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Aspartame (the main ingredient in Equal), NutraSweet, and its cousin Neotame, can cause an accumulation of formaldehyde in the brain which is cause for neuropsychiatric concerns. It’s been linked with MS, lupus and fibromyalgia, among other central nervous disorders. Saccharin has been proven to cause bladder cancer in rats; it has fallen near the bottom of the list but is still used in some chewing gums and medicines. Experts agree that sufficient doses of saccharin would have the same effect in humans, but we don’t know how much that “sufficient dose” is. Having said this, it’s probably a better choice than aspartame; however, it doesn’t taste as good. The Sweet Facts Basically, artificial sweeteners confuse the brain. The enzymes in your mouth begin a cascade that primes your cell receptors for an insulin surge, and when it doesn’t arrive, your brain feels cheated. This is why most diet sodas contain caffeine. So you still feel a jolt. Your body still senses sweetness and releases insulin, storing more calories as fat! Sugar is OK I mean real sugar here, but only when consumed with other foods to help slow digestion, or within 30 minutes of a workout. Sugar from fruit consumed within 30 minutes of a workout will not convert to fat; it is simply stored as glycogen, giving you more energy and helping you build more muscle. Fact — Not one gram of sugar consumed within 30 minutes of a workout is stored as fat. Eat Well! Dan Young is the founder and president or Simple Again, representing Performance Food Centers and the swiig brand of nutritional products. Nutrition Quarterly · 2020 – Volume 4 15 What We’re Reading