Any good advice on books and sites about aspartame and nutrition? (no junk science please)

tame

[tame]

There are soooooo many nutrition books, and diet books on the market. It can be a bit overwhelming and confusing for a beginner like me to sort out the junk science, and voodoo gimmicks, from the well respected books, and web sites.

In the last couple of years I've been extremely tired, sleepy and fatigued for some reason. I've never really been into the nutrition thing, so I would appreciate any of your recommendations on good nutrition, and advice on the following:

1) Sodium. What's the story? How much is too much. How little is too little. Is it true that sodium causes water retention, and too much water retention is bad?

2) Aspartame. I love it in sweeteners (nutrasweek, etc.). I probably use between 100 and 200 packets a day. No joke. But I hear so many bad things about it. Is this junk science or not?

3) Water. I heard someone say you can actually drink too much water. Is this true? If so, how much is too much?

4) yams and sweet potatoes. I love them. I usually have a yam or sweet potato along with one broiled chicken breast for a meal. What are the draw backs on yams and sweet potatoes?

5) Body For Life Diet. I've lost a bit of weight on this diet, but I still lack energy. Any draw backs to this diet?

Please steer me away from the junk science and recommmend some healthy books and websites.

I appreciate it. tame.

[tame]

BTW, do the multi vitamins help to curb appetite? Which multi vitamins would you recommend for men?

[goodnesswins]

I FORGOT....SOY products....Boca has really good meatless meat products....and eating soy is great for you!!! I looked at your personal page....you're going to need lots of Omega 3's and soy if you want to memorize all THAT!

[WVNan]

There are several brands. They are usually labeled for men and for women. Won't make you less hungry, just more healthy.

[goodnesswins]

Well....here's the smoothie my husband and I make every morning....

1/2 Banana (ripe)
Vitamin C crystals - about 500-1000 mg (see bottle)
Vanilla Soy Milk - 2 Cups
Blueberries (frozen, usually)....about 2/3 cup
Flax meal (ground up flax seeds)....1 Tbsp about

Blend, and enjoy.

[Tazlo]

If you're tired all the time, get your thyroid function checked.

[WVNan]

Thank you. It sounds fattening and I'm supposed to be on low carb.

[bgierhart]

I use mega-man from Gnc, However there are other great multi's for all age group. I would look for a "time-lapsed" which breaks down though out the day.

[tame]

and eating soy is great for you!!! I looked at your personal page....you're going to need lots of Omega 3's and soy if you want to memorize all THAT!

LOL! Speaking of Soy, I tried WestSoy milk this past week for the first time. It tasted great. What do you think about the health effects, and diet aspect of that?

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Unlike Aspertame, Splenda is stable and inert so it passes through your body like fiber, after it fools your taste buds that is.;-)

The diet RC Cola uses Splenda, my Dad's a diabetic and he drinks it when he gets a craving for something sweet. I've tasted it, and it seems almost too sweet for what I'm used to.

[JonH]

There are people who have a neurological reaction to Aspertame. The reaction is almost like an allergy. The exact disorder name is complicated but it is listed on the package. Suggest that you look at the Nutra Sweet website and see what they6 have to say about the problems.

100 to 200 servings of any sweetener is a lot!

[restornu]

Splenda is measuring up!

[goodnesswins]

NOOOO....it's NOT fattening, not at all....look for the lowest carb soy you can find....in fact, get plain soy and add Splenda or your own pure vanilla. Now...if you're on the INDUCTION part of Atkins....No, it wouldn't work on that part....but other than that it should be fine. My 2 cents, of course....:>)

[tame]

HOw does Splenda affect blood sugar levels, etc., if at all, for those concerned about diabetes, etc.?

[SamAdams76]

I had the same problem as you - no energy. Let me tell you what worked wonders for me (without even reading the replies that you have already received). I'll keep it plain and simple. It is up to you whether you take my advice or not. It worked for me.

I switched to eating simple "whole" foods and avoid foods that are heavily processed. That's it. I don't obsess over what I eat or count calories. If it's good wholesome food in pretty much it's natural state, I eat it. If it's junk I don't eat it.

This means no soft drinks, no pies, no cakes, no cookies, no ice cream, no chips, no "snacks" from the snack machines or the snack aisles of the supermarket. It also means no "microwave dinners" from the frozen food section of your supermarket.

It isn't that hard to do. Once you start eating good food and good food only, you'll wonder why you ever ate that other stuff. I eat lots of vegetables, fruits, meats (lots of meats), fish, nuts, etc. <>When I am in the mood for a snack, I'll have a handful or two of nuts. Or a banana. Or a tin of sardines. Even a hunk of cheese (just not that processed Kraft stuff). Anything that is natural and wholesome.

If you are accustomed to soft drinks, they can be tough to give up. Try this. Get some carbonated (mineral) water from your supermarket that is like Perrier (but there are plenty of non-French sparking waters out there). Add some pure lemon or lime juice and it will taste surprisingly like soda. Only it will be so much better for you.

Beer (water, barley, hops and yeast) and wine (grapes) are also good to drink if you are so inclined as they are 100% natural.

For dinner, I always cook some fresh meat, a vegetable or two and usually rice or that "cous-cous" stuff from Morocco that is quite good. Also I eat a lot of hot peppers and garlic. So my diet doesn't lack for spice at all.

Olive oil is a must. I use it instead of butter and other types of oils. If you must have butter, make sure it's butter and not margarine - which is just a stick of chemicals that will do your body harm. But olive oil is preferred. If you don't have a taste for it, develop one. It is one of the best foods you can have. I have at least one or two tablespoons on my food every day. It is loaded with the "good" kinds of fat (poly- and monounsaturated) and it has lots of health benefits which you can find with a simple internet search. Avoid at all costs the coconut and palm oils (which are found most often in processed snack foods) - that stuff is poison to your system.

I'm not a granola-munching, Birckenstock wearing health food junkie by the way. I just like to eat the fresh, wholesome foods that our bodies were built to digest. One of my favorite meals is a T-bone steak slathered in fresh onions and mushrooms. Or a fat burger with melted swiss cheese and jalapeno peppers. (I do avoid condiments like mustard and ketchup because they too are loaded with additives.)

In addition to eating naturally and simply, I also walk four miles a day. Don't have the energy for it? You soon will if you eat natural. Don't have the time for it? I use my lunch hour at work. It is easy for most people to quickly work up to 15-minute miles which will get you the four miles in an hour. Instead of eating lunch, I have a banana or a tin of sardines about an hour before my walk. As a result, I am filled with energy all day. I also sleep incredibly well, having the most vivid dreams of my life since starting this program. I also require less hours of sleep than I used to. I used to "sleep in" on Saturdays until 10 or 11AM. Now I get up on my own even on those days before 7AM full of energy. As a result, all my weekend chores and errands are usually done early.

Hope this works for you and good luck!

Oh yeah, and ditch the aspartame. That stuff will do you no good at all.

[tame]

What is the best time of day to weigh myself, and why? Is it true that people are...is it lighter or heavier...in the morning? SOmething having to do with the moon/earth gravitational pull or something? Anyone know wbout this?

[restornu]

HOw does Splenda affect blood sugar levels, etc., if at all, for those concerned about diabetes, etc.?

Diabetes & Splenda

You really should click the links I can only do so much to make it easy for you!:)

[tame]

Thanks for the advice. BTW, my sister also recommended olive oil. What is it that is so good about olive oil? Why is it necessary?

[Katya]

Atkins claims Splenda (sucralose) has less of an effect on blood sugar than aspartame, but warns not to go overboard on any sweetner. I personally prefer splenda because it tastes more like sugar.

[tame]

Yes, I did click on your links, but I've yet to have time to read them in depth (though I promise I read through them quickly:-)

Thank you so much for your help:-)

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

In the morning before you eat breakfast. Weights can vary throughout the day and from day to day, especially if you are premenopausal. The current recommendation is to weigh yourself once a week.