Reasons to Give Up Aspartame

Source: fitday.com

Aspartame is a non-calorie artificial sweetener comprised of methanol, phenylalanine and aspartic acid.  It is used in diet sodas and thousands of other products worldwide. Since it appeared on the US market in the 1980s, aspartame and the possible health risks from the substance have been a topic of much debate. Research has linked the sweetener to diabetes, fibromyalgia and certain forms of cancer. Here are some of the dangers of excessive aspartame consumption.

Cancer

Studies have found a dangerous connection between aspartame consumption and the development of brain tumors. When aspartame breaks down it produces a substance called DKP. As your stomach digests DKP, it produces a chemical that induces the growth of brain tumors.

Diabetes

Aspartame consumption is extremely harmful to people with diabetes. It makes it more difficult to control sugar levels and aggravate diabetes-related conditions such as retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy and gastroparesis. The sweetener also has been known to cause convulsions often mistaken for insulin reactions.

Psychological Disorders

Emotional and mood disorders have been linked to aspartame. Studies suggest that people with certain emotional problems are more sensitive to aspartame.  High levels of aspartame cause changes in the serotonin levels which can lead to behavioral problems, depression and other emotional disorders. In some cases, the side effects were so dangerous that doctors were forced to put an end to the studies.

Hinders Weight Loss

Aspartame can be found in diet sodas and most other diet products. However, research indicates that the sweetener increases your hunger and can actually impede your weight loss. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid can cause spikes in insulin levels and force your body to remove the glucose from your blood stream and store it as fat. Aspartame also inhibits the production of serotonin and prevents your brain from signalling to your body that you are full. This can lead to food cravings and make it more difficult for you to lose weight.

Birth Defects

Aspartame is an excitotoxin or a substance that has the potential to damage or kill cells in the nervous system. The blood-brain barrier is a structure that stops harmful substances from penetrating the brain. The barrier doesn't completely form until a child is one year old, therefore, before a child is born, its nervous system is vulnerable to any dangerous excitotoxins that the mother may consume. Too much exposure to phenylalanine or aspartic acid may cause irreversible brain damage and other serious birth defects.

Vision Problems

Methanol, one of Aspartame's components, can damage the retinas and the optic nerves. Aspartame consumption has been connected to eye pain, blurred vision and, in some cases, blindness.

Brain Damage and Seizures

Aspartame can change the chemistry of the brain. Formaldehyde, a product of methanol, gathers in certain areas of the brain causing degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ALS. Aspartame consumption can also trigger seizures in both epileptics and other individuals without a history of epilepsy.

Aspartame may contain fewer calories than sugar, however, the toxic sweetener has the potential to cause serious damage to the nervous system and in the worst case scenarios can be fatal.

More Studies Needed on Stevia

Source: wisegeek.com
Although stevia sounds like a miracle herb, scientific research may suggest otherwise. Some scientists are concerned that stevia may be a mutagen, meaning that it could cause cancer. Steviahas also been linked to reproductive malfunction. Some of these studies have been imperfectly performed, but the need for more thorough analysis of the compound has certainly been demonstrated. Proponents of stevia suggest that these studies may be part of a larger effort on the part of sugar companies to keep alternatives to sugar off the market, pointing out that steviais widely used in South America and Asia with no noticeable ill effects. Given the argument over stevia, it would appear that more controlled studies are needed.

Stevia Information - Questions & Answers about Stevia & Week 21/22 Results

I've tried mate (strong tea) in Argentina. If stevia is extra sweet it would compliment mate. Below is a link to stevia info.

Stevia Information - Questions & Answers about Stevia

Week 21
6-25-12  40 min.
6-26-12  40 min.
6-27-12  40 min.
6-28-12  2 hrs.
6-30-12  30 min.
7-1-12  60 min.
TOTAL 4 hrs. 30 min.

Week 22
7-2-12  1 hr.
7-4-12  1 hr.
7-5-12  1 hr.
7-7-12  40 min.
TOTAL 3 hrs. 40 min.

Top 60 Most Strenuous Sports & Week 20 Results

Degree of Difficulty: Sport Rankings
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Boxing	8.63	8.13	8.63	6.38	6.25	4.38	8.88	8.50	7.00	5.63	72.375	1
Ice Hockey	7.25	7.13	7.88	7.75	7.63	4.88	6.00	8.25	7.50	7.50	71.750	2
Football	5.38	8.63	8.13	7.13	6.38	4.38	7.25	8.50	5.50	7.13	68.375	3
Basketball	7.38	6.25	6.50	7.25	8.13	5.63	4.13	7.75	7.50	7.38	67.875	4
Wrestling	6.63	8.38	7.13	5.13	6.38	7.50	5.00	6.75	4.25	6.38	63.500	5
Martial Arts	5.00	5.88	7.75	6.38	6.00	7.00	6.63	5.88	6.00	6.88	63.375	6
Tennis	7.25	5.13	7.13	6.75	7.75	5.63	3.00	5.00	8.38	6.75	62.750	7
Gymnastics	5.38	6.13	6.63	5.00	6.38	10.00	7.50	6.88	4.50	4.13	62.500	8
Baseball/Softball	4.63	5.75	7.63	6.50	6.75	4.75	5.13	5.63	9.25	6.25	62.250	9
Soccer	7.75	4.50	5.13	7.25	8.25	4.75	3.63	6.25	6.50	7.50	61.500	10
Skiing: Alpine	5.13	5.25	6.00	7.38	6.13	5.63	8.38	6.00	5.13	5.63	60.625	11
Water Polo	7.88	6.63	6.88	5.38	6.38	5.00	4.25	6.38	6.25	5.63	60.625	11
Rugby	6.75	7.00	6.38	5.88	6.00	4.13	6.50	7.88	4.38	5.63	60.500	13
Lacrosse	6.63	5.13	5.75	7.00	6.63	4.75	4.38	6.13	7.13	6.88	60.375	14
Rodeo: Steer Wrestling	4.00	7.00	7.88	3.88	4.88	5.00	7.88	6.88	5.13	4.00	56.500	15
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Track and Field: Pole Vault	3.38	6.88	7.25	6.13	5.38	7.00	6.63	4.25	5.25	3.75	55.875	16
Field Hockey	6.75	4.50	5.38	6.00	5.75	4.63	3.75	5.00	6.63	6.50	54.875	17
Speed Skating	7.63	7.25	7.38	8.88	4.00	4.25	4.50	4.63	2.88	3.50	54.875	17
Figure Skating	6.38	5.25	6.63	5.13	6.88	8.25	4.88	4.00	3.13	4.25	54.750	19
Cycling: Distance	9.63	6.38	6.25	5.13	3.75	2.63	5.88	6.88	3.00	4.88	54.375	20
Volleyball	5.13	4.88	6.63	5.00	7.00	5.13	2.88	4.63	7.25	5.88	54.375	20
Racquetball/Squash	6.13	3.75	5.00	5.50	7.25	5.88	2.38	2.88	8.38	6.50	53.625	22
Surfing	4.63	5.00	4.13	4.25	6.63	5.50	8.25	5.50	4.38	4.88	53.125	23
Fencing	4.63	3.75	4.25	5.13	6.13	5.63	4.88	4.25	7.25	6.88	52.750	24
Skiing: Freestyle	4.13	5.13	4.88	5.13	6.63	6.88	6.63	5.13	4.13	3.88	52.500	25
Team Handball	4.88	3.88	5.38	5.50	6.00	4.50	3.00	3.88	7.88	5.88	50.750	26
Cycling: Sprints	4.25	6.13	7.88	7.50	4.00	2.88	4.75	4.50	3.63	4.50	50.000	27
Bobsledding/Luge	3.50	5.50	6.50	6.75	4.13	3.25	7.75	3.50	4.13	4.25	49.250	28
Ski Jumping	3.50	4.50	5.75	4.63	4.00	5.00	9.00	4.63	4.38	3.50	48.875	29
Badminton	5.25	3.25	4.00	5.63	7.38	5.25	1.25	2.63	7.25	6.13	48.000	30
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Skiing: Nordic	9.00	5.75	4.38	5.13	4.00	4.00	2.75	5.50	3.63	3.88	48.000	30
Auto Racing	5.88	3.50	2.63	1.63	2.75	1.75	9.88	4.38	8.00	7.50	47.875	32
Track and Field: High Jump	3.00	6.00	7.00	6.13	5.63	6.63	3.50	3.50	3.50	2.88	47.750	33
Track and Field: Long, Triple jumps	4.00	5.63	7.13	6.75	5.00	5.75	2.75	3.25	4.00	3.13	47.375	34
Diving	2.88	5.13	4.63	3.00	3.50	8.50	8.38	5.00	3.00	3.00	47.000	35
Swimming (all strokes): Distance	9.25	5.25	4.63	5.50	3.63	5.50	2.63	4.63	2.88	3.00	46.875	36
Skateboarding	4.13	3.75	3.75	4.13	6.13	5.13	6.50	5.25	4.88	3.13	46.750	37
Track and Field: Sprints	3.50	5.13	7.25	9.88	4.63	5.13	2.00	4.13	2.63	2.38	46.625	38
Rowing	8.13	7.75	7.13	4.00	2.50	4.00	1.75	4.38	2.88	3.63	46.125	39
Rodeo: Calf Roping	3.13	5.38	5.00	4.25	5.63	3.88	4.88	3.75	6.38	3.75	46.000	40
Track and Field: Distance	9.63	5.25	3.75	6.00	3.25	4.38	2.00	5.75	1.88	4.13	46.000	40
Rodeo: Bull/Bareback/Bronc Riding	3.25	5.38	4.00	1.75	3.63	4.25	9.50	7.38	3.63	3.13	45.875	42
Track and Field: Middle Distance	6.00	5.13	5.13	7.75	4.00	4.88	2.00	4.75	2.13	3.75	45.500	43
Weight-Lifting	4.13	9.25	9.75	2.63	2.50	3.38	4.00	4.75	2.25	2.38	45.000	44
Swimming (all strokes): Sprints	4.13	5.25	6.25	7.88	3.63	5.50	2.50	3.25	2.75	3.00	44.125	45
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Water Skiing	4.63	5.00	4.50	3.00	4.25	4.75	5.88	4.63	4.13	3.25	44.000	46
Table Tennis	3.50	2.50	4.63	4.13	5.88	4.25	1.38	1.88	8.88	6.00	43.000	47
Track and Field: Weights	3.25	7.88	9.13	3.00	3.13	3.00	2.25	3.63	4.00	2.88	42.125	48
Canoe/Kayak	6.75	5.25	5.63	3.50	2.75	3.88	3.63	3.25	3.13	4.25	42.000	49
Horse Racing	4.00	3.88	2.88	1.38	2.88	3.75	8.00	4.50	3.88	6.50	41.625	50
Golf	3.25	3.88	6.13	1.63	1.75	4.00	2.50	2.38	6.00	6.38	37.875	51
Cheerleading	3.63	3.63	3.38	2.25	4.13	7.50	3.63	3.38	2.50	2.25	36.250	52
Roller Skating	4.75	3.38	4.00	5.13	4.00	3.50	2.63	3.38	2.88	2.63	36.250	52
Equestrian	3.38	3.25	1.75	1.25	2.50	2.88	6.00	2.75	2.88	5.13	31.750	54
Archery	2.88	4.50	3.13	1.13	1.63	2.63	2.75	2.13	6.63	3.25	30.625	55
Curling	2.25	2.63	2.50	1.50	2.25	2.63	1.75	1.50	4.88	5.63	27.500	56
Bowling	2.25	2.75	3.38	1.00	1.88	2.38	1.63	1.25	4.75	4.13	25.375	57
Shooting	2.25	2.50	1.38	0.88	1.13	1.75	2.38	1.88	6.75	4.00	24.875	58
Billiards	1.00	1.00	1.75	0.75	1.00	2.63	1.63	0.75	5.25	5.75	21.500	59
Fishing	1.38	1.63	1.25	0.63	1.50	1.13	0.88	0.88	2.38	2.88	14.500	60

source ESPN
Week 20 Results
6-19-12  40 min.
6-20-12  40 min.
6-21-12  1.5 hrs.
6-22-12  40 min.
6-23-12  2 hrs.
6-24-12  40 min.
TOTAL 6 hrs. 10 min. 

Ecodrink & Week 19 Results

(photo from sgnnutrition.com)

Picked up Ecodrink at CostCo. All I was told was vitamins get to your body easier in powder vs. pill form. Tasted good. Website offers info that it provides: antioxidants, nutrients & electrolytes. Sounds good to me. Still unsure of how many electrolytes one needs or how much this product provides.

Week 19 Results
6-13-12  30 min.
6-14-12  40 min.
6-15-12  2 hrs.
TOTAL 3 HRS. 10 MIN.

UV Light Mushrooms & Week 18 Results

Some Mushrooms we purchase have UV light added for Vit. D benefits

(following info from Wikapedia)

Mushrooms that have been exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light contain large amounts of vitamin D₂.^[19][20][21] Mushrooms, when exposed to UV light, convert ergosterol, a chemical found in large concentrations in many mushrooms, to vitamin D₂. This is similar to the reaction in humans, whereVitamin D₃ is synthesized after exposure to UV light.

Testing conducted by the Pennsylvania State University showed an hour of UV light exposure made a serving of mushrooms contain twice the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's daily recommendation of vitamin D. Testing by the Monterey Mushrooms Company demonstrated 5 minutes of UV light exposure made a serving of mushrooms contain four times the FDA's daily recommendation of vitamin D.^[19] High performance liquid chromatography analysis has also demonstrated the effect sunlight has on mushroom vitamin D₂ content.^[22]

The ergocalciferol, vitamin D₂, in UV-irradiated mushrooms is not the same form of vitamin D as is produced by UV-irradiation of human skin or animal skin, fur, or feathers (cholecalciferol, vitamin D₃). Although vitamin D₂ clearly has vitamin D activity in humans and formerly was widely used in milk fortification and in nutritional supplements, vitamin D₃ is often used in dairy products.^[23][24] However, any difference in vitamin D bioavailability from the two forms has been adequately disproved to allow reasonable assumption that D2 and D3 are equal for maintaining 25-hydroxyvitamin D status.^[25

Mushroom	Sunlight exposure	Vitamin D2 content (IU/100g)
Shiitake	None	10 — 100
Shiitake	Gills down	11,000
Shiitake	Gills up	46,000
Reishi	None	66
Reishi	Pores up	2,760
Maitake	None	460
Maitake	Pores up	31,900

Week 18 Results
6-4-12  40 min.
6-5-12  40 min.
6-6-12  40 min.
6-7-12  1 hr.
6-8-12  3 hrs.
6-10-12 40 min.
TOTAL HRS. 6 HRS. 40 MIN.

Vitamin D Diet & Week 17 Results

This book comes out in Sept. Description from Amazon...


A 4-week plan backed by the latest science that unlocks the key to melting fat for good.

A staggering 70 percent of Americans are now vitamin D deficient. And almost 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. Of all the variables we can control, vitamin D may play the most crucial role of all in controlling appetite and our natural ability to either store or burn fat. The answer is in what you eat. According to new, breakthrough research, you can nearly double your weight loss in the same amount of time, and zero in on your #1 trouble spot—your tummy—by maximizing one thing: vitamin D.

The Vitamin D Diet is packed with delicious, D-fortified foods that melt fat fast—readers can expect to lose up to 7 pounds on the 7-Day Speed Melt, then transition into the full 4-Week Fat Melt. The menus are designed specifically to superdose the body with D, which promotes satiety and eliminates diet-busting cravings. There’s even a unique "Summer" and "Winter" maintenance plan created around foods of the seasons, to further boost mood and short-circuit diet-induced depression. And since readers can enjoy snacks, dessert, even a glass of wine—it’s a plan they can follow for life!

Including an easy-to-follow, customizable exercise plan and mouth-watering-yet-slimming recipes, The Vitamin D Diet unlocks the body’s fat-melting potential to beat hunger, maximize weight loss, boost energy, and dramatically improve one’s health.


Week 17 Results
5-28-12  40 min.
5-29-12  40 min.
5-30-12  40 min.
5-31-12  40 min.
6-2-12   5 hrs.
6-3-12  1 hr.
TOTAL HRS. 8 hrs. 40 min.