Thread: Splenda ~ is it safe?

Hi! I am a new LC'er and have always had concerns about artificial sweetners ... and of course, I've been using Splenda in my coffee and some LC baking and had thought it was probably the safest to use. But I've done some research and found that many say it is unsafe, so what's a LC gal to think? What do you all think? Also, what do you think of Stevia? It is supposed to be completely safe to use and no carbs to boot.

I don't know much either way about Splenda being safe or not, but I do know that it gave me cravings and slowed my weight loss. I usually try to limit my splenda consumption.

Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

I also don't know whether it's safe/unsafe. I do know that I cannot tolerate it. I get severe abdominal cramping/distress and a slight rash on my skin.

I do prefer Stevia, but it is sooooo very concentrated that a tiny tiny bit goes a LONG way. Tough to adjust, after having used so much of "the real thing" when sweetening.

Good luck with your research!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

I get a reaction to Splenda, too. Not that serious, but it gives me a tight headache for a while. At this point I find it too useful to stop eating it, but I try not to use too much.

Not sure if this will freak people out but I just found this article and thought it was VERY relevant to this thread and to this website!!

http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/10/s..._questions.htm

It's actually kinda scary. It does support what I believe though, which is to focus ONLY on real, whole foods... go ONLY natural - that's what the human body is designed to process...

Food for thought....

Hugs,
Rachel
165/145/128
Haec trutina errat. (Latin for,"There is something wrong with this scale".)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>A: They said the same thing about aspartame, and look at the rampant disease and obesity taking over America since aspartame was put into the food supply over 20 years ago.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are they blaming aspartame for obesity? Come on!


Rachel, What do you use, if not Splenda? I don't like artificial sweeteners and can barely stand the Splenda, Stevia combo I use in my coffee.

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/130/115


I used to be indecisive...But now I'm not so sure!

i never really considered splenda to be bad for me.... didnt realize that there was so much controversy. I appreciate the article, but i also suspect that it is very close minded....

Sarah
159/152/135

I use Splenda and Stevia. I am really liking Stevia and trying to use that more and more in my coffee and sweet treats. A teeny bit goes a long way and it doesn't lose its sweetening ability in cooking. PLUS it's natural.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Jen, I definitely agree that they go overboard with the quote you picked out... and any interview or 'medical' discussion that is this "alarmist" always puts me off.

In answer to your question...Frankly... I use Splenda! But the fact is that I never have to sweeten anything but coffee! AND I am lucky in that I have learned that if you buy decent coffee and grind your own - it tastes fine without any sugars (especially with a little heavy cream in it ) I find that when I really only use Splenda is when I am out to a meal - even the best restaurants have crappy coffee - and worse decaf... those NEED something like Splenda in them

I used to be a big baker (cookies, pies, breads) but since I don't miss those treats on this WOL I don't make the low carb versions... in large part because I can't believe that atkins bake mixes and other faux (low carb) baking products can give me the same fantiastic tastes (they probably can, but I simply don't do it). When I do bake for others I use the real products.

I also use Davinci syrups (which are flavored with splenda of course) but it takes me about a year to get through one bottle (I use it very infrequently as faux syrup for my flaxseed meal) so I figure I'm taking in such minute quanities that my liver is not likely to explode (ad they suggest) in the next couple of years.

Guess I haven't answered your question, really, except that I have come to a point in my WOL that I find I have no use for sugars or sugar substitutes. When I cheat or binge - it's with the real thing... I feel horrible afterward and I don't cheat again until the pavlovian thing in my brain forgets how crummy I felt...

Sarah... as I mentioned - any article that is alarmist is to be taken with a grain of salt. I did find it a little disconcerting, however, to really "think" about how Splenda is made and the fact that it is, in effect, chemically engineered. And that we know that any product that is not natural is bad for the body because the human body, while incredible resilient, is not designed to process all the chemicals and junk we have tried to teach it to process!

I am convinced that someday we are going to find that the dramatic increases of Alzheimers, cancers, diabetes, Chrons disease, allergies, and a host of other troubles that have ballooned in the last 50 years are a DIRECT result of the fact that soooooo many of our products are 'produced' and chemically generated and altered... and that our poor bodies simpy have not caught up evolutionarily to handle all that stuff!

It's obviously something I think about and that does, to a certain extent concern me. Doesn't mean I don't have an occasional diet soda or haven't cheated with a bag of cheetos (is there ANYTHING natural in those!?! LoL)...

Hugs,
Rachel
165/145/128
Haec trutina errat. (Latin for,"There is something wrong with this scale".)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rachel:
I am convinced that someday we are going to find that the dramatic increases of Alzheimers, cancers, diabetes, Chrons disease, allergies, and a host of other troubles that have ballooned in the last 50 years are a DIRECT result of the fact that soooooo many of our products are 'produced' and chemically generated and altered... and that our poor bodies simpy have not caught up evolutionarily to handle all that stuff!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Boy, do I EVER agree with that!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

Thanks Rachel.

I agree that we aren't made to handle the man made junk. I try to be as healthy as possible but I need a bit of sweetener in my coffee. I don't miss the sweets all that much either. I do Maggie's cereal and put DV syrup in it and that about handles my sweet fix.

Chocolate on the other hand is a major craving once a month! I found the sugar free Russell Stover candies and eat one of those and the craving is gone! I know those are ALL man made but I don't care when TOM knock on the door!

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/129/115


I used to be indecisive...But now I'm not so sure!

I don't have a problem with ANY of the artifical sweetners, I guess i'm just lucky. And its not like anybody eats them by the cup or anything, moderation, moderation, moderation.

Jackie

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rachel:


Sarah... as I mentioned - any article that is alarmist is to be taken with a grain of salt. I did find it a little disconcerting, however, to really "think" about how Splenda is made and the fact that it is, in effect, chemically engineered. And that we know that any product that is not natural is bad for the body because the human body, while incredible resilient, is not designed to process all the chemicals and junk we have tried to teach it to process!

I am convinced that someday we are going to find that the dramatic increases of Alzheimers, cancers, diabetes, Chrons disease, allergies, and a host of other troubles that have ballooned in the last 50 years are a DIRECT result of the fact that soooooo many of our products are 'produced' and chemically generated and altered... and that our poor bodies simpy have not caught up evolutionarily to handle all that stuff!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Rachel, I totally agree with you here. Before I started LC'ing, I was including more "natural" products into my household because of the concerns I've had about chemicals. So naturally, I am concerned about Splenda.

That is why I also mentioned Stevia. It is supposed to be natural, an herb I believe, and it is also supposed to be perfectly safe. From my understanding though, it is not allowed in the US as a sweetner/sugar substitute. There has been no testing done by us (FDA?). But it is allowed as an herbal suppliment, and that is why we can now purchase it.

One thing that has impressed me is that Japan does not allow any chemical sugar substitues in there country, but they allow the use of Stevia as a sweetner. They've done extensive testing and have concluded that it is safe to consume, even if you are pregnant.

That is all I know about Stevia so far. I just started using it in my coffee ... not too bad. I could get used to it, or I'll just have to drink it without a sweetner. So sad ....

I do a little baking. Not a lot, but I do tend to have a sweet tooth. However, I have noticed in the three weeks that I've been on this diet that it isn't as strong as it used to be. So, hopefully, I will get to a point where it will not matter! But until then ...

BTW,thanks to everyone for your replies! It helps to know that there are others out there who are concerned as me. Does anyone else have any info to share? Or anything about Stevia? It is super sweet ... is there a ratio I should use?

Hey Chickie, I use 1/8 tsp of stevia powder in my big mug of coffee with a splash of chocolate syrup (has splenda) But I figure I'm not using nearly as much splenda when I use stevia too. I think the government won't allow stevia to be sold as a sweetener in this country because it would put the art. sweeteners out of business, just my take on it.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Thanks for the ratio Barb. And I wonder about what you said about the government ... you never know ...

Here are a couple of links about Stevia:

http://www.stevia.net/safety.htm

http://www.aboutbreathing.com/articles/stevia.htm

I don't know ... I know we should take all this info with a grain of salt, but *eeek!*, if I think about it too much, I think my head will explode! LOL! Just thought I'd pass this info along ...