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…
Eat the Rainbow! Why Colorful Meals are Healthier for You
Want an easy way to be healthier? Add lots of colorful veggies and fruits to your diet. The natural pigments that give fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods their bright colors are important micronutrients. Colorful foods are more nutritious and healthier for you. People who eat multi-colored meals reduce their risk of diabetes, stroke, heart…
Learn MoreSharing Your Love Story: A Valentine’s Gift Idea
Are you looking for unique valentine ideas? Try sharing your love story. Everyone loves a good love story. Love stories bring back memories of falling in love and feelings of nostalgia. They remind us of the innocence and excitement of new love and what it feels like to be head over heels in love. Love…
Learn MoreSedentary Lifestyle = Premature Death
What’s So Bad About a Sedentary Lifestyle, Really? If there’s one thing that’ll land you in the obituaries sooner than you’d like, it’s living a sedentary lifestyle. Inactivity = rust. Inactivity = decay, from the inside out in mind, body, and soul. Despite knowing that a physically active lifestyle produces many physical, mental, and emotional…
Learn MoreTake Care of Yourself Much?
It Is NOT Selfish To… …take care of yourself. You’re worth taking care of because your life and happiness matter, too. People seem to really struggle with what it means to be selfish and selfless. They think it’s selfish to take care of themselves. And somewhere along the way they’ve been led to believe that…
Learn MoreNew Choice = New Life
Kenneth Patton once said, “By the choices and acts of our lives, we create the person that we are.” So many people wish for a new life but for whatever reason they don’t go after it. You’ll often overhear them saying they want to change…they need to change…that they’ve had enough and can’t take it anymore! It’s…
Learn MoreManaging IBS: When Almost Everything You Eat Gives You Gas or Stomach Pain
There’s so much confusion and misinformation about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Most of it comes from the fact that symptoms vary from one person to the next and doctors don’t really know what causes it. IBS is a painful condition that affects the large intestine causing what seems like constant abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea….
Learn MoreReduce Stress with Relaxing Music
Music has a well-established relaxing effect on our bodies and minds. Therapists use music to help people overcome anxiety and depression, and improve their cognitive functioning, motor skills and social skills. Science has also proven that music has many beneficial physiological effects including slowing down the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and reducing the level…
Learn MoreMake Your Health & Fitness Resolutions Stick!
It’s that time of the year when tons of well-meaning people head to the gym to begin working on their new fitness goals. It’s unfortunate that most of these resolutions will be long forgotten by mid-February (or sooner). The main reason is because most resolutions are unrealistic; people set themselves up for failure before they…
Learn MoreWinter Skin Care
Winter brings chilly temperatures, lower humidity and strong winds. These harsh conditions can make your skin dry, sensitive, itchy and fragile. The reason your usual skin care routine doesn’t work as well during winter is because your skin needs a lot more moisture than usual. However, with a little effort, you can adapt your skin…
Learn MoreEnjoy The Holidays Without Making Your Scale Cry “Uncle!”
The holidays bring good cheer, family get-togethers and most all, lots and lots of food! It’s so easy to overindulge this time of year. A single scoop of ice cream easily becomes three or four. And then there are the pies…oh the pies…“I’ll just have a tiny slice of each, please.” Wouldn’t it be nice…
Learn MorePilates For Getting In Shape?
There are so many workout programs in the market today. How do you know which one to choose to get the results you want? Let me tell you about one that has stood the test of time. Pilates. It is one of the most popular fitness programs around and for good reason. This technique was…
Learn MoreShould You be Worried About that Mole?
Skin… Rough. Dry. Smooth. Freckled… We’re usually not too worried about our skin until we see a mole. Moles are common. Most people have at least 10 and continue developing new ones until the age of 40. Moles are pink, tan or brown growths that occur when pigments cells, known as melanocytes, grow in a…
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