Do you have that friend (or “friend”… ahem) who always orders a Diet Coke instead of the real deal? Perhaps they think they are doing their body a favor by avoiding real sugar and opting for artificial sweeteners. Not that “The Real Thing” is that much better than the Diet version, mind you…
Case Study: Artificial Sweeteners and Hashimoto’s.
An interesting case study came out last fall regarding artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, etc). The study followed a woman who was consuming a “high dose of artificial sweeteners”. She was then diagnosed with Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroid disease).
Her TSH levels were 12.2 (normal range is .3 to 5 or thereabouts. Keep in mind that every lab may have slightly different ranges). She also showed a weight gain of 20 pounds since starting the use of these sweeteners.
After she stopped the sweeteners, her TSH dropped and “she recovered completely”. Study linked below for those curious.
Artificial Sweeteners and Gut Health.
There are other studies out there that show that these artificial sweeteners mess with our health. Gut health, in particular, can be compromised. If our gut health is out of balance (the bad bacteria overpower the good guys, for example), this can start a cascade of events that lead to health issues and chronic illness… like autoimmune disease.
One study, in particular, shows that, in rats, sucralose can alter the composition of gut microbes. It showed that sucralose can reduce beneficial bacteria. It can also alter glucose and insulin levels.
For those of us with reduced gut motility (think constipation, not having a bowel movement every day), this is not good! If things aren’t moving, the bad guys (not to mention waste products) can take over and push things really out of balance (candida or parasite overgrowth, SIBO, etc).
Stevia.
And then there’s stevia. The Paleo Mom has a great article covering the basics of what stevia is and what it can do to our bodies. Spoiler alert: It can inhibit healthy probiotic growth and can affect our hormones for starters. Check out her article for details.
If you are following the AIP, eliminate stevia in the first elimination phase of the diet.
That said, another study suggests that stevia may be useful for those with Lyme disease, as it it may significantly reduce the parasite that causes Lyme. Definitely work with your doctor on this one. If your doctor is not up on the latest, it may be time to look for a new one. This study on stevia is also linked below for those curious.
What About Natural Sugar?
Keep in mind that sugar is still sugar, even from natural sources like honey and maple syrup and can still feed disease if eaten in excess. Honey is also a high FODMAP food and this should be considered if one is on a low-FODMAP diet.
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Autoimmune Thyroiditis with Hypothyroidism Induced by Sugar Substitutes
Sucralose, A Synthetic Organochlorine Sweetener: Overview of Biological Issues
Does the Gut Microbiota Trigger Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
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Too much information? Feeling confused? A coach can help. Learn more about working with me one-on-one.
![In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be sharing some tips and tricks to help you get unstuck - no matter the circumstances of your stuck-ness.
This is the second in a series - if you missed the previous post, see my blog (link in bio).
Here’s the first tip:
Get in touch with your body.
Stop for a moment and check in. Where are you holding tension right now? Some common places we hold tension are:
the jaw
the neck
the gut
the shoulders
Or there might be pain somewhere, like a headache, backache, eyestrain/pain, etc.
I invite you to notice this pain or tension.
Be with it. Breathe into it. Relax into it.
Getting in touch with your body is a brilliant way of not only teaching yourself how to relax but also helps you to be present.
And becoming present creates S P A C E. And within that space there is an opportunity to see what is needed.
So: what is that physical symptom telling you that you need? Don’t overthink this!
SOMEthing usually comes up, like:
I need to rest
I need to let go of [XYZ]
I need to get outside
I need to exercise
I need a good cry (this happens often in real time during my coaching sessions!)
Once that need is met, some things might clear up. You might not get completely unstuck, but there is usually a shift that takes place or a relaxing that happens.
The pic of me is when I just woke up from a nap. I was working and feeling stuck.
I checked in and realized I was freaking exhausted. I needed rest, so closed my eyes for a few minutes before getting back to my computer.
You're not seeing the "before" photo, but trust me: what a difference a few minutes of rest make!
(and my hair always looks better after I sleep on it lol)
One thing to note:
Getting in touch with the physical body might be really REALLY hard for some people.
I invite you to be super gentle, and practice this technique with “nonjudgemental curiosity”, and let me know how it goes!
#stuck #struggle #stugglebus #rest #physical #tension #pain #tipstrickstools #swansoncoaching #lifecoach #holisticcoach #wellnesscoach](https://autoimmunenutritioncoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/435120410_964353791722252_2190116072632110028_n.jpg)
![Something I experience in my coaching sessions every day is seeing people who feel “stuck”.
Stuck in a job they don’t like.
Stuck after graduating from college, working their dream job, not knowing what’s next.
Stuck not knowing what to do now that the kids have left home.
Stuck in a relationship that is no longer serving them.
Stuck in not knowing what to do regarding that big decision looming over them.
Many times these clients say “I just need more tools in my life to figure this out, then I’ll be good”. They want “tips, tools, or tricks” to help them get unstuck.
In other words, they want information.
The thing is, there’s a sh*t-ton of information out there. Any answers we desire are at our fingertips thanks to the interwebs.
So why are we always so stuck?!
Information doesn’t help one get unstuck. It can be a starting point, but information alone will not get one unstuck.
Doing the [sometimes hard] inner work is what gets you unstuck.
Understanding yourself, your beliefs, your emotions, your body, how you think and act the way you do - and *why* you are doing any of it - including being stuck - is imperative to get unstuck.
And this is what coaching is all about. To help you better understand yourself so you can make different choices moving forward.
Over the coming days and weeks, I’m going to share with you some things I discuss with my clients in the first or second session to help them better understand themselves and how they move through this world.
This awareness helps them become UNstuck.
Yeah, they might be called “tips and tricks and tools”, and you can absolutely self-coach yourself using them. It is sometimes easier with a facilitator (e.g. a coach, therapist, or spiritual advisor), but if you are willing to go deep on your own and be honest with yourself, I invite you to play around with these techniques.
So stay tuned!
In the meantime:
Are you feeling stuck?
What has helped YOU get unstuck?
Would love to hear from you.
#stuck #struggle #strugglebus #lifecoach #holisticoach #tipstrickstools #swansoncoaching](https://autoimmunenutritioncoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/434572858_963909818433316_8140446297598528977_n.jpg)