While it is hotly debated in medical circles whether or not sugar addiction really exists, millions of people will attest to an overwhelming urge to eat sweet foods. Sometimes they are referred to as having a sweet tooth. Many of these have been turning to artificial sweeteners as the solutions to their sugar cravings. The thinking is that they can satisfy their sugar cravings without suffering the consequences of sugar.

The problem is that most artificial sweeteners, and possibly even some sugar extracts such as sucralose, have at least as many health problems associated with them as sugar consumption. However, many of the possible health side effects have yet to be proven, while many others may exist that we don’t yet know about. Regardless, it is important to note that there may be some unintended side effects of using artificial sweeteners that should give sugar addicts pause about making substitutions.

1. Allergies

Many individuals may be allergic to various chemicals used in the synthesis of artificial sweeteners. Since these chemicals are not listed on any product labels, there is a risk that even if you know about your allergy you may be exposing yourself to it without your knowledge. For example, many artificial sweeteners are made using chemicals that are similar to sulfa, a common allergen found in prescription drugs. An allergic reaction may present itself in such forms as anxiety, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, rashes, sneezing, or swelling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESKlDAiDbHY

2. Cancer

So far there has been little scientific proof presented that artificial sweeteners can cause cancer in humans. However, several, such as aspartame, may cause cancer in lab rats. Why is this important? Lab rats are often used as the first line of testing for drugs because humans tend to react similarly. It should be noted that a link to cancer has not been disproven either. More long-term studies need to be done than is being done, but it is questionable whether anyone should be consuming substantial amounts of artificial sweeteners at this time.

3. Depression

There are questions being raised in the scientific community about strong correlations between artificial sweetener use and depression. Even greater concerns are expressed about links to bipolar disorder and various anxiety disorders. The question that hasn’t been answered yet is whether the depression precedes the artificial sweetener use or the artificial sweetener use precedes the depression, or, possibly even both.

4. Migraine Headaches

Some people have been raising concerns lately about their migraines getting worse while consuming significant amounts of products sweetened with sucralose. Some even claim that their migraines started with sucralose. It may be that sucralose is a vasoconstrictor.

5. Weight Gain

One of the most stunning results of many recent studies is that those who consume significant amounts of artificial sweeteners weigh significantly more than their peers. There may be a variety of reasons for this, as there are several reasons conjectured upon in the literature, ranging from increased appetite to dulled sense of taste resulting in increased cravings for sugary and fatty foods. Whatever the reason, it is now well established that the people who consume the most artificial sweeteners are overweight, so they are probably not a good solution for the average sugar addict.

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Artificial Sweetener for the Sugar Addict is a post from: fitnessweightlosscenter.com

A new study from Johns Hopkins finds that overweight doctors are less likely to talk to their patients about obesity or weight issues. If your doctor is overweight or obese and you’re looking to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle you should consider finding a doctor who is fit and healthy. Even if you overweight doctor does talk to you about your weight there will always be in the back of your mind the thought that if my doctor is overweight how important is it to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Check out the complete article from WebMD:

Doctor Overweight? Slim Chance of Getting Weight Loss Advice

Doctor’s Weight May Be a Factor in Diagnosing Obesity, Study Finds

By Denise Mann
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 31, 2012 — Doctors who are normal weight are more likely to give patients advice on diet and exercise, according to a new study.

And normal-weight doctors were also more apt to make a diagnosis of obesity, compared to overweight or obese doctors.

“Your doctor is often not going to diagnose obesity or have weight loss discussions with you if they weigh more than you do,” says researcher Sara Bleich, PhD. She is an assistant professor with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School’s department of health policy and management in Baltimore, Md.

The new survey of 500 primary care doctors shows that doctors who have a normal body mass index (BMI) were more likely to engage their obese patients in weight loss discussions, as compared to overweight and obese physicians, 30% vs. 18%, respectively. Doctors were also much more likely to diagnose someone as being obese if they thought a person’s BMI was equal to or exceeded their own.

Thinner doctors were not only more likely to bring these topics up; they also thought their patients would be more likely to follow their advice. Doctors with a self-reported BMI of less than 25 were considered normal weight. Those with a BMI at or above 25 were considered overweight. The findings appear in the January issue of Obesity.

Exactly why heavier doctors may be less likely to discuss weight loss and obesity is not fully understood.

It’s possible that a heavyset doctor is reluctant to suggest moving more and eating less when he or she knows it didn’t work for them. “They may not want to give advice that is not effective in their own minds,” Bleich says

Overweight or obese doctors are more likely to recommend weight loss pills, she says. The study did not look at how often the doctors discussed weight loss surgery with obese patients.

I’m OK, You’re OK

Another possibility: “They are used to seeing overweight and obese patients who look like they do and doctors may think, ‘I am OK and so are they,’” Bleich says. Next, Bleich plans to look into how much patients trust heavyset doctors’ advice.

It’s a case of doctor, heal thyself, says Matthew Kroh, MD. He is a surgeon in the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “Obesity is widespread, and even health professionals are being affected by a national epidemic,” he says.

The findings also show how problems beget other problems. “A patient could say, ‘I understand obesity may cause weight-related medical problems, but it can’t be that serious if my trusted doctor doesn’t abide by the same principles,’” he says.

Maybe doctors don’t dole out advice on diet and exercise because they know it doesn’t work for everyone, says Ronald Clements, MD. He is the director of the Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss and a professor of surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Advice on weight loss must be individualized.

“I am 10 to 15 pounds overweight, and a doctor should say, ‘Skip dessert and exercise more,’ but you can’t tell that to someone who is morbidly obese,” Clements says. “We need to be telling patients about the most effective therapy for their weight.”

Doctors are regular people just like everyone else so it’s no surprise to find overweight and obese doctors. However if you’re wanting to change your life for the better and begin to eat healthy and exercise regularly you may find it easier to get advice from a doctor who is not overweight or obese. What do you think? Please leave your comments below and join the discussion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PtihhofFiU

Related articles

• Overweight Doctors Less Likely to Discuss Weight Loss With Patients (blogs.wsj.com)
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Is Your Doctor Fat? is a post from: fitnessweightlosscenter.com

The world may not seem like a fair place, especially on the superficial level. Each person has sets of genetic advantages and disadvantages relative to others, and weight is one of the areas where differences in genetics and habits are most visually obvious.

If you’re among those who seem to be at a genetic disadvantage for weight control, it may seem so much as a taste of food is instantly added to your belly. It gets particularly annoying when you’re eating with others and the skinny person is eating every unhealthy thing in sight, while you eat your salad without dressing, knowing you’ll probably gain weight while that person remains skinny. Why is it that some people gain weight readily while others don’t seem to gain weight no matter what they eat?

The equations for weight gain are actually a lot more complicated than what nutritionists would have you believe. However, that does not mean that there isn’t plenty of science to show why some people gain weight and others don’t. In fact, if you’ll go beyond your developing food and weight anxieties and look into some of the things those who don’t gain weight do, as opposed to what you do, you can also be your ideal weight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfki_zV2uWc

(1) It is absolutely true that different people are genetically inclined toward different rates of metabolism. Those who are inclined towards faster metabolism will tend to be more tolerant of bad habits, though not impervious. Those inclined towards slower metabolisms must eat and exercise nearly perfectly to achieve a fast metabolic rate.

(2) You don’t know how these skinny people exercise when others aren’t around. Some people are naturally active. Some skinny people have such active metabolisms that they can’t sit still.

(3) You don’t know how these skinny people eat when others aren’t around. Studies have shown that a lot of skinny people are heavy social eaters and then cut back on junk food to compensate when they’re alone.

(4) Many medications and disease processes impact weight gain. Some skinny people may have conditions or may be on medications that limit their weight gain. Likewise, some of your health issues or medications may force you to gain weight. Various intestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, can keep a person from gaining weight.

So while it is important to recognize there is a genetic factor in why some people gain weight and some people don’t gain weight, there are a lot of behavioral and environmental factors that are also at play. You can win the battle against weight gain, but you must fight your own battles while others fight their own battles. The key is for you to be responsible for your own eating and exercise habits.

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Why Some People Gain Weight And Some People Don’t is a post from: fitnessweightlosscenter.com

Have you tried a lot of different fitness programs but none of them works? You should try the amazing Power 90 workout created by Tony Horton, a fitness expert. This workout incorporates both strength training and a cardiovascular workout with many different types of exercises so you get the body you dream of having.

The Power 90 workout comes with 12 DVD workouts and they are all unique. There is one that helps you build strong muscles in your chest and back using push-ups and pull-ups combined with other exercises so you also burn calories while building your muscle mass. Workout 3 focuses on building muscle in your shoulders and arms. All of the exercises in this workout plan help you get toned muscles while also building muscle mass.

This may sound too good to be true, but the Power 90 program gives you a different type of workout so your body starts to change in ways you did not think were possible. The Power 90 workout helps you get slim and toned or add muscle mass.

With the Power 90 workout, you will get information to help you follow a three-phase nutrition plan. This contains information about supplements you may want to take and helps you map out the workouts you need to do to get the best possible results. You have to follow the Power 90 workout plan if you are going to get the results you want, though, because the food gives your body fuel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUy8YLnJ98

The nutrition plan will help you make good choices at the grocery store and with supplements so your body has enough energy. It also helps you manage your portion size. The first phase of the nutrition plan called the “fat shredder” has you following a diet high in protein so you build muscle while burning fat.

The second phase of the Power 90 workout and nutrition plan has you eating less fat and more carbohydrates and protein so you start to feel more energized. The third phase helps you build your endurance by eating the right balance of proteins and carbohydrates so your body gets the fuel it needs to change for the better.

The Power 90 workout is very complex, just like your body. That is why you get a complete fitness guide and a “how to bring it” DVD so you can get a feel of the plan. You also get a calendar to keep track of your progress and access to an online support group. You will have everything you could need to use the amazing Power 90 program to lose weight and build muscle. You can be in the best shape of your life.

When you are done with the third phase, you will be amazed at how good you look and feel both mentally and physically. You have to follow the Power 90 workout nutrition plan, though, to get the best results and to get them fast.

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Can’t Find a Fitness Program That Works? Try the Power 90 Workout is a post from: fitnessweightlosscenter.com

If you eat food in a typical fashion when you go out to eat, there is a good chance you’ll sabotage your weight loss goals. Fortunately, there are some quick little maneuvers you can learn for eating at restaurants that will allow you to achieve easy weight loss.

(1) Chipotle’s lets you choose what you have on the burrito, so instead of having them put sour cream on it, mix some guacamole up with red and green tomatilla salsas to save yourself from 100 calories.

(2) Olive Garden’s linguine al maranara tastes much better if you think about the more than 700 calories you save by choosing it over the spaghetti and meatballs.

(3) Skipping Wienerschnitzel’s breakfast burrito in favor of one of its biscuit and sandwich deals will save you more than 200 calories.

(4) Would you believe that you can save more than 150 calories by going with the Delux Dog instead of the All Beef Chili Cheese Dog at Wienerschnitzel’s?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlav6Wq2qVg

(5) Pizza Hut has a Fit N’ Delicious pizza that is more than 350 calories less per slice than the Stuffed Crust Meat Lover’s pizza. Five slices of the latter could put an extra half pound of fat on your belly!

(6) Starbucks Frappuccino drinks are legendary, as much for their calorie counts as their fine flavors. Fortunately the Grande Caffe Mocha tastes great too. Get it instead of the Grande Mocha Frappuccino and you’ll avoid 250 calories.

(7) By design, there are few food options at In-N-Out, but that doesn’t mean you can achieve easy weight loss with a small switch in food selection. For example, You can choose the Cheese Burger Protein Style over the Cheeseburger with onions and save nearly 150 calories, keeping in mind that you’re essentially trading in the bun for large pieces of lettuce.

(8) Would you believe you can cut more than 700 calories at Dairy Queen simply by choosing a 1/2 cup soft-serve chocolate ice cream over the medium chocolate malt?

(9) Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Shopuntie Anne’s Pretzel Shop has some great coffees, right? Selection does matter when it comes to easy weight loss, as demonstrated by the more than 350 calories you save going with regular Mocha Dutch Latte over the regular Coffee Dutch Shake.

(10) Denny’s buttermilk pancake orders have 850 calories less than their french toast orders.

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Quick Ways to Eat Healthier at Chain Restaurants is a post from: fitnessweightlosscenter.com