Where has all the Common Sense Gone????

 While sitting at my favourite coffee shop today having lunch I was reading one of my favourite fitness magazines from the States. I was reading an interesting article on artificial sweeteners. I have always been against artificial sweeteners as they are chemicals.

The article I was reading was discussing the points of whether artificial sweeteners had a positive or negative effect on weight loss. I have family members whom use these tiny little tablets/sachets of artificial sweetener in their coffee, tea, soft (soda) drinks that are sugar free (filled with artificial sweetener), also in fat free foods. I really don't understand why people can think and believe that by having this sweetener alternative would actually be better for you than natural sugars, honey or agave. You are putting chemicals into your body that it doesn't recognize. Ok lets take a look, at some common sense here: it is not sugar alone that puts weight on and causes heart disease, or high blood pressure, diabetes, its a number of lifestyle factors that do.

 A sedentary lifestyle, eating to much (proportion size), eating to much processed foods, that are high in sugars and processed carbohydrates, high fats (saturated fats). Emotional eating, Eating at the wrong times, senseless eating...

Ok, back to the artificial sweeteners, they have no calories, but what are you really putting into your body? Our senses;  see, touch, taste, smell, hear, have connections to our brain, we see the image of something sweet, our taste buds taste something sweet, but our gut doesn't get the "sugar" it gets "chemicals", the natural reaction from our body isn't going to happen as it should, if you actually put natural sugar into your body.

One of the best known artificial sweeteners...

Aspartame is an intense sweetener used to replace sugar in foods and drinks. In Australia and New Zealand aspartame is permitted at specified levels as an intense sweetener in a range of foods.

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. (Mercola.com)

Sugars are carbohydrates. Like all carbohydrates, they provide a source of energy in our diet. Sugar is a term that includes all sweet carbohydrates, although the term most often is used to describe sucrose or table sugar, a ‘double sugar’. The body breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars such as glucose, that can be readily used in the body. (Better Health Channel)

So lets take a look at the above and what does common sense tell us?? For me I am not going to put chemicals in my body on purpose for the need of sweetness in my food and drink. I would prefer the enjoy the real sweetness of sugar (sugar cane, honey, agave, natural sugars) and in moderation, than to much chemical based sugars. We are supposed to have enough common sense to eat responsibly and in moderation, but why do we around the world have issues with obesity, eating disorders and famine, and so much more.

So where do we fall down in the world of common sense? we are supposed to have this growing up and learning about life, then when we get to being adults we have a tendency to throw it out the window when it suits us. The world is about making money, so even in the world of fitness and health its about loosing weight, being fit, getting the result you want fast, take the supplements, go on the diet, get the best and latest...

I am all about doing it properly. I have had to learn the hard way about being skinny, about being sick, about nearly dying. I have had to learn that there is no quick fix, there is no magic pill, there is no magic wand that is going to give you the body we want, even if you did get it I bet you would find something that you wouldn't be happy with. So lets get back to the world that is full of common sense and see things for what they are, and how we can change our own lives for the better. Being healthy and not looking to be skinny. Eating in moderation and not over or under eating for our mind, body and spirit need to be fed to live. Lets get off he roller coaster of technology and slow our lives down just a little to be able to enjoy what is around us, fresh air, the ocean, the hills, flowers, children, family, friends, travel, life, happiness...leave the stress of the world and what is expected from it all behind just for a while to recharge yourself and see that yes you can be who you want to be.

Have a great week...
Hayley xx