“I exercise, I eat organic, I’m gluten free, I meditate, I drink copious amounts of water and you’re telling me I’m at risk for developing TYPE 2 DIABETES?”
YES!
It’s NOT only what you do PROPERLY, it’s also what you AVOID DOING or significantly REDUCE DOING that determines the potential outcome for developing TYPE 2 DIABETES.
One chemical product that has”silently” contributed to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes has been used by consumers for years. It is found in several forms and intended as a “healthy” sugar substitute. These chemicals are known as:
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
Artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Nutrasweet and Sweet’N Low (used on a regular basis) increase the chances for developing Type 2 Diabetes.
HOW?
These products damage HEALTHY BACTERIA found in the gut. This creates in an imbalance where UNHEALTHY BACTERIA overtake HEALTHY BACTERIA. In doing so, the unhealthy bacteria cause inflammation in the gut that permits “leaking” of substances toxic to the rest of the body. These toxic substances weaken immune function in addition to interfering with SUGAR metabolism (the normal breakdown and utilization of sugar by the cells in the body.) Even if SUGAR (itself) is avoided, ALL carbohydrates ingested (ex. pasta, grain, beans, cereals, breads, etc…) are converted into SUGAR by the body. If artificial chemicals interfere with the body’s ability to maintain a healthy BALANCE between beneficial and harmful gut bacteria, these carbohydrates eventually cause elevated blood sugar levels.
HEALTHY BACTERIA play an important role in the production of an amino acid called TRYPTOPHAN. This amino acid helps form a substance (5-HTP) which is converted into SEROTONIN. 70-90% of our serotonin is made in the GUT. Serotonin plays a key role in controlling insulin secretion (a hormone necessary for sugar to be used by our cells.) In its absence it leads to a condition known as:
TYPE 2 DIABETES!
Artificial sweeteners destroy HEALTHY BACTERIA necessary for healthy gastrointestinal function. Although this is NOT the “EXCLUSIVE CAUSE” OF TYPE 2 DIABETES, it is an important factor contributing to this disease.
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…Then there’s the conflicting information we see on the internet…
Rather than becoming overwhelmed by exposure to contradictory information, I suggest each of us focus on gradually modifying UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS in favor of healthier ones. It doesn’t mean SACRIFICING all you’ve come to enjoy; it means reducing the “stuff” causing harm while increasing the essential products and activities that strengthen and support physical and mental function.
Believing that artificial products (ex. chemicals, preservatives, dyes) are safe or innocuous is WRONG! Unfortunately, we only assume these products are harmful when symptoms and or diseases manifest. This article explains how artificial products (ex. artificial sweeteners) CAUSE DISEASES we tend to ignore; a REALITY that might require us to rethink our habits. Is the pleasant experience of chemical sweeteners a good reason to subject oneself to UNNECESSARY DISEASES?
This article began with a description of a healthy lifestyle resulting in a TYPE 2 DIABETIC outcome. What do you think YOUR chances for developing DIABETES is based on your current lifestyle? 9 out of 10 pre-diabetics are UNAWARE their condition exists because they lack SYMPTOMS. Lacking symptoms doesn’t prevent a HARMFUL CONDITION from progressing. A person with cancer (pre-diagnosis) still has CANCER. The same is true for TYPE 2 DIABETES; a condition that KILLS over 3.4 million people every year even though they’re taking their:
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.
WHAT STEPS ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE TO REDUCE YOUR CHANCES FROM DEVELOPING AND POTENTIALLY DYING FROM TYPE 2 DIABETES?
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Interesting read. You have tickled my curiosity and have prompted me to do some research about this topic. Thanks for the heads-up.
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I look forward to your findings. Afterall, the goal is to share relevant, credible and ACCURATE information for the public to benefit from. I know you take your role seriously in this matter. If you ever have any questions, you can feel free to contact me anytime.
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Such important information!
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Glad you found it useful. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on it. 🙂
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Good informative post. I’ve used Splenda and Stevia to try and “help” with my hypoglycemia. The sweeteners made it worse. They were, of course, eliminated. Sweeteners are bad news.
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You, fortunately, experienced a symptomatic worsening that motivated you to stop using artificial sweeteners. Many people experience NO SYMPTOMS assuming these products are not causing harm. People don’t understand the body undergoes EXTENSIVE DAMAGE without SYMPTOMS in many cases. I’ve previously written the LIVER can experience 60-80% damage before SYMPTOMS begin surfacing. When the LIVER is at a 50% level of damage and dysfunction (without symptoms) it is still SICK (even if blood panels are normal!)
Waiting for symptoms is a dangerous method to judge overall health. Doing the “right thing” to support healthy function simply makes greater sense. Getting people to think about this concept and implement it (if they’re looking to be healthy) is my greatest challenge.
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Good information! It’s important to educate ourselves so that we can make better, more informed decisions when it comes to our health. Growing up, my grandmother used to warn me that if I kept eating all the junk food, I would get “sugar diabetes.” This was the same sweet lady who would also tell me to grab two cookies, “one for each hand.” haha! In all seriousness, I try to avoid artificial sweeteners, opting to indulge in treats made with “real” sugar once in awhile.. because if you are going to have a treat, have a treat. It can be difficult sometimes to not choose the easy path.. so much of our lives are based on “convenience.” But knowing that we each have the ability to transform our health and potentially prevent disease is empowering. Great post!
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You know how often I use the word BALANCE. People should be able to enjoy life and the various emotionally satisfying flavors, however, these enjoyments should NOT be overindulged in at the expense of DISEASE.
People recognize alcohol and social drugs can cause addiction. They are less in tune with the REALITY that artificial/processed foods can do the same thing. One self test can identify if people are addicted to food. If an individual asks him or herself, “what things in life do I base the quality of my happiness on,” how long would the list be if food was not allowed to be INCLUDED? How satisfying would life be without including the experience of eating?
This self test has helped more people understand the reality of food addiction and the importance in expanding their interests for personal growth and development and to live more COMPLETE lives.
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An interesting and factual post. Luckily I don’t use artificial sweeteners..for me the trigger is in the word artificial and that means it is a no no..under any circs. From my perspective, all these artificial, low-fat products have a lot to do with the current increase in certain health problems…I just wish governments would see that they could potentially save so much money if they policed food manufacturers much more stringently,, and that would be just for starters …
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Perspective has been lost as greater conflicts of interest develop across the governmental/pharmaceutical/agricultural and medical industries. These conflicts have lead to enormous wealth difficult to “give up” for the benefit of society. It is therefore, up to the public to “self police” their purchases and their practices for living healthier lives. Until they accept this responsibility, all other industries will remain FOCUSED on their individual needs at the expense of the consumer.
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Indeed, it will… I just wish people would wake up and smell the coffee.It is not too hard to ask a question but more to the point want to know…and act on it for your own health and self preservation 🙂
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Agreed!
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Great post with excellent information. Thankfully I do not take ártificial’ sweeteners and really try to do the right thing when it comes to eating healthily and living a healthy lifestyle.
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Your comments regarding responsibility for self health reflect a true cultural difference (I’m guessing!) You have much greater awareness and assume significantly greater responsibility for your health. I wish I had thousands of similar comments from the general population.
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A great post. I have heard a little about this but need to look into it more! I think in the beginning of these sweeteners they said they were all natural haha from nature etc.
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People like “buzz” words. Raw sugar may be “natural” but doesn’t provide ANY essential needs for the body under normal conditions. Marketers use their creative skills to attract the population to unhealthy products all the time.
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Yes so true
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There are plenty of natural sweeteners ; garden grown mints, organic cinnamon sticks.
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You’re absolutely right. Why is it, however, that most of the public is unaware of these natural sweeteners? Our country bases much of its knowledge from TV viewing and advertising commercials. We are extremely limited using this resource for information designed to SELL rather than EDUCATE.
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Yes, you are absolutely right. But, with limited resources and limited audience and we do the best we can.
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[…] DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES WHILE LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE! […]
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What a fascinating read! This ties in well with my latest blog post and the importance of gut bacteria balance. When people think of Type 2 Diabetes, it’s often misunderstood as a warning to substitute sugar with ‘healthier’ alternatives, which in the end leads to the development of Diabetes as you explained in your blog.
Please check my blog as it revolves around the significance of diet and lack of physical activity in their contribution to Type 2 Diabetes.
Cheers, from Sydney Australia.
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