My personal fitness clients in Fort Collins are very weight conscious. In fact, more than a few of them drink diet sodas, which surprises and worries me at the same time. Whenever I ask a client about their drink choices, I'm often met with curious looks and/or vacant stares. Other times, I get the brush off-clients wave their hands and sputter, "Pshaw, a little fake sugar never hurt anybody." Are diet drinks, sugarless gum, Crystal Light, and assorted products of this ilk really "OK" to consume? Are they smart choices?

First off-a definition. Artificial sweeteners are simply substitutes for natural sweetening agents, like sugar or honey. By design, these substitutes have a lot less calories than natural sugar. Therefore, many folks who watch their weight and/or count calories have come to love their diet drinks. You get the bang (all that cold bubbly goodness of soda) without the unfortunate accumulation of high calorie glucose. However, artificial sweeteners have been linked to plenty of not-so-good things-like cancer. Interestingly, the human body doesn't identify artificial sweeteners as friends. They are instead foes-our bodies treat these substances like foreign material-unwanted chemicals invading our bodily territory.

How dopes this happen? First off, people can be allergic to fake sweeteners (like saccharin). Adverse reactions can include rashes, nausea, diarrhea, tongue blisters and asthma. If medical associations suggest that young children, nursing moms, and the elderly should avoid saccharin, then you probably should too.

The most common artificial sweetener that most people know of is Nutrasweet (aspartame). Believe it or not, this substance is considered the most dangerous of all fake sugars. It's been linked to cancerous tumors and leukemia in rats, and migraines in humans. The consumption of aspartame leads to weight gain, insomnia, muscle spasms, panic attacks, memory loss and hearing loss.

And what about the newest artificial sweetener, Splenda? Known otherwise as, Sucralose, this is another artificial sweetener that you must avoid. It was approved by the FDA even though testing showed shrunken thymus glands and enlarged kidneys. Since that time, more intense research has been conducted with similar results. Furthermore, when broken down by the human body, other chemicals are produced. These substances, and their cumulative effects, have not been studied.

Stick to the organic, natural substances of the world. Don't reach for the Equal with that morning coffee. Forget the Splenda for your hot chamomile tea. Go ahead and reach for your spoon-fill it with white sugar, brown sugar, honey, agave nectar, molasses, or cane sugar. Even though I have consistently been against white sugar, it is a better choice than artificial sweeteners. Our bodies evolved to break these substances down. New, potentially toxic chemicals don't arise from their breakdown. Don't be tempted by the low calorie count of aspartame and Sucralose. A few extra calories only means that you need to spend a few extra minutes on that dog balk or bike ride. Enjoy the natural pleasures of sugar and honey without the health risks associated with artificial sweeteners.