HEALTH TIP # 13

The latest in our series of easy ways to stay healthy

The bitter truth: Avoid artificial sweeteners. If it’s sweet and sugar free, then it’s artificially sweetened (unless it’s sweetened with stevia that is unlikely. Read the label to be sure). Besides the fact that most artificial sweeteners are linked to various cancers and brain abnormalities, they actually make you gain weight by reducing your ability to burn fat and increasing your appetite. Not very sweet, indeed.

- Provided by Jeff Hirst, a professional trainer, co-owner of Training Zone, and a former Olympic diver. Jeff is an acclaimed sports instructor (who was the captain of the University of Toronto swim team) and is highly knowledgeable about health and fitness. He can be reached at trainingzone@hotmail.com