Life Blog
Cutting-edge information and tips for creating health in all areas of life – wellness, nutrition, fitness, attitude, and relationships
April 16, 2026
Are Artificial Sweeteners Healthier Than Sugar?
When people “quit sugar” they often switch to an artificial, calorie-free sweetener. Today, these sweeteners are widely used in soft drinks, chewing gum, candy, jellies, dairy products and many other foods and drinks. There are six FDA approved calorie-free sweeteners: acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, Stevia and sucralose. Any product that is labelled “sugar free” or “diet” contains one or more of these sweeteners. Just what is in these sweeteners and are they any healthier than sugar? Artificial Sweeteners and Weight Gain Sweeteners give you all the sweetness of sugar with none of the calories. They are a good alternative for diabetics because they have no effect on blood sugar levels. What more could you ask for, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Research shows that artificial sweeteners may be beneficial in the short-term but can lead to weight gain in the long term. Even though they are calorie-free, they are still capable of stimulating the development of new fat cells. Artificial Sweeteners and Cravings Sugar substitutes keep your sugar cravings alive. They may be able to fool your taste buds but they can’t fool your brain. When you consume a sugary treat, dopamine, the pleasure and reward chemical, is released in the brain. Unfortunately, artificial sweeteners do not trigger the release of dopamine, so the cravings do not go away. As a result, you’re more likely to binge on sugar and other unhealthy foods later on. In addition, artificial sweeteners are several times sweeter than sugar and regular use can…
Are You Managing Stress Or Is Stress Managing You?
Stress affects everyone, even superheroes. There’s no escaping it. According to The American Institute of Stress, about 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress 77 percent of people experience stress that affects their physical health 73 percent of people have stress that impacts their mental health 48 percent of people have trouble sleeping because of…
Learn MoreWhat Good Is Retirement If You Don’t Enjoy It?
Do you dream of retiring one day? What do you imagine life will be like when that day finally comes? Lazy days at the beach? Living in an RV traveling from coast to coast? Exploring the world? Taking dream vacations? Or perhaps more time to serve your community of faith? Retirement means something different to…
Learn MoreTwo More Easy Ways To Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season
You might be sick and tired of hearing about pandemics, endemics, masks, vaccines, boosters, and the granddaddy of them all: social distancing. Ugh! But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re in the cold and flu season. So, staying healthy is still a top priority. Our last post shared how hand washing is your first…
Learn MoreHow To Protect Yourself From The Cold & Flu
In an age of social distancing and masking up, the last thing you want is to take foolish health risks and catch something (not that you ever do). With so much talk about the pandemic, it’s easy to forget that we’re in the cold and flu season. We want to do everything we can to…
Learn More5 Ways To Stop Feeling So Shy
Is it really such a bad thing to be shy? Shyness used to be seen negatively as an unpleasant emotional state related to loneliness or social anxiety, a perspective that is being questioned. If you consider yourself shy, you’re not alone because about 40 to 60 percent of all adults consider themselves shy, according to…
Learn MoreIn A World That Needs More Compassion…
Sympathy. Pity. Concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Mercy. Grace. Forgiveness. These are things that seem in short supply these days. In a word, we’re talking about compassion. Have you ever met someone who was all heart, whose very presence brightened the world? And thought, wow, we could use a lot more of…
Learn MoreThree Powerful Habits of Highly Compassionate People
Don’t underestimate the power and strength of being compassionate. Just because a person is compassionate doesn’t mean they’re soft or weak. Compassionate people are confident, resilient, and even fearless. Here are a few habits and qualities of genuinely compassionate people. They Don’t Take Things Personally Compassionate people know that life happens, and people make mistakes;…
Learn MoreSix Ways To Enjoy Retirement More
What do you imagine when you dream of retirement? Beach house? Traveling the world? Time to enjoy your hobbies and passions? Finding happiness in retirement goes far beyond relaxing in your chair and sipping your favorite beverage. Here are six crucial tips to enjoy retirement more. Safeguard Wealth With Budgeting Everyone knows that money can’t…
Learn More5 Ways To Improve Self-Connection & Be Happier with YOU
One of your most important relationships is the one you have with yourself. Maybe even the most important. Of all the articles and books on healthy relationships, how many deals with improving your connection to yourself? Not many, that’s for sure. The kind of relationship you have with yourself influences everything in your life. It determines how…
Learn MoreAre You Aging Well? Here Are Six Ways To Know
There’s an old saying that goes, “You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough.” Age is more than the number of the candles on your birthday cake. It doesn’t matter if you’re blowing out forty or fifty or sixty candles if your well-being is youthful! Aging well isn’t just about…
Learn More4 Ways To Trigger The Happy Chemicals In Your Brain
How happy do you feel? How happy do you want to feel? And, do you believe feelings of happiness are out of your control – that your circumstances and world events determine how happy you’ll feel in 2022 and beyond? What if… experiencing sustainable happiness was as simple as deciding to feel happy? What if you took control and…
Learn More5 Tips To Know Yourself In 2022 & Live An Epic Life
A certain kind of peace comes from knowing yourself, being comfortable in your own skin, and liking yourself. How well do you know yourself? Are you living your life or the life someone else expects you to live? Self-awareness requires soul searching. So here are five great tips for getting to know yourself better so…
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