There are many options for sweeteners on the market today, and for some reason, many of us assume that if something is on the market, then it’s been proven to be safe. I used to believe the same thing, but I don’t anymore. The truth is, we live in a fallen world, and sometimes profits are put ahead of public health.

Aspartame is one of those products that has gained in popularity over the years as a replacement for sugar, but many people believe it’s worse than sugar. I have a few friends that recovered from some pretty significant health problems by ditching their diet soda, and I have been trying to spread this message ever since. According to the Weston Price Foundation “ASPARTAME, the artificial sweetener in NutraSweet® and Equal®, is toxic to the nervous system. When digested, it breaks down into methanol and formaldehyde, both poisons. Aspartame can cause headaches, seizures, brain cancer, nervous disorders and damaged vision. Even though aspartame is touted for weight loss, in animal studies aspartame caused weight gain.”

For a short time in high school, I drank diet soda, but after hearing how detrimental it had been to some people’s health, I quit. I’m sorry to say that I don’t have any ideas for a replacement for diet soda. I am very content drinking my water, herbal tea, and in the last two weeks, raw milk. Maybe you could share a healthy alternative that uses natural sweeteners. We love to hear from you!

If you are working toward a more traditional, clean, whole foods diet, and would like to take small steps to get there, then you are at the right place. Week one was get your salt right, week 2 was get your sleep right, weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were get your fats right, we had several weeks about seasonings and herbs, and we are now getting our sweeteners right. Join us next Tuesday for Get Your . . . Right.