Please pass the Splenda...so I can throw it away.

I've been putting off this blog post for over a month, but now that I've seen over 10 infographics on this, it's time to write about this very popular and dangerous subject.

The Problem

There is so much research that has accumulated showing the negative affects of aspartame and artificial sweeteners on our bodies. But even so, people still opt for their regular Diet Coke or coffee with Splenda, Sweet 'N Low or NutraSweet thinking they are going for the "healthier" choice.

FALSE!

Stop counting calories

Source: http://blogs.bu.edu
I know you've heard it a hundred times, but watching what we eat is really important. I know people who count calories, check carbs, monitor sugar grams or fat content. The main element to focus on are the ingredients.

Don't be so worried about how many calories you're intaking a day. Instead, focus on where your calories are coming from. The source of the calories are more important than you know. They affect your energy level, nutrition deficiencies, health and weight.

First, try to avoid the ingredients listed here: Ingredients to Avoid.

Those ingredients typically carry the highest carb load, sugar content, fat content and calories. I stumbled on a great article that showed the distribution of food and how important it is to watch what you eat.