If you have not stopped using artificial sweeteners, please do so immediately! Artificial sweeteners, or non-nutritive sweeteners as they are sometimes referred to, have been debatable since they were first introduced to the market, and scientific research shows they are associated with many dangerous side effects. Introduced to satisfy consumer’s sweet tooth, these artificial sweeteners with no calories seemed, at the time, like good options to refined sugars and natural sweeteners. However, the side effects simply are not worth it. These fake sweeteners cause symptoms that range from migraines and headaches to weight gain and even more serious conditions like heart disease. What many people don’t understand is that artificial sweeteners also can cause a dangerous addiction — a dependency on overly sweet foods. They reinforce the taste buds to need more and more, sweeter and sweeter foods. This leads to even greater chances of obesity, kidney damage, type 2…