Artificial sweeteners have been examined carefully for decades and critics say that they cause a variety of health problems including dementia.
Artificial sweeteners used in carbonated drinks are not natural. That is, unlike sugar, they are not grown from beet or sugarcane. Some of these sweeteners are from man-made chemicals. Aspartame, Sucralose, and Saccharin are artificial sweeteners and many of these are found added to even healthier foods in our markets.
Aspartame has been overly contentious since its approval by European countries in the 80’s. In 1996, a study linked it to a rise in brain tumours. Also, according to some researchers, in a study of 1484 participants over 60 years of age, 81 cases of incident dementia associated with diet drinks were discovered (63 consistent with Alzheimer’s disease).
Dementia is a loss of cognitive functioning characterised by impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgement. Symptoms of dementia includes; forgetfulness, limited social skills and thinking abilities so impaired that it tampers with daily functioning. This ailment is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people in the world.
The World Health Organization WHO, noted that dementia mainly affects older people, though it is not a normal part of ageing. The agency also stated that about 50 million persons have dementia all over the world.
Dementia has a physical, psychological, social and economic impact, not only on people suffering from it, but also on their families and society as a whole.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, it is a progressive brain disorder that destroys the memory and other important mental functioning. It may contribute to 60-70% of dementia cases.
Instead of taking foods containing artificial sweeteners, invest in natural sweeteners like pure honey, stevia, vanilla and cinnamon. Many people who cut artificial sugars out of their diets report improved and better health status.
