www.njchiropractors.com I 11 NUTRITION COUNCIL Chiro Assist TECHNIQUE Council NUTRITION Council REHABILITATION Council Many people believe sugar-free sodas are a healthy alternative to the traditional sugar-laden sodas which get most of the bad press. However, new research adds to rising concerns about the artificial sweeteners used in sugar-free diet sodas. A new report from the Framingham Heart Study, which has been tracking the health and lifestyles of thousands of people for decades, has stated that drinking just one can of diet soda per day is associated with higher risks of stroke and developing dementia. Matthew Pase, PhD, a neurologist at the Boston University School of Medicine, and his colleagues studied incidence of stroke and dementia in nearly 3,000 members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort. They examined an array of variables including age, gender, education level, caloric intake, diet quality, physical activity, and smoking, all variables that can affect a person’s risk of stroke or dementia. Controlling for these variables, the researchers found that drinking one artificially-sweetened diet soda per day for extended periods increased the odds of developing dementia by a factor of 2.89, and risk of stroke by a factor of 2.96 (Pase MP, et al. Stroke 2017;48: 1139-1146). However, it is still too soon to say that artificially-sweetened diet sodas directly cause strokes and dementia. Data from the study was collected via self-reported responses to food recall questionnaires. This method of data collection is not the most reliable but can still provide valuable clues and insights into potential issues. It is also important to note that there were no associations found between traditional sugar-sweetened sodas and increased risk of stroke or dementia. These findings strongly indicate that people should be extremely cautious of consuming artificial sweeteners. The possible health effects of artificial sweeteners go way beyond an increased risk of stroke and dementia. There is also evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners harm the gut microbiome. One study has shown that artificial sweeteners encourage the growth of a type of bacteria that helps convert food into fat, an effect certainly not desirable by people trying to lose weight. Additionally, many artificial sweeteners are hundreds of times sweeter than regular sugar. This can dull the sense of taste over time and change how people perceive their food. Many times, people who continuously consume artificial sweeteners can no longer stand the taste of foods that are not sweet such as leafy greens and other vegetables. This can lead to a vicious cycle of needing more sweets to be satisfied and staying away from nutritious, phytonutrient-rich foods. The following artificial sweeteners are the biggest culprits and should be avoided as often as possible: aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low), xylitol (Sorbitol, Maltitol), and acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One, ACE, ACE K). Try the following natural sweeteners instead: stevia, erythritol, monk fruit extract, raw honey, palm sugar, black- strap molasses, and medjool dates. It is important to remember that although artificial sweeteners likely cause significant harm to a person’s health, going back to high amounts of traditional sugar is not the answer. Avoid artificial sweeteners, limit sugar as much as possible, and give the natural sweeteners listed earlier a chance to satisfy your sweet tooth. Tom Bilella, DC, MS, CCN, CNS, DACBN, CISSN, practices in Red Bank, where he specializes in metabolic syndrome, peak performance, weight loss, and chronic conditions. His goal is to educate patients in the community to lead a healthier, more productive life without the use of unnecessary drugs or surgery. By Dr. Tom Bilella ANJC Nutrition Education Council Chairman THE NEW DANGERS OF DIET SODA Powered By Pure Purity Potency Balance Health #lifetothemax • 4:1 Ratio EPA-to-DHA for optimal anti–inflammatory response • 1,000 mg per softgel • 2,265 mg EPA /564 mg DHA To receive a free box of Omax3 and learn more, contact our professional sales team today. 855-978-6615 tryomaxpro.com