- Thursdays just got a whole lot more informative! Find out why…
- Discover why sugar-free drink mixes aren’t doing you any favors
- Two easy ways to avoid genetically engineered Frankenfish.
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
You’ve got questions…
We’ve got answers!
Every Thursday, Living Well Daily will be answering your important health questions!
Today, we will address two reader questions about food and drinks — two very important subjects when it comes to your health.
So let’s get right to it…
Dangerous Drinks
Hey, Natalie,
Do you know if there are any dangers or health risks associated with Crystal Light or other types of drink mixes? I’m trying to maintain a healthy blood sugar level but be cautious of artificial sweeteners. Thanks!
— George
George, you are so right to be cautious of artificial sweeteners. If you’re trying to maintain healthy blood sugar, they may actually be worse than real sugar!
Crystal Light and other sugar-free beverage mixes are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors. Typically, as in the case of some Crystal Light mixes, aspartame is the artificial sweetener used in these mixes.
Artificial food additives have no nutritional values, and in some cases can be dangerous to your health.
In fact, despite artificial sweeteners being promoted as weight loss aids, 15 studies since 1986 have shown that they cause increases in appetite, calorie consumption, weight gain, and increased blood sugar levels. Plus, they can also be made from GMOs.
This means that your efforts to cut down on sugar or prevent weight gain may be sabotaged by these calorie-free drink mixes.
Not to mention aspartame has been a suspected cancer-causer for decades.
For these two reasons, avoiding Crystal Light and other drink mixes is the best choice — if you care about your health.
But don’t be fooled by their more recent “natural” products, either…
Crystal Light released a new line of drink mixes called “Crystal Light Pure.” These new drinks are being promoted as free of artificial flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners. However, the “natural” sweetener being used is Truvia, which is a chemically processed version of stevia.
Plus, the ingredients list contains some health-hazardous items, including sugar, maltodextrin (which is just another name for sugar), and soy, which is likely genetically modified.
Source: Amazon.com
If you’re looking for a tasty drink without the health risks of artificial ingredients, try Living Well’s Spectrum Elite. It’s chock-full of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and other health-supporting compounds from 46 100 percent-certified organic fruits, berries, vegetables, herbs, fiber, and nondairy probiotics!
And it’s got only 1 gram of natural sugar per serving! This makes it a great choice for folks who are trying to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Check out this label — no red circles here!
And the best part — what’s not in it:
- No GMOs
- No artificial sweeteners
- No artificial flavors
- No artificial colors.
Click here for more information on Spectrum Elite.
Watch out for the Frankenfish!
Natalie,
Have you heard the FDA approved genetically engineered salmon? I saw it on The Dr. Oz Show a while ago, and I’m just curious what it is and how to avoid it. Thank you.
— Linda
Linda, thanks for addressing such an important subject.
Genetically engineered salmon was approved for sale by the FDA in the fall of 2015.
Unfortunately, the long-term impacts of GM salmon on the environment aren’t known, due to the short length of studies thus far. Plus, it’s thought that these new Frankenfish are not totally sterile. Meaning their altered genetic code will be passed onto future generations of salmon. This could have a major impact on the ecosystem and, eventually, the food supply.
Due to national GMO labeling laws being voluntary in the U.S. at the moment (which may change this week, depending what goes on in the House), the only way to ensure you’re not eating Frankenfish is to purchase certified wild-caught fish.
One company you can depend on for wild-caught, non-GE salmon is Vital Choice Wild Seafood and Organics. Plus, they deliver! Click here to learn more.
To learn more about food labels if you are a Living Well Daily Insider, check out our exclusive report, How to Survive the Supermarket: Your Guide to Buying Safe, Healthy Foods With Confidence.
If you’re not yet an Insider but want to learn more about food labeling and other valuable health information and get exclusive discounts for products like Vital Choice wild-caught salmon, click here.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer
[2] Oregon passes mandatory GMO labeling bill for transgenic salmon
