Hope you guys are staying healthy and well. I want to wish you a very Happy New Year and let you know that I will blogging more in the New Year. My goal is to blog every week or so. I learn so many new things during the week that I forget to share and that’s what I should be doing! My studies in Health and Nutrition Education continue to be a source of joy for me, as is my family and friends.  I am so happy to be able to share what I learn with you.

This week, I watched a documentary called “Sweet Misery-A Poisoned World”. This film is about the dangers associated with the artificial sweetener-Aspartame®.  Aspartame® is considered a neurotoxic drug. Before it was approved by the FDA in the early 80’s, it was denied approval for 16 years! The story is by a film maker who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)due to her Aspartame® consumption, she travels the country interviewing experts on the dangers of Aspartame® and the disease processes that occur due to excessive consumption/ or just consumption of Aspartame®. Some folks do not have sensitivity to the Aspartame®. Others have an immediate reaction, within a day or two, while others have reactions many years later. It is important to really pay attention to your reaction to foods after you consume them to rule out any adverse effects.

Your sensitivity to food, food additives, and other chemicals are all based on your biochemical individuality. I will blog on biochemical individuality next week. You may view “Sweet Misery” by purchasing this video from Mercola.com. Dr. Mercola is a physician who advocates mostly pharmaceutical free and natural ways of healing.

Items that contain Aspartame® include:

• Breath Mints
• Carbonated Soft Drinks
• Cereals
• Chewing Gum
• Flavored Syrups for Coffee
• Flavored Water Products
• Frozen Ice
• Frozen Ice Cream Novelties
• Fruit Spreads
• Gelatin, Sugar Free
• Hard Candies
• Ice cream Toppings
• Ice Creams, No Sugar Added or Sugar Free
• Iced Tea, Powder
• Iced Tea, Ready to Drink
• Instant Cocoa Mix
• Jams & Jellies
• Juice Blends
• Juice Drinks
• Meal Replacements
• Mousse
• No Sugar Added Pies
• Non-Carbonated Diet Soft drinks
• Nutritional Bars
• Powdered Soft Drinks
• Protein Nutritional Drinks
• Pudding
• Soft Candy Chews
• Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup
• Sugar Free Cookies
• Sugar Free Ketchup
• Table Top Sweeteners
• Vegetable Drinks
• Yogurt, Drinkable
• Yogurt, Fat Free
• Yogurt, Sugar Free

Aspartame® is marketed under the trade names Nutrasweet And Equal. Most items that are labeled “Diet” or “Sugar-Free” could possibly contain Aspartame.

Sweetpoison.com is another resource that highlights the dangers of Aspartame and how you may be able to heal from this dangerous food additive that is our food supply. It is estimated that there are over 5,000 items that contain artificial sweeteners. Please, please, please read your labels!!!

I am also posting a yummy gluten free cookie recipe made from coconut flour, almond flour, and oat flour. The cookies will remain in a ball shape, but don’t be alarmed! They are tasty and very nutritious as they contain 2 cups of walnuts too! Please give them a try and let me know what you think. My sister and I love them!  Healthy Cookie Recipe

That’s it for now!