consuming artificial sweeteners may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

The study followed more than 100,000 adults for about a decade, making it among the largest to date to identify heart-related problems with sugar substitutes. The BMJ noted that artificial sweeteners increased the overall risk of any form of cardiovascular disease by 9%. Consuming artificial sweeteners increased the risk of stroke by 18%. Additionally, the participants in the study experienced an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, which refers to a group of conditions that affect blood flow to the brain.

The BMJ Study

At the beginning of the study none of the participants had a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Nobody was diagnosed with either of these conditions during the first two years of the study. Over these initial two years, participants completed five food questionnaires, which revealed that 37% of them consumed artificial sweeteners. Those who did consumed an average of 43 milligrams (mg) per day. That is roughly the amount in one tabletop sweetener packet. People with the highest artificial sweetener consumption ingested about 78 mg per day, while participants who consumed the least took in 7.5 mg per day.

Over the course of the study, there were 1,502 cardiovascular events, including strokes, heart attacks, clogging of blood vessels, and more. There were also medical procedures that had to restore blood flow in the obstructed arteries or veins. According to researchers, the annual absolute risk of cardiovascular disease was 314 cases per 100,000 people among the participants who didn’t consume artificial sweeteners. The number of cases increased to 346 for people who took in the most artificial sweeteners. 

Were Risks Higher Based On Different Sweeteners?

The study concluded that the risks of cardiovascular disease increased if participants consumed certain sweeteners. The consumption of aspartame, which is in NutraSweet and Equal sweeteners, increased the risk of stroke by 17%. Acesulfame potassium, sold under names like Sunett and Sweet One, was linked to a 40% increased risk of coronary heart disease. 

Because this was not a controlled study, the primary goal was not to determine if artificial sweeteners directly caused cardiovascular episodes. The results may have been skewed by the poor recollection of participants, regarding what they ate and drank. 

Is It Safe To Consume Artificial Sweeteners?

It’s natural for people to turn to foods or beverages with artificial sweeteners if they want to control blood sugar or lose weight. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is not healthy for the brain, heart, or body in general. Artificial sweeteners have been around for more than 100 years, though, originally found in the Sweet’N Low sugar substitute in 1879. Since then, researchers have found other artificial sugar substitutes like sucralose, aspartame, stevia, and xylitol. 

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, controversy and artificial sweeteners have gone hand in hand. There have been warnings and concerns about type 2 diabetes and weight gain, but results are varied and inconclusive. Despite concerns from health officials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers the consumption of artificial sweeteners safe. The caveat is that people do not exceed the acceptable daily intake for each sweetener. For example, the FDA says that a 132-pound person could consume 23 packets of sucralose (in Splenda) before exceeding the daily limit. 

The more artificial sweeteners you consume, the more you increase your risk of certain health disorders. As the study found, the participants that consumed more artificial sweeteners experienced higher rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. An occasional sweetener may not ruin your life, but regular consumption, especially in excess, may compromise your overall health. The general recommendation: limit your consumption altogether because foods that contain artificial sweeteners also contain other harmful preservatives, toxins, and chemicals. Consider switching to natural options like stevia, allulose, and monk fruit for better long-term health.

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There are many all-natural ways to speed up your metabolism. That would be a magical statement if people didn’t regularly  sabotage their metabolism and ability to burn fat. How do they do this? Well, as with most things that relate to your health, it all comes back to what you put in your body. That’s right, folks, there are many foods that slow your metabolism and prevent you from reaching your weight loss goals. 

The problem with “healthy diets” is that many of the foods that sabotage your weight loss efforts. You may engage in moderate aerobic exercise for 30-40 minutes per day for weeks on end without seeing any progress. Well, the foods you eat can plateau your weight loss by slowing your metabolism. What is it about these foods that makes them slow your metabolism, though? Some foods kick your immune system into overdrive and throw your blood sugar out of whack. If you are intolerant to certain foods, then you may experience chronic inflammation, keeping your nervous system in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Finally, some foods negatively affect the gut and take very long for the body to digest. If you want to know what foods are ruining your metabolism, continue reading. 

Canola Oil And Vegetable Oils

Canola oil and processed vegetable oils are extremely popular in various cooking applications. Safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil can be used for cooking or frying foods, or in salad dressings. Unfortunately, these oils are processed and rich in unhealthy fats that may interfere with appetite regulation, your mood, and hormone levels. Canola oil, in particular, has a reputation of being a “heart-healthy oil,” when it is not in reality. Most canola oil is genetically modified, meaning that the crops used to produce the oil are rich in pesticides. Several studies indicate that GMO foods cause cellular change and toxicity, two things that don’t help your body’s metabolism. Instead, it is better to consume oils that are naturally rich in monounsaturated fats. Some of these oils include cold-pressed olive oil, virgin coconut oil, and avocado oil.

Fruit Juice

Fat in your diet isn’t the primary culprit that makes your waist bigger. More often than not, it is the excess sugar you consume. Sugar hides in many different beverages and foods, and consuming too much sugar wrecks your metabolism. Too much sugar in your body contributes to sluggishness, unhealthy food cravings, and inflammation, all of which slow down your metabolism. Some of the most sugar-laden beverages are bottled fruit juices, including orange, grape, and apple juices. These are more like sugar water than juice, and they are extremely unhealthy for you, even though they sound healthy. Store bought fruit juices do not contain the benefits from the fruit, unlike juices that you make yourself. Consider this: one eight-ounce serving of fruit juice can contain up to 30 grams of sugar! If you are going to drink juice, do so sparingly and make sure that you are making your own juice. 

White Flour

White bread and white pasta are the enemy, in addition to all of the other white flour floods. All purpose white flour is essentially processed wheat that is bleached, enriched, and stripped of all the antioxidants and fiber. Because white flour lacks fiber, your body breaks it down quicker than whole grains, which take longer to digest. The body doesn’t burn extra calories to break down white flour foods, leaving your metabolism operating at a slower level. Alternatively, whole grains that are high in fiber ramp up your metabolism because it has to work harder to break down the fiber. 

Artificial Sweeteners

Similar to high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners slow your metabolism like no other food. Aspartame is linked to lots of adverse health effects, such as apoptotic changes in the brain, free radical damage, and altered brain antioxidant status. In addition to these adverse health effects, artificial sweeteners trick your body into wanting more food because of how sweet they actually are. For example, one study evaluated the effects of diet soda on people with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Consuming just one diet soda a day significantly increased the risk for weight gain. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose increase your cravings for carbohydrates. So although diet drinks are “calorie savers,” you end up eating calorically dense foods as a result of drinking them.

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As you may know by now, inflammation is both helpful and harmful. On the one hand, inflammation is the body’s way of fighting infection, helping the body heal itself. On the other hand, inflammation that’s left unchecked can be detrimental to your overall health. In fact, chronic inflammation increases your risk of developing serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and more. 

How does inflammation reach a point where it is harmful to the body? More often than not, your diet is the culprit. Various foods and beverages contain ingredients that elevate inflammatory markers in the body. After a certain point, these inflammatory markers start to attack the different systems in the body. While sleeping enough, exercising, self-care habits, and healthy meals can counteract inflammation, it’s often difficult to recover from the damage. Fortunately, there are steps you can take, and beverages you can eliminate from your diet, that will help you lower inflammation in the body. The following drinks are pro-inflammatory and you should avoid them as much as possible. 

Soda

Some people despise soda, while others can’t get enough of it. Some people drink as many as six 12-ounce cans per day! Sodas contain lots of refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, dyes, and high fructose corn syrup, depending on the variety. Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners, which are known for increasing inflammatory markers. One study proved that excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened soda increased the risk of inflammatory diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, a long-term study from 2013 monitored people who regularly drank artificially sweetened beverages like diet soda. The researchers of the study observed an increase in metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and weight gain.

Alcohol

The occasional glass of wine isn’t a problem, but drinking too much daily can increase inflammation in the body. For example, a 2017 study found that excess alcohol intake leads to intestinal inflammation. It did this by altering the function and composition of gut microbiome, weakening the intestinal lining. In doing so, alcohol actually comprised the integrity of the intestines’ mucosal immunity. Compromising gut microbiome can affect the way your immune system functions. If it influences the immune system to attack the body, you may develop an autoimmune disorder. 

Energy Drinks

Similar to sodas, energy drinks also contain artificial dyes and sweeteners or high amounts of sugar. Regularly consuming lots of sugar is a surefire way to increase inflammatory markers in the body. Studies show that a high intake of refined sugar can suppress immune function and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, sugar-free energy drinks typically contain sucralose or aspartame, two artificial sweeteners that are inflammatory. 

Drinks With Artificial Sweeteners

As we previously mentioned, artificial sweeteners have an inflammatory effect on the body. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame actually trigger the immune system in such a way that results in an inflammatory response. The Arthritis Foundation discourages arthritis patients from consuming artificially-sweetened beverages because they can cause joint stiffness by increasing inflammation. One study found that increased intake of artificial sweeteners, especially in regards to sweetened beverages, can cause subclinical inflammation. 

Oat Milk

This is a popular dairy-free milk alternative that people incorporate into lattes, smoothies, or in a bowl with cereal. It may surprise you to learn that people who consume a lot of oat milk have blood sugar spikes soon after consumption. Even if oat milk doesn’t contain added sugar, it does contain about seven grams per cup. The reason for this is due to the enzymatic breakdown of oat starch. If you love to enjoy an oat milk latte every day, you may increase inflammatory markers in the body. Because it increases inflammation and blood sugar, you may experience a crash not too long after you consume it. If you want to enjoy dairy-free milk alternatives, consider unsweetened cashew, soy, or pea milk instead.

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According to recent research studies, consumption of artificially-sweetened diet beverages has been linked to increased risk of stroke and cerebrovascular disease, including dementia. This may come as a shock to some because diet sodas are often seen as the healthier option, when compared to regular sodas. The reality is that while these diet sodas have no calories, the artificial sweeteners can make you crave sugary, highly caloric foods, which ultimately makes you consume more calories than you intended.

Aspartame is the most commonly used artificial sweetener in diet sodas. It is 200-300 times sweeter than regular sugar. Aspartame is technically a neurotoxin, but the FDA has deemed it to be a food additive. But diet soda wouldn’t sell as well if the cans stated that there was a neurotoxin in the soda.

Researchers at Boston University found that aspartame is terrible for your arteries. The study, which they conducted, found that people who had one or more diet drinks a day were 2.9 times more likely to develop dementia and than those who did not consume diet sodas. Additionally, results showed that these diet soda consumers were three times more at risk of developing strokes.

Aside from this study, there has been a lot of research indicating the negative effects of diet soda consumption. These studies have shown that regular consumption can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke, all of which are predominantly due to poor diet. These people with poor diets tried to reverse the damage by consuming diet sodas, which ultimately worsened their health. Some researchers suggest, then, that the results may just be residual impact of diabetes and obesity.

What is interesting is how these diet sodas can alter your taste buds. Because artificial sweeteners are highly concentrated, people may find that naturally sweet foods like fruit are less appealing. Additionally, less-sweet foods like vegetables may be unpalatable for them. The fact that these sweeteners can make you avoid certain foods means that the body is missing out on a lot of nutrients, found in fruits and vegetables, which help protect against cerebrovascular and cardiovascular damage.

The bottom line is that you should avoid soda altogether. You may want to try making detox waters or consuming various teas in place of sodas. More research is still being conducted on the dangers of diet sodas. Based on current research, they are very dangerous to your health.

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When you start an exercise or diet program, you are anxious to see results. That makes sense, especially if you are working hard to eat healthier. Are you positive that you are eating the right foods, though? There may be hidden foods in your diet that are counteracting your weight loss efforts by killing your metabolism.

Not all foods are healthy, even if you think they are. Since weight loss is about 80% diet and 20% exercise, it’s crucial to provide your body with the right foods. To achieve your weight loss goals, it is beneficial to avoid the foods in this article. Most of these foods can cause the following:

• Weight Gain
• Fatigue
• Muscle Weakness
• Blood Sugar Imbalance
• Thyroid Dysfunction
• Unhealthy Cravings
• Digestive Discomfort

Farmed Beef

Farmed beef is full of antioxidants that destroy healthy gut bacteria. As you can imagine, this leads to digestive problems and weight gain. A recent study found that the antibiotics in farmed beef alter the way the body processes food. This is why it is best to avoid meat and meat products. The results of a meaty diet can be detrimental to not only your metabolism, but your overall health as well.

Fruit Juice

Where do we begin with fruit juice? Let us first start by saying that fat in your diet isn’t typically the first thing that is adding inches to your waist. Consuming foods with hidden sugars, such as bottled fruit juice, can cause cravings, inflammation, and can slow your metabolism. The most common fruit juices people consume are orange, apple, and grape, all of which are basically sugar water. A typical eight-ounce glass of fruit juice contains about 30 grams of sugar. Instead of drinking these sugar drinks, you can make your own juice using a juicer, or you can add fresh fruit to water. You can also make homemade lemonade by squeezing fresh lemons in water and adding a little stevia.

“Healthy” Chips & Crackers

There are a lot of so-called “healthy” chips and snacks out there, but they often contain processed vegetable oils such as safflower or sunflower oils, both of which have omega-6 fats. Unlike healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which are in walnuts, avocados, flaxseeds, or cabbages, omega-6 fats is correlated with obesity. There used to be a balance between omega-3s and omega-6s in the American diet, but high consumption of processed foods has led to a high omega-6/omega-3 ratio. These “healthy” chips, for instance, can also contain trans fats and soybean oil. Plus, it takes the body almost 3 times longer to process these foods than it does to process fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

White Flour

It’s no secret that Americans love pasta and bread. Well, white flour is processed and devoid of all the health benefits that whole, sprouted grains offer. White flour is wheat that doesn’t have any of wheat’s benefits, which include dietary fiber and antioxidants. Because it doesn’t have any fiber, it does nothing for your metabolism or intestinal health. Typically, white flour and refined grains slow your digestion. This is why it is beneficial to eat sprouted grains like barley wheat or quinoa, both of which work to encourage a healthy metabolism.

Artificial Sweeteners

Probably one of the worst foods for your metabolism, artificial sweeteners are attractive to people because they lie to you by saying you can consume them guilt-free. Aspartame, for instance, has been linked to free radical damage, accelerated aging, increased cravings for carbs, and apoptotic changes in the brain. Artificial sweeteners are typically found in diet sodas. Drinking one diet soda a day significantly increase a person’s risk of weight gain and adds inches to the waist. Avoid artificial sweeteners and use stevia, agave nectar, or organic grade B maple syrup instead. The best part with all of these alternatives is that a little goes a long way.

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In a world of processed foods and artificial ingredients, toxins and chemicals can easily accumulate in the body. These built-up chemicals can lead to obesity, heart disease, migraines, high blood pressure, and diabetes, among many other ailments. Because people are now understanding the negative effects of these chemicals, they are trying to be more health conscious and live a healthier lifestyle.

Aspartame is one of the worst chemicals to put in your body. Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener that is made from phenylalanine and aspartic acid, both of which are amino acids. Aspartame is technically a neurotoxin, but the FDA has deemed it to be a food additive. We are pretty sure that diet soda probably wouldn’t sell as well if it said that it contained a harmful drug.

Side Effects of Aspartame

Believe it or not, aspartame is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Continued aspartame consumption, including drinking diet soda or using artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Equal, or Nutrasweet, can pollute the body and cause adverse side effects. These side effects include:

• Decreased Vision
• Impaired Hearing
• Tinnitus
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Abdominal Pain
• Memory Loss
• Hear Palpitations/Irregular Heartbeat

Symptoms of Aspartame Withdrawal

Yes, this is a real thing. If your body gets used to a chemical, or in this case, a drug, discontinuing it from your diet can cause withdrawal symptoms. During the time it takes for the body to detox aspartame from its systems, one can experience the following symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Appetite Changes
• Cravings
• Inability to Concentrate
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Mood Swings
• Restlessness
• Sleep Changes
• Weight Fluctuation

How Long Do Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

This can vary depending on the person and the amount of aspartame that has been consumed. Some people experience symptoms that last a week or so, others have symptoms that can last up to a month, and the lucky ones don’t experience any symptoms at all. The body’s energy and blood sugar levels should return to normal once aspartame is fully detoxed.

Detoxing From Aspartame

One of the best things you can do while you are detoxing from aspartame is to maintain proper nutrition levels. It’s best to cut out processed foods, other artificial sweeteners, meat, and dairy products from your diet and switch to a more plant-based diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds can provide you all the proper nutrients that your body desires without unnecessary chemicals that are added to other foods. You can use great natural sweeteners instead of aspartame such as stevia, agave, maple syrup, or raw organic honey.

Activated charcoal is a great option to help your body detox from aspartame. You can put a little bit in water, mix it in, and consume it daily. It is designed to help naturally extract heavy metals and chemicals from your body. You can also try taking B-Complex vitamins or consuming 3 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a glass of water every day to aid the detox process.

While you are detoxing from aspartame, it is beneficial to replenish the body with taurine, since aspartame robs the body of this nutrient. Taurine, which is synthesized by the body from the amino acid cysteine, can be found in many seaweeds, spirulina, and sesame and sunflower seeds.

Once you have completely eliminated the aspartame from your system, you may notice that headaches disappear, managing your weight is easier, kidney function improves, and your attitude towards food changes. Ridding your body of aspartame lowers your risk of developing diabetes and your bones start getting healthier.

Did you eliminate aspartame from your diet? Let us know in the comments section below. How do you feel now and what did you do to stop consuming it?

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