The GD Searle Corp. is the company that developed a so called "miracle sweetener" called aspartame. Donald Rumsfeld was the leader at that time and later became the United States Secretary of Defense. The FDA refused to approve this best-selling sweetener for 16 years. Aspartame has been linked to brain cancer, depression, memory loss, hearing loss, joint pain, headaches, seizures, vision loss or impaired vision, coma, and cancer. It also appears to worsen or replicate the symptoms MS, fibromyalgia, lupus, ADD, chronic fatigue, diabetes, Alzheimer's, asthma, coma even death. For years, this company tried to get aspartame approved.

But no one wanted to go near it! In fact, according to a report recently uncovered, the late Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a former senior FDA toxicologist, stated in his testimony before Congress: "Beyond a shadow of a doubt, aspartame triggers brain tumors, and therefore, by allowing aspartame to be placed on the market the FDA has violated the Delaney Amendment, which forbids putting anything in food that is known to cause cancer...And if the FDA itself elects to violate its own law, who is left to protect the health of the public?"

In the early '80s, Donald Rumsfeld moved into the political world. Very early on he appointed a new FDA commissioner and this appointee approved aspartame. Before long, aspartame was everywhere. Medical authorities estimate that aspartame has brought more complaints to the FDA than any other additive. It's been responsible for as many as 75% of such complaints to that agency. And, after receiving approximately 10,000 consumer complaints, the FDA compiled a list of 92 symptoms linked to aspartame, which include death. Aspartame attacks your body at the cellular level so it can negate all kinds of medications Americans take, including antidepressants, Coumadin, cardiac drugs, hormones, insulin, vaccines, and many others.

It is a deadly neurotoxic drug masquerading as a harmless additive. Most take it because they think it's less fattening however...Medical investigator, Dr. H. J. Roberts, concluded that aspartame caused our obesity epidemic. He gives evidence that this sweetener secretly makes you crave carbohydrates which, make you gain weight. It may trigger or over stimulate the stomach's production of ghrelin, also known as the "hunger hormone." If this hypothesis turns out to be right, it will help to explain why "diet" sodas haven't been too helpful in weight reduction. They actually have the opposite effect. Alternatives on the market...

SUGAR: A spoonful once in a while is fine, but in time, too much sugar can lead to diabetes, which will lead to heart disease, renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic retinitis (blindness), diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the list goes on and on.

SUCRALOSE: A very dangerous new chemical -- because in order to make sucralose, chlorine is added to sugar! Ever spilled chlorine bleach on your skin? The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center showed that years of sucralose use can lead to serious compromise of the immune system and neurological disorders.

SACCHARINE: Despite the famous animal studies, we don't count saccharine as much of a cancer threat to humans, as some of the studies were procedurally flawed. It has an unpleasant aftertaste.

STEVIA: Yes, it's natural it's safe. But tastes nothing like sugar.

XYLITOL: Almost gets a perfect score. Natural, tastes like sugar, good for your teeth, doesn't spike blood sugar. On the down side, it gives some folks diarrhea. The Two Alternatives Are:

Erythritol is an all-natural, no-calorie alternative to sugar. It looks like sugar, feels like sugar, and bakes and tastes like sugar. It doesn't affect blood sugar or insulin levels, reduces dental plaque and unlike xylitol, has no laxative side-effects. Erythritol is found in nature at low levels in grapes, melons and pears and can be found at higher levels in fermented products like wine. Each day, it is estimated that we consume somewhere between 30 and 100 mg of naturally occurring erythritol in our regular diets. Since the late 1980's, erythritol has been used as an ingredient in foods and beverages in Japan, and was more recently approved for use in the U.S. and Canada. These approvals were based on extensive scientific studies reviewed by an expert panel of independent doctors and scientists. Is it like Splenda® or Equal No.

Splenda (sucralose) and Equal (aspartame) are not naturally occurring in any plants or fruits. They are produced using a chemical process. And, they are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar so they are blended with dextrose or maltodextrin to reduce the sweetness to closer to an equal weight of sugar. Erythritol occurs naturally and is produced naturally, and is used in its pure form. Because erythritol occurs naturally and is produced naturally, it is very different from sweeteners such as Splenda ® (sucralose) and Equal ® (aspartame) that are artificially produced using a chemical process. How else is it different? Erythritol does not cause undesired gastrointestinal effects under its intended conditions of use.

Based on clinical studies in which erythritol was administered with foods and beverages at daily doses up to 75-80 grams, there are no discernible issues. That means you can have multiple servings of per day and not feel an effect. Compared to the other sweeteners classified as sugar alcohols, erythritol has the highest digestive tolerance, which is 2 to 3 times better compared to xylitol, lactitol, maltitol and isomalt, and 3 to 4 times better compared to sorbitol and mannitol. Randi's #1 Vote--Raw Organic Honey--In addition to being a concentrated energy source, honey contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. Honey contains vitamins, such as vitamin B6, thiamin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Essential minerals, such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc are also found in honey. In addition, several different amino acids, the building blocks of protein, have been identified in honey. "Honey also contains several compounds that function as antioxidants one of which is unique to honey called pinocembrin."

* Increases energy and stamina.
* Increase muscle growth and definition.
* Builds immune system.
* Has antioxidant activity.
* Enhances sexuality.
* Smoothes wrinkles.

For a quick source of energy and to reap the benefits of honey's healthful properties, make honey part of your daily diet along with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Use honey to sweeten your oatmeal or drizzle it over a grapefruit half. I have found a couple of good suppliers out on the web that promote natural processes, meaning no sugar water, no antibiotics etc.  To receive a list of great companies please contact the author on the New Age of Beauty website.