Why Artificial Sweeteners are Not Recommended for Children

There has been much controversy over the use of artificial sweeteners. Saccharin, for example, was once nearly banned, but got by with a warning label on products that contained it. It has since been declared safe by the government. Aspartame has also undergone scrutiny, and is believed to be responsible for a number of troublesome side effects.

With all of the bad press and uncertainty surrounding artificial sweeteners, it is understandable that people might be hesitant to use them. Even if we do use them ourselves, it has been recommended that we do not allow our children to consume them.

Saccharin

Saccharin was the source of heated debate in the 1970s. Studies linked the substance to an increased incidence of bladder cancer in male rats, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration attempted to impose a ban. They were convinced by the food industry, however, to allow the use of saccharin in products as long as the product bore a label saying that it contained saccharin and that saccharin may cause cancer.

In 2001, the FDA lifted the warning requirement, and now claims that saccharin does not cause cancer in humans. The American Medical Association, however, recommends a limit on the intake of saccharin in pregnant women and children. Considering all of the controversy surrounding saccharin, it is likely safer to avoid it altogether.

Aspartame

Aspartame has been linked to headaches, psychiatric disorders, low blood sugar and many other ailments. As a matter of fact, there are at least ninety-two side affects that have been associated with the use of aspartame. Most regulated drugs do not have that many reported side effects.

Unlike some other artificial sweeteners, aspartame dissolves easily and can end up in any tissue in the body. That means that it can cause problems with any tissue or organ. This is a problem for adults, and an even bigger problem in growing children, who could experience more damage than a person who is fully grown and developed.

Other Artificial Sweeteners

While saccharin and aspartame are two of the most controversial artificial sweeteners, most others have been associated with similar side effects. There has also been little testing done on them, so it's hard to know just what problems could be associated with long-term use, especially among children.

Children Do Not Need Artificial Sweeteners

There is no practical reason for giving children artificial sweeteners. Even overweight children can benefit more from eating naturally sweet foods such as fruits. Giving these kinds of foods to our children in place of sugary sweets or foods with artificial sweeteners will allow them to develop a taste for them, thereby developing healthy habits that they can benefit from for life.

A Simple Quit Smoking Action Plan

If you want to quit smoking quickly, this action plan should help you out quite a bit, if you follow these steps, you should find it much easier to kick the habit successfully, however, it will come down to you in the end and how determined you are to succeed.

Let me say that these are just some steps that I think will help you, you don't have to follow any of them and there are certainly other ways you can quit smoking, however, I hope you find these tips helpful and useful.

The Plan

1.) The first thing you can do is to do research, this can be as simple as searching Google or visiting some websites, basically what you want to do is find out more about how to quit smoking and how other people have done it in the past.

2.) Desire it, big time. One of the things that I think is very important is to have a strong desire to do it, a lot of smokers don't actually mind the fact that they are killing themselves, they say they would like to stop smoking but it isn't a huge deal to them, if this is you then you are at a disadvantage, if you have a strong desire to do it then you should find it easier to motivate yourself and stay strong.

3.) Get a plan. There are courses, programs, books, ebooks, systems and so on out there that are available to you, they have been created with the purpose of helping you and other smokers to quit, in my opinion, you should invest in one of these systems and follow it, this should make it easier to quit.

4.) Commit yourself to succeeding. Many people who try to give up smoking practically fail before they even begin, you see, if you aren't committed to succeeding and you aren't willing to do what it takes then you will likely find it extremely hard to do it, commit yourself to succeeding.

5.) Take action. So, you have done your research, you have a strong desire to quit, you have a solid plan to follow, you are committed to doing it, now all you need to do is take action, start doing the steps that involved in your plan, don't sit around and wait for a good time to start, as soon as possible is a good time to start.

These steps are obviously quite vague as I couldn't explain the entire process in one article, however, this is a pretty good outline of the general steps involved in quitting, or at least the ones that I think are important for doing it, now get started and get on your way to being smoke free.

Find Out How To Quit Smoking Quickly And Easily: http://www.QuitSmokingBlueprint.com

Take Action Now And Be Smoke Free Very Soon!

Resolutions: Are They Made to Be Broken?

Do you subscribe to the philosophy that resolutions are made to be broken, or do you believe the New Year’s holiday is an opportunity for change?

Resolution makers generally fall into one of three categories. There are the serious resolution makers who, year after year, dedicate themselves to self-improvement and use the holiday as a launching pad for success. Then there are the people who start with good intentions; however, they don’t follow through and see their goals to the end. The last group of people are the ones who make resolutions on the spot. Someone asks them what their New Year’s Resolution is and they make one up just to have something to say. I’ve certainly found myself in this group from time to time, and so have many others.

What group do you fall into?

Many people do not take this life-changing opportunity seriously. New Year is actually the perfect time to dedicate yourself to a goal. Here's why:

• You’re in the right frame of mind. It’s a time of planning and reflection. There is no better time to make a life change than when you are assessing the past and planning for the future.
• You will have the support of friends and family committing to similar goals.

• It’s a good measurement. A year is an excellent yardstick. A year gives you enough time to plan how you’re going to achieve your goals, make mistakes, and still come out successful.

Why do we make resolutions?

When you think about resolutions you’ve made in the past, what were your reasons? What did you hope to accomplish? Were you just going along with the crowd or did you really want to change your life? When you look back, do you find that you were in the group that didn’t take the holiday and the opportunity to improve your life seriously? If so, why? Do you subscribe to the philosophy that resolutions are made to be broken, or do you believe the New Year’s holiday is an opportunity for change?

If you fall into the group that believes resolutions are made to be broken, maybe it’s time for a change of heart. Maybe it’s time to make goals that will improve your life.

Want to give it a try? Here’s how:

• Choose a resolution that feels attainable. If you choose a lofty goal that you’re not confident you can achieve, you may end up giving up because you feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Choosing a goal you’re confident you can attain will help you create a pattern of success.

• Break it up into small steps. Any large goal can be broken into a series of smaller goals. For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds, begin by setting a smaller goal. Maybe losing five pounds is a good start.

• Make your goals both measurable and timely. Losing 50 pounds is a measurable goal. Losing 50 pounds in 12 months makes it timely. Now you have a deadline.

• Reward yourself

• Research potential obstacles and prepare for them.

New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be broken. With the right frame of mind and proper goal setting techniques, New Year’s Resolutions can be successful, life changing and rewarding experiences.

Five Motivational Tools to Healthy Eating

1. Statistics

The statistics available regarding the health and fitness of our society are shocking and disturbing. I won’t go into them; you know that obesity is rising, diabetes is rising and worse, childhood obesity is getting worse each and every day. If any of these numbers relate to you, you can use them to motivate yourself to be more than a statistic. Don’t let any of these numbers scare you into action, let them empower you to change. Empowerment is better than fear every single time.

2. Images and role models for success

For many, it helps to have an image of success. If you’re trying to lose weight or eat better, you can find someone you know and respect who has achieved the same goal. If you’re looking to lose weight, why not find an image of a celebrity role model or find a role model you know personally and let them inspire you. Inspiration comes from visual images and from personal interaction. Conversations, quotes, and pictures from this person and how they achieved their goals could help you attain yours.

3. Get a coach

Sometimes it pays to get expert help, particularly when you’re dealing with a difficult life-changing plan. For example, starting a new weight loss campaign can feel overwhelming. Instead of operating in the dark and trying to find the right diet plan for your goals, body type and health, you can hire a nutritionist or dietician to guide you. Not only will a dietician help you figure out what to do to meet your goals, he or she can be invaluable when it comes to motivation. That’s their job, to kick your bottom into gear and help you live the way you really want to live even when it’s difficult to do.

You can find a coach to help you with just about any goal you have, from improving your nutrition to losing weight, exercising and even quitting smoking.

4. Find a support group

Sometimes it is just helpful to find a group of peers who are going through the same thing you are to get you through the tough times. Many weight loss programs offer support groups in the form of meetings or online chat rooms. If you are not participating in a formal weight loss program like Weight Watchers, you can easily find an online group of people who are going through the same things you are. Support groups can help you know what to expect as you’re making your way towards your healthy eating goals; they can offer inspiration when they succeed and they can help you get through the tough times by offering advice and support.

5. Track your progress

Tracking your success is a great way to stay motivated. You can track your success in a journal, using an online tool, or by creating a spreadsheet to track your goals and results.