Green Tea, NutraSweet, and other thingsÂ…

Today, in my quest for a healthier lifestyle, I tried green tea. It most definitely is one of those foods that I will have to acquire a taste for! It does taste green and raw. I put honey in it and that helped some. I managed to get half a cup down, and hoping to increase that daily until IÂ’m drinking a whole cup. DonÂ’t get me wrong, it didnÂ’t make me gag, itÂ’s just a taste IÂ’m not used to. IÂ’ve never been a tea drinker anyway, except for the instant iced tea, which I love; and thatÂ’s because itÂ’s full of sugar and lemon!

Hubby and I have decided to quit NutraSweet. Do some research online and youÂ’ll see all the side effects it can cause. Strange thing; once hubby quit a few days ago, his blood pressure is down to normal most of the time and heÂ’s taking less mg of his BP meds. He also stopped taking Prilosec and started taking a baby aspirin daily, so it could be any one of those things that helped but IÂ’m betting on the removal of NutraSweet. If this keeps up, maybe he can go off meds altogether.

IÂ’ve also added a small block of dark chocolate to our daily diet for the antioxidants (nobody will have to force me to eat that!). Between the dark chocolate, green tea, and red wine, I may live to be a hundred! Of course, IÂ’ll have to lose the rest of my weight I want to, exercise, and quit smoking! IÂ’m dieting now and have lost 11 pounds, going to start walking on my treadmill Saturday, and sadly, the smoking will come last. ItÂ’s what keeps me from eating so much and breaking my diet. Hopefully by the time IÂ’m at my goal weight IÂ’ll be used to eating a lot less and can tackle the smoking problem. And I may never be able to quit, but IÂ’d like to give it my best shot. Are any of you reformed smokers, and how did you do it?

Sarah

Untitled Comment

8:14 PM, Thursday, March 2, 2006, .. Posted by kayinpa

Good for you...you are off to a great start! Kevin Trudeau states in his book "Natural Cures" that he believes that there is a connection between Asparteme (Nutrasweet) and MS (Multiple Scurosis).

Dont just settle for green tea...although the antioxidants are good, but try herbal teas as well....strawberries, blueberries etc are also fully of antioxidants! Keep up the good work.

Smoking and things

8:28 PM, Thursday, March 2, 2006, .. Posted by spinninggrandma

Try peach tea with honey or a natural sweetener ... it's like biting a peach!

Norm stopped smoking years ago, but he did it mostly because he started chewing gum. Wanna smoke? Chew gum!! Wanna smoke? Chew gum!! He still chews gum a lot, even after 44 + years! Good luck with all your life changes.

way to go

8:51 PM, Thursday, March 2, 2006, .. Posted by happyowl

I am very proud of all the changes you are making in your life! My hubby and I have never been big nutrasweet fans but he did chew a lot of gum on night shift. He was losing tons of weight, having aching joints and generally feeling misrable. After what seemed like forever, we finally agreed it was the nutrasweet in the gum that was doing it to him. I have done the research on the net and it is pretty scary stuff.

Green tea.... hmmmm, it is one of my most favourite teas but then again I also drink coffee and tea black so I'm a little strange.... lol. You will get used to the taste and it's so refreshing... I think anyways

If you figure out how to quit the smoking habit I would love to hear how you did it. I have been trying to quit for ten years now and I just can't do it. I have heard that it is harder to quit than coccaine and I think I believe it.


Have a great night and I'll be "rooting" for you and all your changes.

Heather( easternprariegirl)

Reformed smoker...

8:52 PM, Thursday, March 2, 2006, .. Posted by wannabeone

I stopped smoking several years ago. I just bit the bullet and stopped cold turkey. NOT the easiest way, but all the little gimmicks weren't working, either. Keep up your exercises because weight gain is a reality! Bummer.

God bless your reformation!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Yay!

9:04 PM, Thursday, March 2, 2006, .. Posted by Nonni

It's nice to be able to get off meds. For a while, Dh was able to be off his synthyroid medication just with a natural diet. We've fallen out of that, and he's back on it. Working our way back (again!) though. I've got to quit smoking too...I'm thinking when the weather warms and I can walk outside. I don't want to gain another 40 lbs calling it being better for me, LOL.
Edited to add, I love the new look!

Edited by Nonni on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 9:05 PM

Untitled Comment

6:09 AM, Friday, March 3, 2006, .. Posted by Joy

I hope you succeed. I once overheard my doctor at the time recommend to someone who was trying to quit to place a bowl of their favorite fruits on the table and everytime they felt the need for a cigarette to eat a piece of fruit instead. It is definately better than reaching for candy. I hope it goes well.
Joy

smoking and not

1:42 PM, Friday, March 10, 2006, .. Posted by VTLinda

Years and years ago, I realized if I didn't stop really early on, I'd never be able to. So, thank God, I didn't keep it up - but I do have to admit that even after 40 years, sometimes I still crave one! Weird huh? Anyway, my Dad quit cold turkey one day (when he was about 47 yrs old). But, while he was at work that day, my mom, my baby brother and I had gotten down on our knees and earnestly sought God's help for Daddy to quit. We didn't say anything to Dad, but when he got home, he told us he had quit. God did do a work - because Daddy didn't crave any either. On another note, my (off wandering the world estranged alcoholic husband) had to go in the hospital for heart problems and oxygen. He was there for about 4 days and wasn't allowed to smoke. The nurses gave him Vit B6. He said he didn't crave any nicotene - but as soon as he got out, he went back to it. I pray that when the time is right you'll have everything you need to stop. Bless you!
~Linda in Virginia