014: Trick or Threat: The Scary Truth About Diet "Treats" Filled with Artificial Sweeteners

“I'm challenging you to love yourself enough. Love yourself enough to allow yourself to indulge in something sweet, and choose not to have it.” —Ann LeMaster

Artificial sweeteners may seem like a harmless way to satisfy our sweet tooth, but studies have linked long-term exposure to artificial sweeteners to alarming health consequences, including the promotion of aggressive cancer growth. Therefore, rather than reaching for that diet soda, we must consciously consider more natural, whole-food alternatives that won't compromise our well-being. Our body deserves better than synthetic chemicals masquerading as a healthier option.

Learn more about the hidden dangers of artificial sweeteners as Ann shares other health issues related to long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners besides cancer, the real cause of leaky gut and how to address it, as well as how our hair and nails can indicate illnesses that we may not be aware of, plus effective natural skin care tips to try. 

Connect with Ann on Social Media:  

Website: https://seednutrition.com/Annt/home 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008572834952 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annthemasterhealer/ 

Email: Tamingdiabetes@yahoo.com 

Episode Highlights: 

03:47 Nail Indicators and Nutrient Deficiencies

10:41 Foods that Contribute to Leaky Gut and Cancer

14:50 Aspartame and Cancer 

21:17 Aspartame and Gut Issues

26:00 Breaking Sugar Habits for Better Health

Resources: 

Ann’s Book

Heaven Scent: Listening to Your Inner Voice

Transcript

Ann LeMaster: Hello everybody. Welcome back to my Common Sense Living Podcast where I hope to inspire you to learn more about your health, and how you can take it into your own hands. So today, I'm going to talk about the nails, the skin and sugar. 

I first like to honor my advertisers Avini Health, that's www.avinihealth.com/annlemaster8084. If you buy from that site that I just gave you, I would make some money off of it. Just to make a clarification, it's not about the money for me. I don't even charge for my podcast, so I can't buy the money. I'm paying out to give you information because I want to share it. I love to learn, and I want to share that information with you. 

Anyway, I'm using cell defender, which is one of their products to detox 10 drops in the morning, 10 drops at night. And when I worked at a factory for 30 some years, we had a chemical to clean the breakers with. It was called xylene which the MSDS sheet says is bone cancer. So for two years, I was laid off. And every time I think it was in hot water, I broke out in this rash. So I am not in that situation now. I started the cell defender, and this finger here, can you see the redness right there? There, and here. Oops in here. It's dry and it itches like crazy. And it hurts. So anyway, I believe that the cell defender is getting the toxins out of me through my skin. And what I liked about it is it's like little capsules going on little capsules. It's got holes in it, and whether it got a positive or negative, I can't remember. But ones positive, ones negative stuck together, and yippie it out. So anyway, I'm excited about that. I've been doing that since April. They do not advertise it for this, but I found for myself that it lowered my A1c. And I'm tickled about that. It's just an FYI. Something that they don't advertise it for, but my own experience has. So it's up to you. 

Okay. So then my Taming Diabetes Differently, the course is going to be starting again soon. I just wanted to throw that in. I'll reference that more at the end person. I'm talking about the nails, skin and then sugar. So when was the last time you took a good look at your fingernails? I asked because your fingernails can actually reveal quite a bit about your health. So here's some details. Do you have white spots on your nails called leukonychia? They are often an indicator of a zinc deficiency. Black spots? First think back. Did you ever have trauma to your nail? A bruise? Usually that is the dark spot under your nail bed. But if you didn't slam your finger and you have that black spots, you should have been checked by your doctor. Because in rare cases, it can be a sign of skin cancer. And then if you have horizontal ridges across your nails and pits, they're a sign that you're missing some key nutrients most notably iron and zinc. Vertical ridges are usually just a normal sign of aging and nothing to worry about. Hallelujah. Curved spoon nails, this is what I call nails that curve inward and are shaped like a stone. This is a major red flag for iron deficiency. Slow growth or brittle nails both slow growing, and brittle nails are a sign of general nutrient deficiency. Nuts are especially indicative of  low iron and zinc levels. So you get the picture here, iron and zinc are big for the nails. So do any of these describe your nails? Don't be ashamed. It's actually pretty amazing what all those things that our body can tell us. 

So some skincare tips. Maybe it's not as overly or acne prone as before, or your flaky patches have finally cleared up, or maybe your skin took a turn for the worst. It's dry or maybe a few pimples have popped off. When you suddenly take away sugar, grains and processed foods, your body has to flush out all the bad stuff you have been feeding it for so long. This detoxification can result in more acne than normal for the first few weeks or even months. After that, you might find that your skin is really dry. This could be because your body is producing less SIBO or if just reacting to other factors in your environment. If however, your fat intake isn't high enough, you could end up with dry skin. Increase your good fats, more egg yolks, coconut oil, fatty fish or organic butter and see what happens. You might also find that you need to supplement your Omega-3 oils or cod liver oil if you don't get enough from your diet. The natural vitamin A and cod liver oil can also help clear up acne prone skin. Unfortunately, what works for one person doesn't work for another. 

If you have moderate to severe acne, you have to fiddle with your diet and lifestyle to find out what will help. Maybe your high stress lifestyle is a big contributor. Whatever change you decide to make, keep it for at least two weeks to a month before you decide that it doesn't work. Either way, remember that skincare is an important supplement to whatever other changes you make. You already know that what you put in your body affects your health. But did you come to the same conclusion about what you put on your body? You're careful about the chemicals you ingest. But if you're dumping chemicals onto your scalp and skin with no thought, maybe it's time to consider their contributions to the side effects you're experiencing. Look at the ingredients on the products you use in your daily beauty regimen. Can you pronounce all of them? Are they things that you want on your skin? Would you eat them? Here's some really healthy simple changes you can make to your morning and evening skincare routines. 

You definitely need a microfiber cloth for all in one skincare. Just to have warm water to exfoliate, remove makeup and keep your skin clean, no expensive chemical products are necessary. If you feel you need a little more TLC then the microfiber alone can provide. Try oil cleansing, it will leave your skin feeling clean, soft and without the need for extra moisturizer. Put a plug in for a company that I have no affiliation with other than I just love it. And it's walkabout emu oil, and I use that on this thing on my finger. I use it on my face. So anyway, I love the stuff. I've been using it for four years, and it was vetted by Dr. Terry Wahls. The doctor with MS who teaches out of the University of Iowa. I was at a conference one year, and all her advertisers supported it. The vendors, they're all vetted by her, and I've used it since. I just love it. With oil cleansing methods, those natural oils don't get stripped away. Use this method once a day,night is best. In the morning, you should be able to just wash your face with warm water and go. You will need either organic castor oil, or coconut oil, or a mixture of the two, or the emu oil. 

If your skin is very oily, use more castor oil. If you find your skin is drying out, use less castor oil. You can also add an essential oil of your choice such as lavender or tea tree, which can help soothe skin and ward off acne. You can pre mix the oil in batches of about half a cup, then mix in between 10 and 20 drafts of your choice of essential oil. Keep this in a glass jar in your bathroom. Wet your face with warm water and have a washcloth nearby. Put a quarter sized dollop of oil in your hands and rub them together. Then massage the oil onto your face for at least 30 seconds with the washcloth with tap water and lay it out over your face leaving it on for about 30 seconds, and then gently rub off some of the oil next. Rinse the cloth and repeat. Hopefully, you won't need to moisturize as much if you start using the oil cleansing routine. But if you find you do need a moisturizer afterwards, try finishing with a bit of coconut oil. Don't overdo it though, because a little goes a long way. If you need to exfoliate, try mixing baking soda water and a dab of liquid. 

So Dr. Bronner's works well, or coconut oil. Use a tablespoon or so of baking soda, some water on the soap or oil. You want the consistency to be similar to icing. Wash your face with warm water, and then apply the baking soda. Blend with your fingertips. Rub in gentle circular motions. Keep an eye out of your eyes. Rinse off with warm water, and pat gently to dry. An apple cider vinegar rinse can help act as a toner. Try mixing it in some water and increase the amount of vinegar you use as your skin gets used to it. Use a cotton ball or soft cloth and apply it after you've washed your face at night, pat it dry. When it comes to your entire body, you can use the dry brush method to help to remove dead skin cells from everywhere but your face. You will need a special and ethical brush for this if you want to do it the right way. But you can also use an exfoliating mitt. Start at your feet moving circular movements, do one leg at a time. And when you get to your torso, start over at your neck, and work your way down towards your heart. Do the same with your arms. Not only will this feel great, but the benefits of skin brushing includes cell regeneration and increased blood flow. Okay, so that's it. Good luck with that. 

I can't believe I went through three pages already. So now, we're going to talk a little bit here about leaky gut. Research shows that leaky gut syndrome plays a role in the development or exacerbation of several health conditions from irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, and inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, to neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and a host of autoimmune diseases. Picture the intestinal lining of the final mesh net with tiny holes that only permit specific substances to pass through. When this net is damaged, the holes may enlarge allowing harmful bacteria, toxins and undigested food particles to seep into the bloodstream. This breach can trigger inflammation, immune reactions and contribute to a spectrum of diseases. One significant contributor to leaky gut is the food we eat. 

Here are eight dietary culprits that are often linked to the development of leaky gut. One is dairy. For those with lactose intolerance, dairy can trigger bloating, gas and diarrhea leading to inflammation. Furthermore, additives like hormones and antibiotics in dairy products can disrupt gut health. I always promote, always, organic whenever possible. We're human. We're living beings. We don't thrive on chemicals. So use a little common sense. So the second one is gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. Gluten impacts the gut lining, especially in those with sensitivities or celiac disease potentially causing leaky gut through its interaction with zonulin or regulatory protein. And I just read an article about how Quaker Oats is, well, it used to be Quaker Oats. But now, it's owned by Pepsi. Oh, I have a story coming up later about Pepsi. And it's very highly toxic with glyphosate, the roundup chemical, so I definitely don't use Quaker Oats. And it's sad because my hometown, and I just don't support it anymore. Processed and sugary foods are another one. These can upset your gut microbial balance, spiking blood sugar and causing inflammation, all which may compromise gut integrity. 

The fourth one is artificial sweeteners. Substances like saccharin, aspartame and sucralose might shift gut bacteria toward those linked to metabolic diseases and increase gut permeability. Nightshade vegetables, well nutritious vegetables like tomatoes and peppers contain alkaloids that might irritate some people's guts. And if you are allergic to tomatoes, or peppers for that matter. But I had a call when I worked in the allergy clinic. The mother wondered, her son was allergic to ketchup. Did that mean that he couldn't have ketchup because he was allergic to tomatoes? That means he couldn't have ketchup? And I said, yes, ketchup is made from tomatoes. Common sense. Foods high in saturated fats, loaded with saturated and trans fats can inflame the gut and disrupt its protective mucous layer, making it more susceptible to damage. And once again, if you're going to have the fats, have them beat organic. Coconut oil, organic butter, those kinds of things. Not the seed oils, not Crisco. 

Alcohol. Excessive drinking can increase stomach acid, slow digestion, and imbalance the gut microbiome, all contributing to leaky gut. Artificial food additives, emulsifiers and stabilizers in processed foods can weaken the gut barrier and trigger inflammation, further damaging the gut lining. Being mindful of these foods and how your body reacts to them can help you maintain a healthier gut and overall well being. If you suspect that these foods might be impacting your gut health, consider an elimination diet or consult with a healthcare professional to identify the best dietary strategies for you. 

This was one that is my least favorite of all the pictures. I think it's probably the worst or maybe because I've read the most about it. But aspartame, cancer stem cells aggressive tumor growth. Relationship, right? The emerging picture is that regular consumption of aspartame which millions of people around the world and just on a daily basis as a presumed healthier alternative to sugar, may be anything but harmless by disrupting the gut microbiome inducing neuro toxicity, and exhibiting other health damaging properties. Aspartame may be an important and underrecognized contributor to carcinogenesis, chronic disease and exposed populations. As such, avoidance of this synthetic chemical sweetener may be a key strategy for maintaining long term health and resilience. 

And before I forget, because I don't know if it's at the bottom of this article, but I have done extensive reading about aspartame and back home in Iowa. I don't know much here in Texas. The gas stations would have boxes of soda out in the sun, and the sun changes the aspartame chemical into being a cancer causing chemical. So just an FYI. So a new study that found a long term exposure to the artificial sweetener, aspartame may promote cancer growth by increasing cancer stem cell populations in tumors. Cancer stem cells can see new tumors and are associated with aggressive disease that is treatment resistant. So also on cancer stem cells, when you have the cancer removed, then have to make sure that they get the stem cells that surround that cancer. Otherwise, it grows back even more aggressively. Some of the most concerning diseases associated with aspartame include brain cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and premature death. Key toxic mechanisms of aspartame include carcinogenicity, neuro toxicity and endocrine disruption. This new research along with prior data suggests that aspartame may be contributing to the epidemic of chronic diseases, and aspartame consuming populations should be avoided. 

And I may be censored. Pepsi put aspartame back in. I was at an event one time and a HR person was there. And I said, I went up and asked him. I say, why did you put aspartame back in when you know it's toxic? And they said, because the public demanded it? No, I'm sorry. The public didn't buy it because it didn't taste good. They weren't educated about it yet probably. It didn't taste good. So the stock market, the investors demanded it because the profits shanked so they put it back in, even though it can harm the consumer. So that is one of the reasons that I don't care for Pepsi. And that's why I won't buy Quaker Oats that's owned by Pepsi. Don't do what you want. Can't say you didn't know.

Aspartame, the ubiquitous artificial sweetener found in everything from diet sodas to sugar free gum, has long been the subject of public and scientific controversy. While regulators and many mainstream health organizations insist it is safe, a growing body of independent research suggests otherwise. A concerning new study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology has found that long term exposure to aspartame may fuel aggressive cancer growth by promoting cancer stem cell populations. Cancer Stem Cells, CSC, are a subpopulation of cells within tumors that can self renew and differentiate into the heterogeneous cell types that comprise the tumor. CSA's are thought to be the driving force behind tumor initiation, progression, metastasis and recurrence after therapy. Due to their unique properties, cancer stem cells are often resistant to conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation highlighting the need to find agents that specifically target and disable these dangerous cells. 

In the new study, researchers exposed human pancreatic cancer cells to aspartame at a specific concentration for up to eight weeks. They found that aspartame exposure significantly increased the CSC population compared to untreated controls. Aspartame treatment also enhanced the migration and invasion capacity of the cells to hallmarks of highly aggressive cancer. So if you're using artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, and you have cancer, please do stop using it. Digging deeper, the researchers made the novel discovery that aspartame induced stem cancer stem cell enrichment through the upregulation of three key molecular signaling pathways. By activating these pathways, aspartame increased expression of pluripotency markers that helped maintain the cancer stem cell population. While high concentrations of glucose modestly increased, it did sell only in the cytoplasm, whereas aspartame causes nuclear accumulation, a more potent inducer of cancer stem cells. Interestingly, the researchers found evidence that aspartame could be signaling through the sweet taste receptors on pancreatic cancer cells to mediate cancer stem cells enrichment. Silencing these receptors further enhanced cancer stem cell populations, but reduced cell viability suggesting they may play a regulatory role in aspartame induced cancer stem cell promotion. 

The study authors concluded that while aspartame may not be too agentic per se, it could promote the progression and aggressiveness of preexisting cancers by expanding the cancer stem cell population. Given that pancreatic cancer is an exceptionally lethal malignancy with a five year survival rate below 10%, any factor that could worsen prognosis by fueling cancer stem cell activity is of great clinical concern. This new study adds to a growing body of research raising red flags about aspartame long term safety, linking aspartame to 77 distinct diseases. Some of the most concerning associated conditions include brain cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, ovarian cancer and premature death. 12 different pathological mechanisms by which aspartame may cause harm have been identified. In addition to its carcinogenic potential, aspartame exhibits neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and endocrine disrupting properties among other toxic activities. 

For example, a study in (inaudible) found that long term low dose exposure to ascertain from prenatal life until death induced a significant increase in lymphomas, leukemias and breast cancer is in line with its recently elucidated cancer stem cell promoting properties. A growing number of studies also indicate that aspartame disrupts the gut microbiome and may therefore contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity and other chronic illnesses in which gut dysbiosis is a known risk factor, as pertains neurotoxic properties have been well documented with studies linking it to neuro injury, oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. Other studies have found that aspartame and perish spatial memory and increases risk of seizures. The emerging picture is that regular consumption of aspartame, which millions of people around the world ingest on a daily basis as a presumed healthier alternative sugar may be anything but harmless by disrupting the gut microbiome inducing neurotoxicity and exhibiting other health damaging properties. Aspartame may be an important and underrecognized contributor to carcinogenesis and chronic disease and exposed populations. As such avoidant of this synthetic chemical sweetener bait may be a key strategy for maintaining long term health and resilience. 

Next time you reach for that diet soda, think twice. Think of your body as being a human body, not a machine. We use toxic chemicals in machinery. They're not alive. Humans are therefore humans who need real food grown in nature, not a lab. All I can do is offer you the information about what you do. It's up to you. I had a client one time, and maybe I've said this before. Good looking dude. Nice, handsome man. I said to him, I bet you have a really cool card here. He says, yeah, he does. I said, I bet you watch that baby moon, and you wax, and you put the best gallon. I said, why don't you do that to your body? Won't that smile whitewash right off his face. His numbers are horrible. I said, you treat your car better than you treat yourself. I gave him something to think about. So I'm challenging you to love yourself enough. Love yourself enough to allow yourself to indulge in something sweet, and to not to have it.

You have permission to have it tomorrow instead, or tomorrow, or the tomorrow after tomorrow. Well, we perceive it as a wonderful and loving gesture to give someone a sweet science that has gotten up to speed and informed us of the dangers looking in not just sugar, but the sugar alternatives as I just spoke up. These alternatives for the most part are chemical in nature, not at all natural ingredients. The body's identifies. Because it is foreign to the body, it is stored in fat cells. And well, you see the results. You've Feel the results, and you can do something about it. 

A side note here, when I lived in Iowa, I was single and a couple of my girlfriends and I would go out every Friday night. And sometimes during the week, we do stuff, we'd go to church, whatever. And they always had a diet soda with them. And you know what? I was (inaudible) one of the bunch because I didn't drink diet soda. I ate healthy food because I wanted to be healthy, and they started to get fatter, and fatter, and flabbier. Meaning around their middle was getting big, and I didn't have that issue. So it's making you swell up like that. What's it doing inside? So anyway, you can do something about it. You don't have to eat it. You'll end up saving money. You wake up in the morning and say to yourself that today, you're gonna quit sugar. A few hours later, you're eating a cookie. Been there. Done that. 

Are you disappointed in yourself or your inability to keep your word to yourself? I was. Have you tried other programs? And as soon as they were over, binges were back. Yeah, because you weren't on the program long enough. Has your weight crept up again? Mine did a little at a time until I weighed 140 pounds more than I do now. Had the unrelenting cravings and sugar hunger set you back again? It did. Then there are the social gatherings full of temptations. Oh, yeah. Are you sabotaging what you supported? I was sabotaged. I wanted to support them, but I got sabotaged. And I didn't recognize that. So I questioned myself, what kind of friends were when they knew how I wanted to live and eat, and they didn't want to join that journey. So they always set me up for failure. I fell into that trap until I got smart. So when you were off of sugar for a few days, did you get emotional? And did you hide your sweets and sneak them on occasion? Guilty? Has your skin gotten dry, dull and breakouts? They did. And did you have digestion issues, gas and bloating? Yeah, I find it a lot. 

Do you know anyone that died from sugar addiction and complications? I did. That was my grandma. She had diabetes with the complications and eventually amputations and passed in the hospital. So I invite you to get a glass of water and continue listening to this article. When I was in the service, I was in the Army National Guard. Yep. 234 signal battalion. I started at 31 years old. I went in, came out four years later though. Best thing I ever did for me. Because now, whenever I think that I can't do some search kicks in. And yes, I can. So I grew up in the 50's and 60's. We couldn't afford to get older so we made kool aid with sugar. We even ate bread and butter with jam or honey sandwiches. No one thought that sweet stuff could possibly be responsible for so many illnesses and maladies that science is discovering now. 

Do you know anyone with the following massive weight gain, diabetes, severe disfiguring arthritis, gallbladder uterus cancer removal, tooth decay, Alzheimer's commonly called diabetes 3 which my mom had. All day long, she would nibble on dove chocolates and blonde Oreos, and then when a separate time came she wouldn't be hungry. I myself had a sugar addiction, especially at that time in a month. I've made it my life's mission and purpose to help anyone struggling with a nagging sugar habit to break free from the deadly chain of sugar addiction and emotional eating. However, I've been able to help myself and others cut back or completely eliminate sugar from their lives. It's been a journey to say the least, I have always been ahead of the norm. 

I love to learn and share my knowledge with you. So quitting sugar for 3, 10, 14, even 21 days won't cut it. You may be able to do it, but you'll go right back to the sugar habit. You haven't implemented the changes necessary for the long term. You must go sugar free for at least 60 days to minimize the cravings that get triggered. And unfortunately, the percentage of people successfully kicking their sugar habit is fairly low. They can know the less sugar you eat, the better you will feel, the less you will weigh, and the healthier you will be. Because you have read this far, I'm almost certain you will kick your sugar habit. As a nurse and certified health coach, I am constantly learning and applying what I learned to my own life. I, my own example. So if it doesn't work for me, chances are it's not gonna work for you. But I try it before I suggest through many years of education workshops, events, etcetera. I devised my own program that changed my life in as little as six weeks. Each educational program I took offered knowledge which was different in some respect to what I already learned since science is always updating,.I took what I felt was the best of exports and developed my own journey to success. 

So after completion of your 60 day course, you can continue your journey by joining my Taming Diabetes Differently Coaching Program. This will support your efforts and keep you inspired. I would enjoy hearing from you that you had to buy new clothes after you had done my program because the old ones didn't fit anymore. Isn't that exciting to think of that? So once you complete the course, if you want to sign up for the coaching program that will be available as well, you can contact me at annlemaster@yahoo.com, or leave me a message on Messenger at 972-948-9976. And please reference that podcast. And once again, my name is Ann LeMaster. I applaud that you were here today. I thank you for being here, and I hope you enjoyed the lessons that you learned. And please promote, like and share the information with someone you love because there's so much need for this information. And yes, you can do it. If I can do it, you can do it. It's not easy, but that's why I'm here to help you. 

Anyway, I'll see you in another couple of weeks. Have a great day. Thanks for joining. Bye bye.