| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The Pinup Cowgirl |
Posted - Sep 19 2005 : 12:37:54 PM
Hello y'all,
I was reading one post about trying to lose weight, and one lady wrote to use Splenda. I have recently researched the topic, and found out that nutrasweet/splenda have shown some scary results in early tests. There aren't many results from human studies, since it is a relatively new product. I talked about this with one lady, and she said that the reason she tried to get off of it (she was a diet pop addict), was because she found out that to make the 'sugar' have less calories, is they take off a sucrose compound and add three chlorine ions. That does mean chlorine, like you put in the pool to disinfect it. Pretty scary. Her testimony was that she felt her mind sharpen incredible once she was off of it. It was like a veil was lifted off of her face, she said.
Anyways, here are some links to the studies I read. I hope this helps anyone interested!
http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm
I hope the link works!!
"We can do no great things; only small things with great love."
-Mother Teresa |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Annab |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 03:57:10 AM
Thanks
I usually consume about 1-1 1/2 cans a day. For me it's a fizzy and caffiene thing
If they made fizzy coffee, hey! We'd be in business
Can I do without? Yes Is it affecting my health? Hard to say. I'm very active, eat healthy otherwise and have occasional bouts of memory loss due to too much multi tasking. That's about it. My migraines have been linked to a fall on my neck 9 years ago and barometric pressure
My only other vices are a small bowl of reduced fat ice cream every night
I used to pound down a pound of M&M's WEEKLY and that was after quitting smoking
So you decide the lesser evils
Strange to note----phenyalnanine (sp) listed as such -is an ingredient in my migraine medication Maxalt-- same spelling and everything, you will find in most diet drinks.
interesting no?
And, for awhile, I tried backing off. Instead, I drank water and sports drinks. Gained lots of weight from the sports drinks. The sugary pop just doesn't quench my thurst anyway.
As I said before, use your own judgement. If it makes you feel badly, don't do it!  |
| jenbove |
Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 12:45:03 PM
Anna, I agree on numerous points. The way I see it, if somebody loves their soda (or whatever) so much that it's a hardship to give it up, then I say ditch the stress and enjoy yourself. We ALL know stress is bad for us, right?! We've each got to find our own truth and evolve with it. But I recommend maintaining a healthy degree of skepticism about any information presented by those who are out to make a buck.
Jen
GOT A "WILD HAIR"?
COME VISIT MARYJANE'S OUTPOST!
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
My Blog: The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
| Jeanna |
Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 10:49:59 AM
When splenda first came out I tried it and did not like it in the packs. Then they put it in Diet Rite soda and I loved it. But---after about 3 weeks drinking the soda I begin to have major bowel problems. I went off the sodas and was all better. I waited a couple of weeks and bought 1 small bottle and drank it and you know what? I had bowel issues again. I have since read the research and will never use it again. I am trying to read and learn as much as I can about the foods we get from the grocery store and the more I read the more apprehensive I get. I am trying to switch to organics and whole foods that I can produce myself. It is a slow process but I know it will be worth it in the end.
Jeanna
Farmgirl Sister #41
If both of our troubles were hung on a line--You would take yours and I would take mine. |
| Annab |
Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 03:51:09 AM
I'll echo the voice of reason
In ALL things -- moderation!
Remember we are all different and our bodies metabolize differently, so one person's bad reaction may not affect the next.
I'm all about debunking myth and finding "the truth" and find such books interesting.
I was once concerned about nutrasweet too- just because someone once told me it degrades into wood alcohol. And this came from a chemist.
THE TRUTH is, it does if the container has been exposed to high heat like plastic bottles sitting in the hot car. Be wary of gas stations selling 2 liters that sit outside, and check expiration dates. Also, in order for nutrasweet to really do damage, we would have to drink something like 100 or more cans of pop daily.
So the mere 2-3 cans we may consume is nothing. Not sure waht this may do over a lifetime. But remember too, the researched findings on the poor lab animals have been upped to MEGA doses. Enough to cause cancer in anybody for crying out loud!
Now, there are certainly folks out there who have a sensitivity to phenyalnanine and these are the people who have the bad reactions.
So continue to do your research but don't assume an all or nothing approach.
AND look into the people who do the supposed preaching. Are they being backed by another coorperation and receiving kickbacks. One dr. once proclaimed the badness of aluminum beacue he was a cookware stainless steel salesman. Pretty sneaky |
| MustangSuzie |
Posted - Feb 05 2008 : 4:18:01 PM
WOW Jen, thanks for posting the info to the documentary. I always knew that nutrasweet (and Splenda for that matter) wasn't a good thing, but didn't realize just how serious it was. After I watched it I ordered some stevia to use and will use that as a sweetner, sugar or nothing at all from now on. It's just another tale of how giant corp's are making money at the expense of everyone else.
Blessings....
Sarah
www.mustangsuzie.blogspot.com
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| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Feb 05 2008 : 2:25:30 PM
Brown rice syrup anyone?
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
| jenbove |
Posted - Feb 05 2008 : 12:43:47 PM
VIDEO:
SWEET MISERY: A POISONED WORLD
If you're still eating foods containing the artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, diet drinks, etc.), you need to watch this documentary. Aspartame was approved for widespread use in the U.S. in July of 1983. Within six months, brain tumor rates climbed 10%, diabetes went up 30% and brain lymphoma tumors skyrocketed 60%. Learn how this toxic chemical was scandalously approved by the FDA and is now one of the most widespread food additives in the U.S.
Watch it now: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9978.cfm
Jen
GOT A "WILD HAIR"?
COME VISIT MARYJANE'S OUTPOST!
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
My Blog: The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
| sweetproserpina |
Posted - Jan 07 2008 : 8:42:14 PM
Bit of a tangent but..
My family and I were at a teahouse and reaching for the sugar packets when we started talking about this very topic. I said how I never use artificial sweeteners, if I don't know what's in it or what it grew from, I don't want it. My stance was that real sugar is better for you. But then what about honey? My mum said 'Sugar is Sugar whether it's white sugar, brown sugar, honey or maple syrup'. Ah ha! So if all of those are sugar which should you use? For me, the local food argument wins- sugar cane doesn't grow in Ontario and honey and maple syrup come from right down the road so I'm going to try to use more of that when I cook, and in my tea. Have a good look around for local sweeteners, at the fair this year I saw Birch syrup! I betcha different parts of the country have different local sugar sources, it'd be neat to see all the different kinds available.
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
| Jeanna |
Posted - Jan 07 2008 : 05:26:54 AM
I got on the splenda bandwagon when it first appeared on the shelves at the grocery store. I never thought it tasted very good in the granulated form, but being overweight I decided to give it a try. I really got to liking DietRite soda with splenda. However after about a month my body turned on me. I had uncontrollable diarea, stomach upset, and just did not feel very well. Of course I have Fibromyalgia and some of these symptoms come up from time to time and I thought that was what it was so I kept on drinking the DR. Well the symptoms never went away so after a while I went looking for other explainations. The thing I came up with was the Splenda. I went totally off it and the symptoms went away. I am with everyone who says natural is better. I am experimenting with stevia now. I think it is the best thing so far. I just thought I would let everyone know my experience with Splenda.
Jeanna
Farmgirl Sister #41
If both of our troubles were hung on a line--You would take yours and I would take mine. |
| jenbove |
Posted - Jan 05 2008 : 3:01:56 PM
Sadly, Kate, it all comes down to money. Big corporations are raking in the cash at our expense. What we MUST remember is that we ultimately control the market. If we refuse to buy sub-standard products, the corporations will have to adjust to meet our demands.
Oooh, and for you die-hard soda fans, you might try either Blue Sky (www.drinkbluesky.com) or Hansen's (www.hansens.com). They're really wonderful!
Jen
Expedition Leader, MaryJanesOutpost
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
| kissmekate |
Posted - Jan 05 2008 : 10:08:27 AM
As a Diet Coke addict, it is hard for me to NOT have one or two per day at least.
I know when I don't drink it, my knees don't hurt. But I love the stuff!
My question is what is wrong with the FDA, that they allow all these harmful products into our food and drinks/products? They know deep down it is bad for us, yet they continue to approve this stuff and look the other way. Shame on them.
Makes you mad and also afraid to buy anything.
Oh, and I use organic sugar at our house.
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
| Georgia Girl |
Posted - Jan 05 2008 : 09:35:56 AM
I try to use turbinado sugar if I have to use any at all. It is sugar but from cane and not bleached. Splenda will kill your liver over time.
Denise
Proud Farmgirl Sister #113 |
| bboopster |
Posted - Jan 05 2008 : 09:11:56 AM
About 6 years ago I became very ill and had the doctors puzzled as to what was wrong. After about 6 months of severe joint ache then inability to walk at times, diarrhea that was uncontrollable and other issues including severe depression. I went to the doctors who diagnosed many things including possible MS a dozen Rx's that made me into a coma state. I decide to take back my life. I happened one night to be on the internet and came acrossed information that change my life. At that time i was ingesting lots of artificial sweeteners in my diet. I stopped eating everything that had them in and within a month my symptoms where almost gone. Then the doctors could diagnosis my true problems. Colitis. But it had been masked by the symptoms of the artificial sweeteners. To this day I try not to ingest them but at times do but in very small amounts. Just 1 large diet coke from Mac's is enough to start the achy joints for me. I also worked with a diabetic that was on a total artificial sweetener diet that her group home manger had her on and when I became her group home manger I knew we need to find another way as she had many of the same issues going on as I had had. But she was 30 and very active in her Special Olympic sports. I took her to a diabetic counselor and we start her on a whole new diet that eliminated almost all artificial sweeteners and processed foods. With in a month she had many of her symptoms under control and household mates started to act different too. The 4 of us learned more everyday. It was fun to watch them start to read the food labels of the foods they were eating. I left the job and heard many complaints from the next manger as to how picky the ladies were with their eating. I told her Not Picky Just Informed. I'm not a doctor so follow your doctors advice when it comes to your health but I am under the impression that our bodies are made in such a way that they have a hard time handling "fake foods". I try to only add natural foods to mine but there are time when Kraft mac and cheese call my name as does the Diet Coke. 
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
| Pammy |
Posted - Jan 05 2008 : 09:05:48 AM
My naturopath had me read the book, Sweet Deception, I think the author is a Dr. Mercola. It is pretty eye opening. But I still craved the diet Coke and couldn't totally quit. I have been having a lot of headaches, from stress, is what I thought, then I stumbled across an article linking aspartme (nutrasweet) to pseudotumor cerebri (false brain tumor)which is something I have had three bouts with over the last 20 or so years. Since reading that article I have not had any diet Coke. I am really not a big sweet eater so it is not too much of a problem, but I sure miss the soda.
Just thought I would add my two cents.
Pam |
| FarmGirl~K |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 4:52:07 PM
I use Splenda & sometimes have diet drinks with aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal, Phenylalanine) all the same thing. I know it is not good & I plan to get rid of all artificial sweeteners & just mostly drink water. (Sometimes a soda just tastes good, but really it is nothing but a bottle of chemicals.) I saw this book "Sweet Poison" awhile back but haven't read it. There is a lot of information on the authors site though. Mostly she talks of aspartame as she had severe problems from using it. I know I get headaches sometimes from using it. Here is her website. http://www.sweetpoison.com/ Artificial sweeteners are in a lot of products we don't even realize. Kids vitamins, bread, and some toothpastes.
Pretty much, anything that is chemically processed & aided along by man, really isn't healthy. Unfortunately, we can't get away from everything, but we can try to eliminate what we can.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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| Patsy |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 2:19:20 PM
I use Somersweet from the Suzanne Somers website. It is made from ming beans. You use just a tiny bit and it tastes just like sugar.
I can not use nutrasweet at all. It makes my muscles seize up and I stumble. My doctor told me it was just like putting poison in your body.
May God bless those who love the soil,
Patsy
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| Marybeth |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 11:58:23 AM
Thanks Jen for the info. My mother who is 91 always says why put chemicals in your system when the natural item is right before you. Eat right--enjoy life. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| jenbove |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 11:43:17 AM
SPLENDA GOES TO COURT
A federal court has rejected a request for summary judgment in a lawsuit launched by the Sugar Association against Splenda. The plaintiff alleges Splenda, a Johnson & Johnson company, is falsely advertising to consumers with its marketing slogan "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar". Splenda is the synthetic compound sucralose, discovered in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formulation. The artificial sweetener is made by replacing hydroxyl groups in the sugar molecule with chlorine. There are no long-term studies of the side effects of Splenda in humans. The manufacturer's own short-term studies showed that sucralose caused shrunken thymus glands and enlarged livers and kidneys in rodents. But in this case, the FDA decided that because these studies weren't based on human test animals, they were not conclusive. As a result, Splenda is now one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in low calorie processed foods.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9306.cfm
ALTERNATIVES:
A couple of better low-glycemic sweet alternatives are Stevia & Agave Nectar.
Glycemic Index Resource
And, if you're interested in the glycemic index of various foods (helpful diabetics and those of us with sugar sensitivities), here's a great list: http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm
Jen
Expedition Leader, MaryJanesOutpost
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - May 17 2006 : 07:33:42 AM
STEVIA is my sweetener of choice. An amish woman gave me a wonderfully huge plant that i babied like a real baby for two years and i swear .. last winter i forgot to bring it in (uh-duh!) and i can't even figure out which pot it is in this year! sooooooooo .. back to the amish farm to get some more .. i also have a STEVIA book around here somewhere .. i can check into it if anyone has any specific questions .. not sure how to 'process' it either .. sooooo .. i just buy the tabs.
i also do use only SPLENDA when out and stopping at a fast food restaurant for unsweet tea and want to sweeten it a little (and don't have stevia in my purse)
i am a diabetic .. soo .. can't use natural sugars ... so many foods have so many CARBS in them and if you heap more SUGAR .. well .. you just have to take more insulin to meet those spikes.
in baking .. i will use white sugar .. and just balance my insulin.
True Friends, Frannie |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - May 17 2006 : 06:20:03 AM
Oh, and just for the sake of discussion, my holistic vet put my allergy prone GSD on coconut fats, among other things, because it's high in medium chain fatty acids. So far I've been able to avoid the traditional treatments of steroids and antihistamines using a holistic approach. She also is on a grain free diet, takes Fresh Factors and Prozyme, as well as flax oil.
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| Horseyrider |
Posted - May 17 2006 : 04:34:21 AM
Mari-dalia, I'm glad you said what you said about publishing findings on the net. Much of what we see on sites like Dr. Mercola's are suppositions and theories presented as research. I have a friend who is a patient of Dr. Mercola's, and she likes him a lot. But what I see her going through are spurious and expensive tests revealing nothing that a good old fashioned MD would come up with from intuition and good judgment, and a bit of labwork. Personally, I wouldn't trust this guy to give me directions across the street. "Quack" might be a bit strong, but if he was the last doctor in town, I'd drive to the next town for medical care.
As far as Nutrasweet goes, I personally try to avoid it, but there are many who can't. I'm hypoglycemic and do best balancing low glycemic foods with higher ones if I must eat them. And I try to follow a diet high in low glycemic foods. Given a choice between a soda with HFCS or Splenda, I'm taking the Splenda. And that's only if there's no tea, water, or coffee. Some people are in a position where it's just not tenable to practice a diet without it. And even if they were, not everyone thinks like we do, and we must practice tolerance for the choices of others.
When reading material on the internet, we have to remember the difference between hard research and anedotal evidence. The bulk of what we see is the latter; it's just some individual's experiences or beliefs, or a poorly conducted study. Double blind studies that produce the same results time after time are best, but are very expensive; hence they're not often done.
Sometimes I wonder if people don't create rules in their lives about such things to give themselves structure in a scary world. The woman I know that sees Dr. Mercola has lots of such rules, and they border on superstitions. Funny what we have to do to stay comfortable in our own skins.
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| annart |
Posted - May 16 2006 : 10:38:59 PM
Read my article on Fibromyalgia and artificial sweeteners |
| annart |
Posted - May 16 2006 : 10:32:24 PM
Go to page one and click on Fibromyalgia .I just posted an article on artificial sweeteners and
i'm such a slow typest i don't want to redo it .But please read it. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Nov 08 2005 : 09:45:17 AM
I avoid artificial sweetners..just hate the taste and don't trust the ingredients. I try to substitute honey where I can and use things like applesauce for sweetners where I can. The only time I tasted stevia it had a really wierd bitter taste. I guess it differs but so far I didn't like it either.
Jenny in Utah
Put all your eggs in one basket..and then watch that basket!! Mark Twain |
| Terre |
Posted - Nov 08 2005 : 09:34:05 AM
Hi! I work with children who have diabetes and we don't have a problem with recommending Splenda, Nutrasweet, or Aspartame. The research studies are done on rats and are fed in proportion to their body size many more times the intake than any human would probably take in. Personally, I prefer Splenda myself as it is actually made from real sugar and not just chemicals. It is the processing that makes it the lower carbohydrate. The only thing is Splenda is 600 times sweeter than table sugar so you really don't need as much of it or you'll get use to the taste. Hope this helps!
Be true in heart. |
