Visalus Ingredients Can Be Dangerous

Source: Healthy Families For Good

I think it’s very important that every person understands the potential dangers of these shakes before using them. While I do not deny that many people have had wonderful results in their weight and overall health in a short period of time, we must understand that it is simply a trade-off with a little Russian roulette. These people may be exchanging their current health problems with different ones in the future.

To begin, let’s discuss the ingredients other than the soy and break them down. Here’s a list of them directly from Visalus.com:

Other Ingredients: Protein Blend of (Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate, and Whey Protein Concentrate), Digestive Resistant Maltodextrin (Fibersol™), High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, MCT Oil, Maltodextrin, Gum Acacia, Xanthan, Sodium Caseinate, Lecithin, Aminogen™, Mono & Diglycerides, DiPotassium Phosphate, Sucralose
(This information was originally taken from the following link on Visalus’ website. Apparently, they found out and didn’t like this information being publicized. Since they apparently are not wanting to share the full list of ingredients, they are no longer available on their webiste.http://www.visalus.com/health/weight_management/ingredients.aspx)

1. Sunflower Oil
Contrary to popular belief, vegetable oils are not a health food. A healthy oil will contain a proper balance of omega fatty acids. Vegetable oils, however, contain an improper ratio of omega 6’s to omega 3’s, creating an omega 3 deficiency. While a proper intake of omega 3’s has been proven to protect against many types of cancers, especially including skin cancer, a high intake of omega 6’s has actually been proven in studies to promote cancers, especially skin cancer.

An early warning sign that this could be in a person’s future is one’s tendency to sunburn. A diet high in omega 3’s will protect the skin from sun damage like sunburnand wrinkles; omega 6’s do the opposite.

Overall, vegetable oils cause inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to a wide range of health problems. Inflammation increases the risk for problems like asthma,diabetes, allergies, and other auto-immune disorders (when the body attacks itself),macular degeneration, heart disease, and cancers.

Vegetable oil consumption has also been linked to problems with infertility and birth risks, learning disabilities, and liver toxicity.

For more information on the problems with vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, soybean, safflower, etc., here are some links:

The Surprising Toxic Effects of Vegetable Oils
From Dr. Joseph Mercola
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/06/28/vegetable-oils.aspx

Wellness Mama–Why You Should Never Eat Vegetable Oil Or Margarine
http://wellnessmama.com/2193/why-you-should-never-eat-vegetable-oil-or-margarine/

Total Health Breakthroughs discusses the medical studies conducted discovering the information shared above.
http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/2010/01/you-are-what-you-eat-literally/#comment

2. Artificial Flavor
Rather than going into the info on this ingredient, I am going to just share a couple of links. I think with the new advances in biotechnology, the side effects of these ingredients are undeterminable. They may be dangerous and they may be safe, but I do think we should consider the spiritual side of using products that could contain this ingredient that is now being created with the use of aborted fetal cells. While there is not conclusive evidence that Visalus is using artificial flavors from this biotechnology, there is no evidence that they aren’t either.

Cell Lines From Aborted Babies Used To Create Artificial Flavors
Definitely something ever person, especially Christians, must consider.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/biotech-company-using-cell-lines-from-aborted-babies-in-food-enhancement-te

Secretive Chemicals Being Hidden In Food Under The Label “Artificial Ingredients”
http://www.naturalnews.com/022982.html

3. Sucralose
Where to begin on this one. First of all, it’s actual name is:

1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-BETA-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside

GreenMedInfo, one of the largest natural health database websites, describes it as follows:

Despite the intended insinuation, sucralose is not a form of sucrose (cane sugar). Sucralose/Splenda is produced through artificially substituting three hydroxyl groups (hydrogen + oxygen) with three chlorine atoms in the sugar (sucrose) molecule. Natural sugar is a hydrocarbon built around 12 carbon atoms. When transformed into Splenda it becomes a chlorocarbon, in the same family as deadly pesticides like DDT, insecticides, biocides, disinfectants like Chlorox Bleach, and WWI poison gas like dichlorourea.

Chemical sweeteners are one of the most dangerous ingredients found in “food” today. Absolutely no-long term studies on the safety of this particular chemical sweetener were done before it was approved to the market.

In the 1950’s, the chemical sweetener cyclamate was introduced to the U.S. market. It was marketed as a safe and healthy alternative to conventional sweeteners for everyone, especially diabetics.

Eight years later, a study revealed this ingredient could be chronically toxic, contributing to bladder cancer and other problems. Three years later, after it had been sold for eleven years, it was removed from the market.

I fear the same will be true with sucralose. The corruption in our government’s FDA, however, may prevent the negative effects of this product from getting it removed.

A study from Duke University said, “The artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product.”

Their study found that it reduces good bacteria in the gut (which is one of the most essential factors for good overall body and mind health), causes weight gain in the long-term, and even reduces the effectiveness of life-saving medications.
(http://www.naturalnews.com/024543_health_Splenda_weight.html)

The most common complaints and side effects from sucralose consumption includegastrointestinal problems like IBS/IBD, allergic reactions including skin rashes, acid reflux, bladder problems, chest pains, and general feelings of malaise.

GreenMedInfo describes the lengthy list of sucralose’s documented adverse health effects:

· Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)

· Enlarged liver and kidneys.

· Abnormal histopathological changes in spleen and thymus

· Increased cecal weight

· Reduced growth rate

· DNA Damage

· Adverse changes to gastrointestinal bacteria

· Abnormal Pelvic Mineralization

· Decreased red blood cell count

· Hyperplasia of the pelvis

· Aborted pregnancy (Maternal & Fetal Toxicity)

· Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights

· Bowel inflammation

· Triggering migraine

· Increase glycosylation of hemoglobin (HbA1c) for diabetics

(Read the article in its entirety here: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/bitter-truth-about-splenda)

To read testimonies of people suffering from sucralose-induced health problems, check out Dr. Mercola’s page here:http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/12/03/sucralose-testimonials.aspx

Artificial Sweeteners Are Continually Found To Be Unsafe and Toxic
http://www.naturalnews.com/027491_aspartame_sweeteners_health.html

I have not gone into all of the ingredients listed above, such as the maltodextrin that is almost always made from GMO corn, lecithin that is often made from GMO soy, and more. I thought we’d cover the most obvious

While the immediate health benefits from these products are undeniable in many cases, at what cost do they come?  How many people are not reporting these side effects and illnesses in order to maintain their sales?

As always, we see that the only safe bet is to eat foods created by The Creator in the state He created them in. God has intricately designed foods for us to eat with amazing health benefits that do not carry dangerous side effects. Being sick or having diet shakes are not the only two choices people have. God has given us the best option that has stood the test of time, if we would only choose it. Health never has and never will come in a can or box. We just can’t duplicate God’s work. And it is even more important to address the underlying spiritual issues that caused the person to become overweight and/or unhealthy in the first place