The Truth about Sweeteners

Whatever your opinion is, there's no way avoiding them. They are found in thousands of products, from drinks, desserts and ready meals, to cakes, chewing gum and toothpaste.

Fears about their potential toxic effects have been around ever since the first sweetener, saccharin – once known as "the poor man's sugar" – was discovered in 1879. Cancer, strokes, seizures, low birth-weight, high blood pressure, vomiting, dizziness – all have been cited as risks from consuming sweeteners.

One Sweetener compare to multiple sugar cube

But none of these claims have stuck, and demand for sweeteners continues unabated as consumers try to cut their sugar intake while still satisfying their sweet tooth. The UK sweetener sector is valued at £60 million, and more than a quarter of British households buy artificial sweeteners.

One tablet does it all

What are They?

Sweeteners are actually low-calorie or calorie-free chemical substances that are used instead of sugar to sweeten foods and drinks.

Below is some of the most common sweeteners approved for use in the the world:

• acesulfame K

• aspartame

• saccharin

• sorbitol

• sucralose

• steviol glycosides (stevia plant extracts)

• xylitol

Are Those Sweeteners Safe to Use?

All sweeteners in the EU will have undergone a rigorous safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or its predecessor, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), before they can be used in food and drink.

Sweetener are everywhere

Moreover, Cancer Research UK and the US National Cancer Institute have said there is no evidence that sweeteners are associated with cancer risk in humans. "Studies on artificial sweeteners have found that they do not increase the risk of cancer," states Cancer Research UK. "Large studies looking at people have now provided strong evidence that artificial sweeteners are safe for humans."

As part of the evaluation process, the EFSA sets an acceptable daily intake (ADI), which is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day over the course of your lifetime. You don't need to keep track of how much sweetener you consume each day, as our eating habits are factored in when specifying where sweeteners can be used.

Are Those Sweeteners Healthy?

Safe, yes, but are they healthy? Food manufacturers claim sweeteners help prevent tooth decay, control blood sugar levels and reduce our calorie intake. EFSA has approved the health claims made about xylitol, sorbitol and sucralose, among others, in relation to oral health and controlling blood sugar levels.

Dietitian Emma Carder states: “Research into sweeteners shows they are perfectly safe to eat or drink on a daily basis as part of a healthy diet.” She also says they are a really useful alternative for people with diabetes who need to watch their blood sugar levels while still enjoying their favourite foods.

“Like sugar, sweeteners provide a sweet taste to foods and drinks, but what sets them apart is that, after consumption, sweeteners don’t increase blood sugar levels,” she says.

It has been suggested that the use of artificial sweeteners may have a stimulating effect on appetite and, therefore, may play a role in weight gain and obesity. However, research into sweeteners and appetite stimulation is inconsistent. Also, there is little evidence from longer-term studies to show that sweeteners lead to increased energy intake and contribute to the risk of obesity. 

“While more research is needed, sweeteners continue to have a useful role in offering a sweet taste without adding extra calories," says Carder.

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Understanding the Risk Factors of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, which literally means “porous bone,” is a progressive bone disease that makes your bones weak, permeable, and more likely to sustain a sudden fracture after a fall or, in some cases, even from typically benign activities such as coughing or bending over. These fractures often impact the hip, wrist, or spine, but they can occur in any bone in the body. Because osteoporosis does not have symptoms or pain in its early stages, a fracture may be the first indication that a person has developed the disease.

Although osteoporosis is often thought of as a disease that impacts women, one in four men above the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. As many as half of all women older than 50 will break a bone because of the condition. Osteoporosis affects about 8 million women and 2 million men.

Osteoporosis is primarily age-related, but in some cases, the disease is caused by other health conditions as well as certain medications and lifestyle factors. Types of osteoporosis include:

• Primary Osteoporosis

Primary osteoporosis is caused by age-related bone loss—when bone loss outpaces new bone formation—or by decreased gonadal function in post-meonpausal women or aging men. Primary osteoporosis accounts for more than 95 percent of osteoporosis in women and an estimated 80 percent of osteoporosis in men.

• Secondary Osteoporosis

Secondary osteoporosis can be brought on by a variety of causes, including medications or other chronic diseases and conditions. Common diseases that may contribute to the development of osteoporosis include:

• chronic kidney disease
• celiac disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• hyperthyroidism
• cystic fibrosis

Below we going to show you the risk factor of osteoporosis.

Risk Factors

There are a number of osteoporosis risk factors, some of which are fixed—such as gender and age—while other risk factors can be modified—such as low calcium intake and alcohol consumption.

• Gender

Being a woman, especially one who is post-menopausal, is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis-related fractures are nearly twice as common in women as they are in men. Women tend to have a lower bone density than men and lose bone mass more quickly as they get older.

• Age

Everyone experiences a natural decrease in bone density as they age, which usually begins between 30 and 35 years of age. In people with osteoporosis, this bone loss is accompanied by an accelerated loss of maximum calcium absorption by the gut and kidney. So, osteoporosis is more common among older people. Studies show that less than one percent of women between ages 20 and 29 have osteoporosis. By age 50, 20 percent of women have osteoporosis and another 38 percent have osteopenia (low bone mineral density). By age 80, only 13 percent of women have normal bone density.

• Race

People who are Caucasian or of Asian or Native-American descent are at a greater risk of having the condition. Studies have shown that women of Asian descent have the lowest bone-mineral density than women of other ethnicities. African American women are much less likely to develop osteoporosis than other racial groups.

• Family History

Genetics play a role in determining how likely you are to have osteoporosis. If any of your first degree relatives (parents or siblings) has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, then you have a greater risk of developing it.

• Body Type

Having a thin or petite frame increases your risk of having osteoporosis. Small, thin bones tend to have less bone mass to begin with, which means there is less bone “banked away” when old bone is destroyed faster than it is being formed.

• Low Calcium Intake

Calcium is the building block of bone; it’s needed to keep bones dense and strong. A low calcium intake is linked with a greater risk of osteoporosis. Adults under the age of 50 should aim to get in 1000 milligrams of calcium per day from calcium-rich foods or supplements along with 200 to 800 IUs of vitamin D daily. Adults ages 50 and older should get 1200 milligrams of calcium per day along with 800 to 1,000 IUs of vitamin D daily.

• Smoking and Heavy Drinking

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are two behaviors that increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Smoking is harmful to bone cells and may make it harder for your body to absorb calcium. Drinking may reduce your body’s calcium supply.

• Health Conditions

There are a range of health conditions and disorders that can cause bone loss, thereby increasing your risk of osteoporosis. These include:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• diabetes
• hyperthyroidism
• celiac disease
• irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• chronic kidney disease
• eating disorders (such as anorexia and bulimia)

• Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the baby growing in its mother’s womb needs plenty of calcium to develop its skeleton. This need is especially great during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If the mother doesn’t get enough calcium, her baby will draw what it needs from the mother’s bones.

• Medications

Certain medications can speed up bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. Corticosteroids like prednisone are notorious for contributing to osteoporosis. Other common medicines that may contribute to the development of osteoporosis include:

• certain anti-seizure medications
• proton pump inhibitors
• selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (antidepressants)

• Caffeine

Caffeine appears to diminish calcium absorption by a small amount. Drinking more than three cups of coffee per day may be harmful to bone health, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

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8 Highly Effective Ways To Make Menopause Less Miserable

Hot flashes, foul moods, insomnia, dryness in the wrong places...If your estrogen levels are dropping with age, you need no primer on the symptoms. You can, however, use the latest research to turn life's corner with a little less upheaval.

Can I Drink Alcohol while Pregnant?

Experts are still unsure exactly how much alcohol is safe for you to have while you're pregnant, so the safest approach is not to drink at all while you're expecting.

What's the Advice?

The Department of Health recommends that if you're pregnant you should avoid alcohol altogether. And if you do opt to have a drink, it recommends that you stick to one or two units of alcohol (equivalent to one small glass of wine) once or twice a week to minimize the risk to your baby.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.

NICE advice on drinking in pregnancy is that women should abstain from alcohol completely during the first three months of pregnancy because of the risks of miscarriage. And for the rest of pregnancy to drink no more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week.

The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) says the safest option for women is not to drink at all during pregnancy, but adds that small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy (not more than one to two units once or twice a week) have not been shown to be harmful.

How is Drinking in Pregnancy Potentially Harmful?

When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby. A baby's liver is one of the last organs to develop fully and doesn't mature until the latter stages of pregnancy. So, your baby cannot process alcohol as well as you can and too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect their development.

If you drink at any time during your pregnancy, the alcohol can affect your baby.

Drinking alcohol is potentially most harmful for your baby in the first three months of pregnancy when it is linked to miscarriage and birth abnormalities.

More recent research found that drinking in early pregnancy also increases the risk of premature birth and low birthweight.

Drinking in the second half of your pregnancy can affect how your baby grows and develops. Drinking more than the recommended one or two units once or twice a week can also affect your baby after they're born. The effects include learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

Drinking heavily (more than six units a day) throughout pregnancy can cause your baby to develop a serious condition called foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children with FAS have: 

• restricted growth 
• facial abnormalities 
• learning and behavioural disorders 

Binge drinking, which is defined as drinking more than 5 standard drinks or 7.5 units in a single session (a bottle of wine is around 9 units) or regularly drinking over the recommended level may be associated with lesser forms of FAS. The risk is likely to be greater the more you drink.

The Healthiest Option

Experts still aren’t sure about the precise amount of alcohol that is safe to drink in pregnancy, but they do know that drinking even moderate amounts can be harmful.

So, you might decide that the safest option for you is to avoid alcohol completely for nine months. It may not be as difficult as you think, as many women go off the taste of alcohol early in pregnancy.

If you do decide to drink when you’re pregnant – and remember the official NHS advice is to stick to one or two units once or twice a week – it's important that you know what a unit of alcohol actually is.

Alcohol units

• One UK unit is 10ml (or eight grams) of pure alcohol. This is equal to: 
• half a pint of beer, lager or cider at 3.5% alcohol by volume (ABV: you can find this on the label) 
• a single measure (25ml) of spirit, such as whisky, gin, rum or vodka, at 40% ABV 
• half a standard (175ml) glass of wine at 11.5% ABV

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Somethings Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Your Blood Tests Results

Typical routine blood tests include the complete blood count, also called CBC, to measure your red and white blood cell numbers as well as hemoglobin and other numbers. This test can uncover anemia, infection, and even cancer of the blood.

Another common blood test is the basic metabolic panel to check your heart, kidney and liver function by looking at your blood glucose, calcium, and electrolyte levels. And to check for heart disease risk, you may have a lipoprotein panel that measures levels of fats in your blood, like good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides.

Here are 10 things that your doctor may not tell you about results of blood tests like these, unless you digging deep enough.

Doctors often Tells only Bad News. 

Your doctor should discuss all blood test results with you. But often the rule is, “No news is good news." If your CBC, blood chemistry, and cholesterol results fall within normal ranges, the doctor’s office probably won’t reach out to you about your report. Or they may send you a copy with little or no explanation. Even if things appear normal, be sure to follow up and discuss your blood test with your doctor, nurse practitioner, or nurse. 

Make sure you ask if there have been changes since the last test of the same type, and what those changes mean.

What’s Considered “Normal” Differs Between Men and Women and Children.

If you compare your blood test results with someone elses, you might be surprised to find differences. For example, the normal reference range for the number of red blood cells in a complete blood count, or CBC test, is between 5 million and 6 million cells per microliter for a man. The normal range is lower for women before menopause, between 4 million and 5 million, likely because of blood loss during menstruation. 

The range for children also differs from the adult as their Alkaline Phosphatase range will be much higher. Their CBC range also differs.

Results Can Mean Different Things Depending on Your Age. 

Normal levels of hemoglobin, part of the CBC test, vary by age — lower for children and higher for adults. For children, a hemoglobin level of 11 to 13 grams/deciliter (g/dL) is normal, while for men, a value of 13.0 to 18.0 g/dL is normal, and it's 11.5 to 16.5 g/dL for adult women.

Age matters for your cholesterol numbers, too. While most people should aim for LDL cholesterol levels below 3.8 mmol/L, levels of 2.6 mmol/L or above point to a risk for heart disease are riskier if you are a man over 45 or a woman over 55.

A “Positive” test result May Not Really Be Positive

Some blood tests look for diseases by searching for molecular markers in your blood sample — among them the sickle cell anemia test, the HIV test, the hepatitis C test, and the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene test for breast and ovarian cancer risk. Results are considered “positive” when the test finds the disease marker — DNA or protein — that it is looking for. In these cases, a positive test result means you may have the disease or disorder or that you may have been exposed to it in the past. 

HIV Positive!

False VDRL positive result and False HIV positive result can be found if a person is having autoimmune disorder such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). A secondary test or a confirmation test are needed to confirm such cases.

False-Positive test results Happen More Often than You Might Think. 

The first screening test for a condition often has to be checked by a second, more specific test to find out whether the results are accurate and meaningful for your health. An example is the rapid HIV test, for which false positives are common. In communities where about 1 percent are infected with the virus, two false positive HIV rapid test results are expected for every 10 true positive results, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A follow up confirmation test call HIV Western Immunoblot Assay is commonly use to confirm the disease.

Although mix-ups of patient blood test samples are rare, they do happen.

A “Negative” test result is Usually Good News. 

Negative is not the same as bad when it comes to blood tests. A negative result means that the test did not detect what it was seeking, whether a disease marker or a risk factor for a health condition. When you’ve had a blood test to check for an infectious disease — a rapid blood test for hepatitis C, for example — getting back a negative result is good news — it means the test found no evidence of an infection. 

False-Negative test results Do Happen too. 

Sometimes a test doesn’t pick up evidence of a disease or condition even though you actually do have it. For example, if you had a blood test for hepatitis C and the results came back negative, but you were exposed to the virus in the past few months, you could still have an infection and not realize it. 

As for Hepatitis B carrier, sometime your blood screening result shows that you have no Hepatitis B infection. This might make people confuse that I'm "Clear" from the infection, but often, it is not. This happen very often especially your Hepatitis B virus has undergoes sero-conversion or in other words: Mutated Gene. Bear in mind that a Hepatitis B infection usually last for life and it is not common to clear from the infection.

Getting tested again is a good idea, recommends nurse Lucinda K. Porter, RN, if you think you were recently exposed to this infectious disease and make sure you inform the lab about your condition.

Test Values can be Different from Lab to Lab. 

Lab technicians’ reports compare your blood test results to a range that is considered normal for that laboratory. The lab’s reference range is based on test results from many people previously tested in that lab. This normal range may not be the same as another lab’s, notes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so don’t be surprised if you find that a prior blood test report varies from newer reports — the difference could be in the lab.

Abnormal Results Might Not be Due to a Disease, It may just Something Else. 

A test result outside the normal range of expected lab values could lead to diagnosis of a disease or disorder. But test outcomes can also be abnormal for other reasons. If you had a blood glucose test and you ate something before the test, or were drinking alcohol the night before or taking certain medications, your result could be temporarily abnormal. 

If you go for a morning exercises and have your CPK testing after that, then you may found your CPK level is higher than normal. Same thing goes to your CRP test. A lipaemic serum also will make your result abnormal as it affects the reading of the machine.

Lastly, Mistakes do Happen. 

Although mix-ups of patient blood test samples are rare, they do happen, like in the case of an HIV patient's sample that was switched with another person's, accidentally, as reported on ABC News. How your blood sample is handled even before it's analyzed can affect results, too. For example, if the technician shakes your blood sample in the collection tube, blood cells break open, releasing their contents and potentially changing the test results.

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