Aspartame Sweetener: The Bitter Truth

Good morning all!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far. I just wanted to take a moment to share with you an extremely enlightening blog article by my friend Lille over at ~Woodstock Lily~. She is constantly a source of inspiration, hope, and positive energy, if you don't know her already please go check out her blog. You'll be a fan, I promise! :)


Anyway, the other day she posted about the dangers of Aspartame in our everyday foods.

I personally have terrible reactions to anything in food or beverages that is not "real" sugar. Nutri-sweet, aspartame, stevia, etc. Makes me sick. All of it. While it's not a life-changing issue for me, it does bring it's fair amount of ridicule because people refuse to believe that it's truly bothering me. Most seem to think that I "just don't like it"... ridiculous! 


After reading her post, I am so happy that I have been listening to my body and the cues it's been giving me loud and clear about it's aversion to artificial sweeteners. (Stomach cramps, nausea, etc.) Check it out, inform yourself, and take care of your body! It's the only one you get...


You can click HERE to read the original post, and I have also pasted the text below for your convenience. She's included some really informative reading for a more extensive look into the dangers of aspartame, be sure to check those out too!


Have a great week!!
XOXO

"Aspartame: White Death" by ~Woodstock Lily~


"I feel an obligation to my readers to share what I've learned about aspartame, and a new name manufacturers will be listing it under, Neotame. Aspartame is found in 1000's of products we use everyday, and with the new changes being allowed in ingredient labeling laws, we may not see it on the ingredients except under "natural flavors". Carmel coloring is another deadly ingredient that is listed as a natural flavor on many products including all cola beverages. You may want to read recent findings about it here. Carmel Coloring and Cancer

People, this is scary. Aspartame was originally named Neotex-II and was formulated for a chemical weapon. The chemist who developed it accidentally discovered it tasted sweet when he licked his finger. Aspartame is 40 times sweeter than sugar and is cheap to make. This poison causes brain tumors, birth defects, blindness, infertility, miscarriages, and tons of other breakdowns to the human body. It's a poison!!

Below is a video from Truther Girls, "Neotame: Chemical Weapon in your Coffee" that spells out the truth about what is in your diet beverages, and most all processed foods. It's time we all take responsibility for what we put in our bodies. You are better off using regular sugar but I caution you here, as well. The fact of the matter is that sugar, and high fructose sweeteners made from corn, are in my opinion, and many other natural health specialists, another form of "white death", too. If you are pregnant DO NOT use Aspartame. Do not consume or give your children chewing gum or diet drinks. Please read your labels and eat more real food. There's a reason they call it Die-t food.

Neotame: Chemical Weapon in your Coffee

For more information and sources to read, Truther Girl has a post, "Neotame, a Sweet New Poison" you can check out for yourselves (below) about how this has been allowed in our foods and is killing us. It is eye opening, and I beg you to read it, and watch the video above. Please feel free to link back to me about this, and post this on your blogs or facebook pages. I welcome your comments and experiences with this white death masquerader.

"Neotame, a Sweet New Poison""

Leftover Day of The Week

A national day of leftovers, actually exists. Yes, it does, November 27. I Googled it, because inquiring minds (I), want to know!

What I really wanted to know if there is a designated leftover day of the week. And, there's not! So, I'm proposing Thursdays. I want it put on a registry of some sort. Yes, I'm for real! Why wouldn't I be?

I know you're wondering why Thursday, and not any other day. This is my reasoning in a nutshell:

Sunday's, being the first day of the week, and we traditionally cook a big meal.

Monday, we're not ready for Sunday's leftovers, we just ate that!

Tuesday, especially since I started Project What's For Dinner, I want to cook something new!

Wednesday, well it's Wednesday. I don't have another reason just... how about tomorrow.

Thursday, we've passed hump day, and about to go into the weekend. There's enough food from the week, for what my mother calls CCC, catch as catch can! It just seems right!

Friday or Saturday take your pick. Have either something quick and light, or takeout.

Having a real leftover day of the week, would really help me out. My family can be a little funny, when it comes to leftovers. They have the audacity to say every once in a while, they don't want it. Having a real day, I can say... "It's Thursday dammit, the national leftover day of the week. And we're eating leftovers!"

So, are you on board? Thursday! Thursday! Thursday!

Musings on the Time Magazine Article

Recently Time Magazine published an article named "Why Exercise Won't make you Thin" by John Cloud http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html
I thought I would respond:
Exercise is essential for weight loss, because without strength-training, you will lose both fat AND muscle, and that will lead to a diminished metabolism. You must perform strength-training or you are doomed to fail.

That being said, the article in Time magazine is interesting. There is a relationship between exercise and the desire to reward oneself.

I did gain almost 20lbs by training for triathlons. For some reason I thought a bagel with cream cheese after a 70 mile bike ride was fine. So, was the McDonalds Milk Shake after running intervals for a hour at the track. Fast forward 10 years...

I actually lost body fat and weight when I had a little baby and he wouldn't sit for more than 30 minutes at a time waiting for me to workout. I had to workout more efficiently and harder. I also "compensated" by eating really strictly!

Although today, our kids are older and would put up with a 2 hour workout, I am pleased with the results that a really intense workout gives me. Time management is awesome. We also have an active lifestyle. I walk my dog, we hike on weekends, we play in the swimming pool with our kids.

I buy only organic, grass fed all natural meats. We eat tons of fresh veggies and fruit. We are trying to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. Exercise enhances life and allows for a better quality of life. Perhaps for some, that’s not important. But as leisure activities take a back seat and calorie consumption increases (women eat an average of 300 calories a day more than 30 yrs. ago), we need to take a long hard look at our lifestyle. A healthy weight is a byproduct of healthy living.

In the past we grew our our own food, cleaned our laundry with our hands, walked to school, did our own gardening. . .we moved all the time. Moving is good. Eating healthy is good.

Just my musings on the article.
Check out our blog at www.formwell.blogspot.com
Heather Odeh

Garlic Hummus

I love Hummus and I love making it. I have finally figured out how to make it the way I like it.

I like my hummus thick, like paste. You can then spread it on sandwiches and tortillas, which is exactly what I do with it sometimes.
It is easy to make, good for you, and soooooooooooooo tasty, yummmmmmm!!

You will need:
1 can of garbanzo beans (chick peas)
2-4 tablespoons of Tahini (ground sesame seeds)
2-4 tablespoons of extra virgin Olive Oil
4 cloves of garlic (this is really personal, I LOVE garlic, 6 or 7 cloves for me, I make this so it burns my nose sometimes when I eat it and I make sure I don't have to go anywhere for awhile or not, if I am feeling like a rebel)
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground Cumin
1 lemon- juice
2 Green Onions sliced

Rinse and drain the garbanzo beans (if you like your hummus runnier, you save this drained off water and add to the hummus when you mix it.)
Add beans to your food processor bowl and then add all the other ingredients.
Pulse the processor until you like the consistency. I prefer it to be completely creamed. No chunks.
Place into a covered bowl and serve chilled with a drizzle of olive oil and some chopped green onions.
I like to eat this with tortilla chips but it is also very good with crackers, pretzels, or vegetables too, like celery, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.
And like I said spread on bread and on an avocado sandwich. It also makes a really great spread for flour tortillas wraps, instead of mayo or dressing.
I have a few variations on this.