* Aspartame - the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure - is the common food additive found in thousands of products such as diet soda, yogurt, and over-the-counter medicines. However, this sugar substitute – in fact, a chemical poison (neurotoxin) - should never been approved for consumption as it poses a public health threat. Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the US FDA. A few of the 90 (!) different documented symptoms caused by the components of aspartame include: headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain (it actually increases appetite!), rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.

** Sucralose - a relatively new artificial sweetener (high-intensity sugar substitute; 50% sweeter than aspartame - but less toxic), sold under the name Splenda™. It is non-caloric and about 600 times sweeter than sucrose (white table sugar), already used in a variety of products (in the United States, approved for the use in 15 food and beverage categories). However, sucralose is NOT proven safe; it does NOT provide any benefit to the public (only for the corporations making and using sucralose); it does NOT help with weight loss (on the contrary: it my stimulate appetite); it has NOT been shown to be safe for the environment, and, finally, there are NO long-term (12-24 months) human studies on sucralose (similar to several years ago for aspartame). Its regular use may contribute to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders.

Despite these concerns, Splenda is now used in over 4,000 products worldwide, from carbonated drinks and nutrition bars to desserts, confectionery and dairy products, according to its U.K. manufacturer Tate & Lyle. And this year (2005), the number one global soft drinks player launches a new version of Diet Coke, complete with Splenda sucralose logo on the packaging.

Eat Less Fruit:

• Sweet fruit (fresh and dried), such as grape (red and green), raisin, plum, fig, date, pineapple, apricot - high in sugar
• Melons, such as cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon - high in sugar
• Banana, orange, grapefruit (red and white) to be avoided (high in sugar, contaminated with mold!)
• Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, lemon, lime - OK, in moderation

AVOID:

ALL fruit juices - fresh and bottled

Therefore, as a result, you might not be able to successfully implement necessary changes in your diet.

Therefore, many clients in our practice have found one particular cookbook extremely helpful in improving their circulation:

The Low-Grain, Low-Sugar Delight >> Over 260 Simple Recipes for Improved Health << Edited by J. Paretzky, RHN

This superb cookbook contains over 260 simple and delicious recipes (guaranteed!). It can help to get you started on your journey to improved health in no time!

All recipes follow food choice recommendations outlined in our "Eating Plan For Improved Circulation." You should be able to open the book and - just cook.

Although this cookbook does not give you specific menu combinations, it is quite easy - with its help - to create your own menus, as it allows for variety.

So, what you need to do first, is to find at least fifteen (15) recipes you like. It should not be that difficult to do - actually, that is all most families use.

Then, do your best to have a variety. Variety is the key here! If you are going to rotate between two or three meals you will simply burn out.

You will see that eating right to be independently healthy is possible. It may seem overwhelming at first and, at times, will feel impossible - but you can do it.