"Ohhhhh...Duh!" Why NOT to Consume Artificial Sweeteners

So for the past year, I have been part of a weight loss study for CORE Temple University. In a year, I shed upwards of 35 pounds by reducing my daily caloric intake. The study was designed to compare two groups against each other to see which one would lose more weight, those who drank only water and those who drank diet drinks. I was disappointed to find that I was randomized into the diet drink group as I am not a diet drinks consumer for fear of the artificial sweeteners.

Now those who know me know that I live a pretty natural/healthy life and that diet drinks are very unlike me...but for a year I consumed them. As this study was sponsored by beverage companies (of COURSE they want the study to show that more people loss weight drinking diet soda), we all received free coupons for pretty much all the diet soda we could drink. I picked what I thought was the lesser of the evils: Vitamin Water Zero, Sprite Zero & Diet Orange Crush... I also occasionally purchased other diet fruit waters or diet natural sodas. As the months passed, I began to shed weight, but I also began to have a few very uncomfortable symptoms, such as:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Heart Palpitations
• Fainting
• Circulation issues
• Anxiety
• Addictive behaviors towards drinking the diet beverage
• Allergic symptoms, such as the feeling that my throat is closing
• General malaise

I have been wracking my brain for the reason behind this...attributing it to lack of water, stress, a number of other factors...it wasn't until Monday morning that the light bulb went off in my head. "Ohhhhhh...Duh!" And I began to do some internet research on the impact of what I have been placing in my system for a year: aspartame, sucralose & stevia. Stevia...not so bad...but those others? Sheesh! No wonder I've been hitting the floor. I vowed from then on to cease the consumption of artificial sweeteners...

After a very upsetting phone call this morning with a doctor who is part of the study, I am convinced even more that my ailments are related to the artificial sweeteners. She went as far as to remind me that I signed a consent that I would drink the diet drinks, but also said that there was no evidence of any damage related to artificial sweetener consumption. If there is no evidence, then why do you have to remind me that I agreed to it???

Anyway, I am proud of myself for the weight I loss and also glad that this study is over. For a year, I consumed something that I have always been wary about consuming. I apologize to my poor body! I don't respond well to sugar either, but I have been able to substitute with honey or just eating things plain. I have no doubt that as soon as these artificial sweeteners are completely out of my system, my symptoms will decrease if not disappear altogether. I have not mentioned to many others that I have been consuming these diet drinks, but I'm sure for those who now know...your response is the same as mine... "Ohhhhh...DUH!!!"