Many people turn to artificial sweeteners in an attempt to cut calories from sugar out of their diets and lose weight. However, some of these sugar substitutes have been controversial for decades.

One sweetener, Splenda, has even raised concerns for causing cancer, though there's no substantial proof. Here's what researchers have actually found so far on Splenda's health effects.

Splenda is one of the brand names for sucralose-based artificial sweeteners. Other brands include Sukrana, SucraPlus, and Nevella. Sucralose was first approved as a general-purpose sweetener in 1999 by the FDA.

The Splenda-making process starts with sucrose, also known as table sugar. The chemical structure of sucrose is then altered into a new compound called sucralose, from which the human body cannot absorb any calories.

This result is an artificial sweetener that is extremely sweet 600 times sweeter than regular sugar and low-cal. One packet of Splenda contains 3.36 calories.

The FDA says that sucralose is safe capping the recommended maximum intake at 23 packets a day, or about the equivalent of 5.5 teaspoons. However, some nutritionists disagree with the FDA.

Danica Cowan, MS, RD, a dietitian at UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, strongly advises against using any chemical artificial sweeteners, not just Splenda. Cowan says that until we have unequivocal proof that chemically-altered artificial sweeteners are not harmful, everyone should err on the side of caution.

In fact, most of the research points to potentially adverse health effects. Here's what some of the research has uncovered, so far:

A study published in Cell Metabolism in 2020 found that consistently eating sucralose and carbs together for 10 consecutive days decreased insulin sensitivity in otherwise healthy adults. In other words, it's possible that consuming too much sucralose-based sweeteners may cause you to have higher blood sugar, which can increase your risk of prediabetes. However, this research is relatively new, and there are no other studies to confirm its conclusions.

There's talk that artificial sweeteners may have a negative impact on gut health. However, so far, the only studies on this effect have been done in animals and there's no proof that the results apply to human health.

That said, artificial sweeteners including mannitol and sorbitol have been shown to cause GI issues like diarrhea. Whether this has any long-term adverse effects on gut health, though, is unknown.

In 2016, a study published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health made media headlines for its supposed link between Splenda and an increased risk of cancer.

However, the study was performed in mice and the researchers reportedly fed the rodents at least 12 times more sucralose than what's recommended for human consumption. The mice were eating this amount every day until they died.

Later in 2016, a different group of researchers published an extensive review in the Journal Nutrition and Cancer concluding that, "sucralose does not demonstrate carcinogenic activity even when exposure levels are several orders of magnitude greater than the range of anticipated daily ingestion levels."

Artificial sweeteners, in general, can actually backfire for those who are trying to lose weight. According to a 2010 mini-review, artificial sweeteners affect the brain differently than true sugar, leaving it less satisfied which can spark additional sweet cravings.

When we eat sugar, reward pathways in our brain are activated, and they release hormones that make us feel good, which explains why we love sweets so much. On the other hand, when artificial sweeteners are consumed, those same pathways are activated only partially since they don't contain calories, meaning they can't be broken down into energy for the body. This can lead you to crave more, eat more, and possibly gain weight.

There is a deficit of studies that investigate the long-term health effects of Splenda consumption. From what researchers have found, Splenda isn't horrible for you, but it also isn't necessarily good for you, either. And it definitely doesn't add any nutritional value.

Cowan says that if you want to reduce your sugar intake, then start by cutting back slowly and steadily. "If you just begin to cut back on sugar and sweets in general, your body adjusts. Your taste buds adjust, and you crave sweets less and I think that's very beneficial."

If you have intense sugar cravings and aren't ready to cut back on traditional sweets just yet, Cowan says artificial sweeteners can have a place. But she suggests trying healthier sugar substitutes instead of Splenda. She highly recommends using Stevia or Monk Fruit, which are more natural than Splenda. Both of these sweeteners come from plants and are not artificially derived from other substances or chemicals.

Lastly, if you're trying to lose weight, take a hard look at your overall diet. Weight loss and health are about way more than just using an artificial sweetener or not. Cowan recommends focusing on having a healthy balanced diet of whole foods, and avoiding highly-processed foods.

For help with weight loss check out our guide on how to lose weight safely. You can also consult a doctor or dietitian for guidance.

Read the original:
Straight facts about Splenda and its affect on health - Insider - INSIDER

Anyone paying attention to the news lately has seen both heartwarming and heartbreaking stories about residents in Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities, their homes, and their families. In our best efforts to protect LTC residents from COVID-19, we have created another health risk. Our safety measures to restrict visitation and communal activities the past three months have negatively impacted residents physical, mental and emotional health. In fact, residents have documented physical, mental and emotional decline due to the social distancing and isolation measures in place to keep them safe. Some residents have experienced weight loss as they have no socialization while eating.

I have been an infection preventionist in a hospital setting, currently working in an Adult Day Services program connected with a long-term care community. I am also an independent living resident on a continuing care campus. I am writing in support of both keeping our residents in LTC settings, many of whom are my friends, not only physically healthy and safe but also mentally and emotionally healthy. With everything going on in our country right now, LTC residents feel as though they no longer have rights and have been imprisoned in the name of safety. We have lost sight that this is their home and that they have a voice. They cannot have in-person visits with their families and are isolated from their friends in the place they call home.

I have to admit that I too have felt some frustration. In order to keep fellow residents in assisted living and LTC safe on campus, I have needed to limit my daily comings and goings off campus. Leaving campus is limited to trips for groceries, medications, and a drive in the country or a safely distanced walk to a park.

I, along with everyone on our campus, have been watching the rest of the state reopening on the news and have been looking forward to the states easing of restrictions in LTC so we too can socially distance on a visit with our families and friends and have limited communal dining. These small acts do wonders for residents well being.

Our campus has had one resident test positive for COVID-19, and that resident has recovered and returned to their neighborhood. If all goes as planned, we hope to meet the states requirements to progress to Phase 2 of the reopening plan on July 1. However, that progress is in jeopardy because our campus cannot obtain the amount of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet the additional precautions the state requires us to have in place. Having a background in infection prevention and employee health, I fully understand the need for PPE as it relates to transmission-based precautions. However, the state is requiring LTC facilities to go beyond precautions utilized in the past and to do so without any extended use or reuse of PPE.

Precautions should be based upon known or suspected likelihood of transmitting pathogens. With additional precautions applied to all residents, regardless of symptoms or their history of potential of exposure, it seems unnecessary and will require unlimited amounts of PPE that would be better saved for conventional situations.

Unless the state helps us find considerably more medical-grade PPE or addresses their PPE requirements for reopening, our campus, and Id venture to say almost every LTC in the state, will not be able to move to Phase 2. This means our vulnerable residents will continue to have limited interactions with people or, in their words, be locked away in jail. This is not what they signed up for, not even in the name of safety. Further, how can we ethically reopen the rest of the state while forgetting about our greatest generation?

Linda Opheim, RN, CIC, is a nurse at Schmoker Adult Day-Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Visit link:
State rules on PPE will prevent people from seeing relatives in long-term care sites | News, Sports, Jobs - Fort Dodge Messenger

Eustasis Psychiatric & Addiction Health

417-322-6622| 3600 S. National Ave., Springfield

Eustasis Psychiatric & Addiction Health is pleased to announce construction of their brand new site in the heart of Medical Mile, opening in July! There is expanded access to medication management, psychotherapy, testing and advanced treatment options.

Dr. Alok Jain and his wife Breanna Jain started the clinic in 2018 with the mission of providing the highest quality psychiatric care to all patients. Since then they have put together an amazing team of board-certified providers and support staff who have tirelessly served the Springfield community.

We wanted to build something really vital for our patients. A place that everyone could come, regardless of age or diagnosis, says Dr. Jain.

Dr. Alok Jain has been honored as a 417 Top Doctor every year since 2007 and is 2020's top psychiatrist. He is a board-certified psychiatrist, member of the American Psychiatric Association and has an extensive background in consultation-liaison psychiatry and psychopharmacology.

Eustasiss immediate-access site has provided patients with an unprecedented way to receive psychiatric care without delay. Their walk-in and be seen model is changing the face of psychiatry. The new location has eight providers and room for growth! They are providing the most state of the art modalities, including ADHD testing and esketamine.

It is super exciting, says Breanna Jain, CEO, PMHNP-BC. We have patients who come in all hours of the day, pediatric or adult, all payor sources. They will ask, You mean I can really be seen right now? We can proudly tell them of course! This is just the way we believe mental health should be done.

Both Dr. Jain and Breanna know that people need options in this community. Patients struggles are numerous, ranging from addiction, bipolar, ADHD, trauma, anxiety and more. The Jains like to think of Eustasis as a one-stop-shop.

There shouldnt be high levels of bureaucracy. This is what overwhelms patients. Barriers have no place when it comes to mental health, the Jains explain.

Eustasis is committed to helping patients find the optimal balance of emotions during these difficult times. They have expanded their hours and have both in person and telemedicine options available. They are always accepting new patients!

Go here to see the original:
Medical Professionals in the Ozarks - 417mag

In 1994, Walt Disney Pictures produced a PG comedy called

Blank Check about an 11-year-old boy who gets into a bike

accident with an escaped convict and ends up with $1 million.

Though the movie is generally fun in a

classic 90s fashion, with tons of hijinks

and corny jokes, theres one small problem: .

The 11-year-old main characters

love interest is an adult woman.

The 1994 film has recently found

itself back in the spotlight now that

its available to stream on Disney Plus.

On TikTok, user therjpowell recorded a

now-viral video addressing the controversial

kissing scene in the movie, calling it cringey.

Though the entire concept of an 11-year-old falling in

love with a grown woman is troubling, therjpowell

calls out one problematic scene in particular in his video: .

the one where the 11-year-old and

the grown woman an FBI agent

named Shay actually kiss on the mouth.

Disney WHAT ARE YOU DOINNNN???

one person asked.

When the film came out in 94, the

Chicago Tribune called it one of the

sleazier movies ever marketed to kids"

Link:
We need to talk about the 1994 Disney film 'Blank Check' - Yahoo Lifestyle

Face toners have come a long way since the old-school dehydrating astringents made to control oily skin. Toners are water-based or water-alcohol based solutions or mixtures, says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab chemist Danusia Wnek, but "there are now formulas that are alcohol- and astringent-free and can be less drying, she says.

This new generation of toners are often labeled as essences, tonics, waters, or solutions. These versions contain treatment ingredients similar to serums and moisturizers, so theyre gentler, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

The goal of a toner is to remove any excess residue from cleansing and prep the skin for other skincare products," says Wnek. Toners are traditionally applied on clean, dry skin using fingers, cotton, or a cloth after face cleansing and before other leave-on skincare treatments like serums and moisturizers. Incorporate a toner into your skincare routine if you want additional complexion-purifying or treatment benefits or want to swap out heavier skincare formulas for lighter liquids in warmer months.

When shopping for a toner, look for formulations tailored to your complexion type or primary skin concern or goal. Here are Wnek's suggetions:

Here, the best face toners you can buy for all skin types, from oily and acne-prone to combination, dry and sensitive, for hyperpigmentation and more, according to GH Beauty Lab scientists and experts.

Go here to see the original:
The Best Toners to Smooth and Brighten Every Skin Type - Yahoo Lifestyle

Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, not long after her daughter was born in 2005. She only gained five pounds during her pregnancy and noticed she lost weight really quick afterward. I was so tired, she says.

I went to my basement to get laundry and, halfway up the stairs, I could barely breathe, she explains. Then, I went and sat on the couch and I passed out.

Von St. James says she called her doctor right away, who did an X-ray of her lungs. Then, she was given her diagnosis. She was told that she had just 15 months to live if she didnt receive treatment.

Mesothelioma is often caused by exposure to asbestos, a heat-resistant mineral that has been used in a variety of construction materials for insulation. Von St. James says her doctor asked if her dad ever worked in construction or mining of any sort. I said, Well, yeah. He did both, she recalls.

I remembered I would wear his jacket and his jacket was covered in this grayish, whitish dust, says Von St. James. I would wear it when I had to go feed my rabbits, or rake the leaves or something because it was already dirty and it was my dads coat. Its this coat covered in asbestos that led to my mesothelioma 30 years later.

If I didnt do anything, I was only going to live 15 months.

Von St. James was given a tough decision. If I didnt do anything, I was only going to live 15 months, which I was not going to take as an answer, she says. Her other option: To have a groundbreaking surgery one of the most invasive surgeries there is, she says. It involved removing her entire left lung, the lining of her heart, the left half of her diaphragm and one of her ribs. She decided to have the surgery.

The recovery was brutal because I had to follow up surgery with chemotherapy and radiation, Von St. James says. She also had to learn to breathe with just one lung. Having one lung, your breathing capacity is literally cut in half, she explains. People often ask me how long before everything is back to normal and Im like, Never. You have to adjust your entire way of life after a cancer diagnosis.

Story continues

The median survival rate for people with pleural mesothelioma is 18 months, so to make it even five years is a big deal, Von St. James says. Its been 14 years since her diagnosis, which is kind of unheard of. Thats why she says its so important that I talk about it to bring awareness to the disease and offer hope to people who are newly diagnosed.

HEATHER VON ST. JAMES: You know, a day you lose your lung could really be a tragic day, and you could be really sad and depressed about it. But we decided to turn it around and turning it into a huge celebration, Lungleavin' Day, which is the day my lung left. They took out my lung, but I got my life back.

My little girl was born on August 4, 2005. But I only gained five pounds through the whole pregnancy. I was so tired. I was exhausted. But I was a new mom, and I was up at night feeding her. And then I was losing weight really quick. I had a really hard time breathing. I had went to my basement to get laundry. And halfway up the stairs, I could hardly breathe. And then I went and sat on the couch, and I passed out. I called my doctor right away. He had me come in and do an X-ray. You have a disease called malignant pleural mesothelioma. It's a cancer of the lining of your lung. Without any treatment, he goes, you have 15 months to live.

Mesothelioma's caused by asbestos exposure. The doctor asked me if my dad ever worked construction or mining of any sort. And I said, well, yeah, he did both. I remembered I would wear his jacket, and his jacket was covered in this grayish whitish dust. I would wear it when I had to go feed my rabbits or break the leaves or something, because it was already dirty. And it was my dad's coat. It was this coat covered in asbestos that led to my mesothelioma 30 years later.

If I didn't do anything, I would only live 15 months-- which I was not going to take as an answer-- or have this groundbreaking surgery, one of the most invasive surgeries there is, removal of my entire left lung, the lining of my heart, the left half of my diaphragm, and one of my ribs. The recovery was brutal because I had to follow up surgery with chemotherapy and radiation. Having one lung, your breathing capacity is literally cut in half. People often ask me, how long before everything's back to normal? And I'm like, never. You have to adjust your entire way of life after a cancer diagnosis.

My dad felt a lot of guilt. I said, Dad you're not at fault here. It's the asbestos companies that did this. It wasn't you. Second-hand exposure of asbestos-- we're the patient that they never wanted to admit there was. One fiber can make a person sick. They've known that it's caused cancer since the early 1900s. The asbestos companies said years ago, oh, if they make a good living by asbestos, they might as well die by it too.

The United States is one of the only industrialized country where it's still legal. The Trump administration tried to roll back protections for asbestos a few years ago. You need to make sure when you're electing officials that they're on the right side of history. It boils down to dollars over lives, and that's unconscionable in my opinion.

The median survival rate is 18 months. So to make it even five years is a big deal. 14 is kind of unheard of with pleural mesothelioma, which is why it's so important that I talk about it to bring awareness to the disease and offer hope to people who are newly diagnosed. I have my lighthouse tattoo over here. My dad told me I would be a beacon of hope. And even when he got sick, which we think was due to the asbestos, he told me, he's like, you're going to continue to be that lighthouse aren't you?

Go here to see the original:
How a coat covered in asbestos led to one woman's cancer diagnosis 30 years later - Yahoo Lifestyle

Unfortunately, its not uncommon for

dating app users to lie about their height.

In fact, its common enough that TikTok

users have taken to extreme measures

to see if the guy they just swiped right on

is really 60 or if hes actually 510.

The trend began when a user who goes by

the name ofgadelhahanoticed a Corona beer

bottle in the hand of one of her matches.

She easily found that each bottle

is 9.5 inches tall, then used a photo

editing app to replicate the bottle over

the original photo multiple times.

She then lined those bottles up to match

his height, counted them, and converted

it to feet, finding the man to be 511.25.

TikTok usernicccoyatook that a step

further, showing her followers a

mathematical equation they can use to

get the most accurate answer possible.

First, youll need to figure out

how tall the items in the photo

are in both real-life and in the

photo, in centimeters.

niccoyafound that the bottle is

1 cm tall in the photo, and the man is 7.5 cm.

Just multiply the size of the man

in the photo (7.5 cm) by the real-life

size of the bottle (24.13 cm).

Once you have that number, divide it by the

height of the bottle in the photo (1 cm).

In this case,niccoyafound the answer to

be 180.975 cm. She quickly converted cm to inches

by asking Siri for the answer 511.25

Visit link:
Here's how to definitively tell how tall someone is based on their dating profile - Yahoo Lifestyle