According to Joanne Larsen MS RD LD, junk food is a slang word for foods with limited nutritional value. "Every person has their own list of foods they call junk foods." She writes, "I would include foods that are low in nutrient content. Generally, they offer little in terms of protein, vitamins or minerals. The term 'empty calories' reflects the lack of nutrients."
I can't agree with her more, but it's time for consumers to include diet chemical sweeteners as "junk foods."
Chemical sweeteners are loaded in toxins and devoid of all nutrition. Methanol is found in aspartame, and chlorine (three out of four parts sucralose) is found in Splenda®. Methanol and chlorine are what I call "real junk foods." The human body in no way feeds from manufactured methanol or chlorine as a source of nutrition.
The manufacturers of both aspartame and sucralose argue the methanol and chlorine, in their respective products, are found in nature. While this may be true, they do not tell you the whole story: isolated, man-made methanol and chlorine are found in nature only as environmental toxins and carcinogens. Natural forms of these chemical elements, such as chloride, are always in combination with other natural elements, preventing their toxic effects from harming plants and animals if ingested.
Man-made methanol and chlorine are created from laboratory chemicals and inserted into manufactured food products to "fool" the body into believing the ingested elements are natural. But, the body has no real nutrients in which to feed from, making these chemical food products "junk food."
So, if you and your kids want to avoid a junk food diet and keep away from toxic foods, include diet chemical sweeteners on your list of foods to avoid.
For more information on avoiding chemical sweeteners and eating a balanced diet, visit http://www.janethull.com or http://www.issplendasafe.com.
References
1. Joanne Larsen MS RD LD, Ask the Dietitian SM. Copyright © 1995-2003. http://www.dietitian.com/junkfood.html.

About The Author

Dr. Janet Starr Hull publishes a monthly health newsletter covering a wide range of important health topics. To sign up for her free newsletter or to view past articles, visit http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/index.php.
An artificial sweetener expert, Dr. Hull is the author of "Sweet Poison" an expose on the dangers of aspartame, and "Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not?", her newest book on the dangers of sucralose found in Splenda. Dr. Hull also features her detoxification program and Detox Kit, proven highly effective in cleansing the body of food chemicals and environmental toxins.