OT = Splenda should be off shelves | Arthritis Information
Everyone is puting splenda in everything.
I grabbed the wrong popcorn last night and threw it in the micro. They were personal size and i ate the whole thing before i realized i grabbed my husbands instead of my natural popcorn.
Anyway, i can barely walk at all today, thumbs are bad, wrist is bad, mustles are horribly swollen etc. i am back completely where i was over 6 months ago.
His popcorn had splenda and he didn't know it had it when he bought it or he wouldn't have. I looked and my kid's has it in there too and she can't eat it either.
Anyway, i get to be swollen for a week etc. due to the stupid splenda. I wonder how many other things i ate had it in it that i didn't know. We looked at some things that were fat free but not sugar free or low in sugar and it had it in it. It just hides.
It's my worst food chemical that i can't eat. I am so angry right now.
I'm sorry you have troubles with Splenda, but my diabetic stepbrother loves it. He was stricken with juvenile diabetes about 25 years ago, and products like Splenda enable him to keep control of his blood sugar while "giving in" to cravings.
I do not think it should be banned because some people have adverse reactions to it. Perhaps a more prominent label on the packaging could help alert consumers sensitive to the product.
ohhhhh...glad you said something. When my daughter and I had "girls day out" we stopped at the pretzel place and we both got iced tea.
I used splenda cause that is all they had. I only use sweetnlow....yes I know the danger.
Anyway, I was so swollen the next day and could not for the life of me figure out what I had eaten...I have an immensly simple diet due to all my food allergies as a child,,,,,I am not one for food usually.
I had the splenda in the tea, that would explain the swelling. And yes, it took me abotu a week to feel better.
Isn;t it made from some tree or plant?
Sucralose is an
artificial sweetener. In the European Union, it is also known under the
E number (additive code)
E955. Sucralose was originally sold under the trade name
Splenda. It is now also supplied by a variety of manufacturers and brands. Sucralose is approximately 600 times sweeter than
sucrose (table sugar),
[2] twice as sweet as
saccharin, and four times as sweet as
aspartame. Unlike
aspartame, it is stable under heat and over a broad range of
pH conditions and can be used in baking or in products that require a longer shelf life. Since its introduction in 1999, sucralose has overtaken
Equal in the .5 billion artificial sweetener market, holding a 62% market share.
[3] According to market research firm IRI, as reported in the
Wall Street Journal, Splenda sold 2 million in 2006 in the U.S. while Equal sold .7 million.
[4]
| The Potential Dangers of Sucralose |
|
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
The following testimonials have been sent to us by people from all over the world who feel they have been harmed by Splenda. We have not researched each of these accounts in-depth, but instead are posting them to draw attention to the fact that Splenda’s safety -- or lack thereof -- is not only unknown and severely questionable, but worse still is not even being explored on a sufficient scale.
That Splenda is being marketed so freely and pervasively is most concerning given that there are currently NO large studies underway researching the safety of this artificial sweetener, and Splenda was released with few studies to support its safety. This is the same pattern that occurred with the artificial sweeteners aspartame and saccharine--two sweeteners that are now widely known to cause numerous health problems. In the same way that Splenda was released with few studies proving its safety, few studies were conducted on aspartame and saccharine until the negative health effects began to be seen, raising alarm and prompting investigations into the true (lack of) safety of the products.
If it sounds strange that Splenda could be marketed so widely without any real safety studies, I ask you to consider the source behind the product. Splenda is made from real sugar and is then molecularly modified to be calorie-free (essentially, Splenda is produced by chlorinating sugar). The sugar industry, which is a huge and very powerful government lobby, is profiting quite nicely from this no-calorie sweetener. It is no secret that the U.S. government is influenced by the sugar industry, and it is not a stretch to think that their influence may be the real reason why no real studies have been done |
I agree this is a great product for those with diabetes, but for those of us that do not have it and have other health issues, this is something to consider, especially after the way I felt.
jodejjr2008-04-11 06:40:04There is tons of info out there on Splenda dn sweetners. I think it is like anything else we injest, if is gives you a bad reaction, take note of it.Yeah, my mom loves the stuff she had gastric bypass surgery and can't have reg sugar. But it messes with me and my dad (he has gout) something terrible! I hope u feel better soon!I knew aspartame wasn't good for you. I'll have to note the next time I have something with splenda if I react to it. If I have too much sugar, I get sleepy or lazy or more sleepy or lazy than I usually am
How can anything that has to be produced chemically in a lab be healthier for you than something you could grow and produce yourself if you had to? Even if I had diabetes I think I would stick to more natural options such as stevia.
I'm not above using processed sugar or drinking the occasional Corn Juice but I usually use maple syrup or honey as sweeteners at home.Splenda isn't produced in a lab. It is sugar that undergoes more processing. Same holds true for high fructose corn syrup - it starts as simple corn syrup and then undergoes more processing.
Watchingwolf, I understand that, but you couldn't produce splenda at home the way you could sugar (if you had to). I call pop Corn Juice since it's made almost exclusively from corn. In fact, corn is in about 55% of the typical North American diet, but most of it is processed and hidden or turned into meat.splenda is made in a lab.
It is combined with something that chemically turns into chlorine and maltodextrin. Maybe other things, but that was all i knew.
I ate equal for about 10yrs with no problems, i switched to splenda about 2 months before my RA came full force. I wonder if it made it active with the swellings it gave.
I loved equal.
Stevia is my best friend, i use it for everything and it's 100% natural.
I forgot in my first post that immediately after eating it, i hadtrouble breathing and caughed like crazy, if i didn't have my inhaler, i would have been in the ER.
What about organic sugar? What is the difference in organic and regular sugar?I found this, "
Splendaby author Sandra Tonn, RHN
What do I tell people who ask me, “What about Splenda?” In the end I say that safe or not, misleading or not, Splenda is an artificial sweetener. I say, quite simply, that no artificial sweetener is natural and that there is no place for artificial sweeteners in a truly healthy diet. One is either willing to consume artificial foods or not. When we are willing, we must take the health risks that inevitably come with such choices.
The sweetest advice I can give is to stop searching for a way to get away with eating an unhealthy diet. In the long run, artificial sweeteners do not benefit anyone except for those who are concerned with the business of manufacturing and advertising such products. "
She made a good point.On the living with RA website
Possible side effects of aspartame include:
seizures and convulsions
dizziness
tremors
migraines and severe headaches (Trigger or Cause From Chronic Intake)
memory loss (common toxicity effects)
slurring of speech
confusion
numbness or tingling of extremities
chronic fatigue
depression
insomnia
irritability
panic attacks (common aspartame toxicity reaction)
marked personality changes
phobias
rapid heart beat, tachycardia (another frequent reaction)
asthma
chest pains
hypertension (high blood pressure)
nausea or vomitting
diarrhea
abdominal pain
swallowing pain
itching
hives / urticaria
other allergic reactions
blood sugar control problems (e.g., hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia)
menstrual cramps and other menstraul problems or changes
impotency and sexual problems
food cravings
weight gain hair loss
burning urination & other urination problems
excessive thirst or excessive hunger
bloating, edema (fluid retention)
infection susceptibility
joint pain
brain cancer (Pre-approval studies in animals)
death
It may also contribute to male infertility.
Aspartame Disease has been shown to mimic or worsen symptoms in the following diseases:
fibromyalgia
arthritis
multiple sclerosis (MS)
parkinson's disease
lupus
multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)
diabetes and diabetic Complications
epilepsy
alzheimer's disease
birth defects
chronic fatigue syndrome
lymphoma
lyme disease
attention deficit disorder (ADD and ADHD)
panic disorder
depression and other psychological disorders
To avoid purchasing products that contain Aspartame, read the label and watch for the words aspartame or neotame.
Note: Neotame is a newer sweetener, with a structure similar to Aspartame, perhaps more toxic than Aspartame. Neotame is 8,000 times sweeter than sugar.
To learn more about the dangers of Aspartame visit the Aspartame Toxicity Information Center at http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
Splenda, (sucralose) AVOID
The advertising for this product is very misleading. Although sucralose may start out using sugar, the chemical transformation used creates a product that the body does not recognize as food.
Splenda is not a natural substance, it is an artificial chemical sweetener manufactured by adding three chlorine atoms to a sugar molecule.
There have been no long-term human studies on Splenda to determine the potential health effects on people, no one can say with certainty that the substance is safe to eat.
Some of the common side effects of Splenda include skin rashes/flushing, panic like agitation, dizziness, numbness, diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues and stomach pain. If you suffer any of these symptoms avoid all use of this product to test if the symptoms continue.
Short-term studies showed that sucralose caused shrunken thymus glands and enlarged livers and kidneys in rodents.
Sweet’N Low, Sugar Twin, Sweet’N Low Brown, Necta Sweet (Saccharin) – AVOID
Chemical sweetener derived from coal tar has been approved by the FDA, but studies link this product to bladder cancer.
Replace with:
Stevia
Agave
Rice Syrup
Date Paste
Fruit Juice Concentrates
Barley Malt Syrup
Honey What kind of popcorn has splenda in it?
[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo]How can anything that has to be produced chemically in a lab be healthier for you than something you could grow and produce yourself if you had to? Even if I had diabetes I think I would stick to more natural options such as stevia.
I'm not above using processed sugar or drinking the occasional Corn Juice but I usually use maple syrup or honey as sweeteners at home.[/QUOTE]
Antibiotics are made in a lab
Jasmine, I'm not eating antibiotics for lunch. How is that even an analogy? Can you tell me nature's answer to Minocin? Because believe me, if I could find one, I would choose it.
Why do so many people on this forum think passive aggressive digs at my medical treatment choices are fair game? What is it that they find about AP that is
so threatening to them?PS..one of the reasons I chose AP is because it's the only therapy where you use LESS chemical drugs over time rather than MORE.I'm using a lot less meds now that the Rituxan has kicked in....No prednisone, a lot less pain meds and reducing the MTX.Lynn,same here (except my RA is actually under control at the moment, and I don't use ANY pain meds. You just posted on another board your shoulders are so bad you can barely type. That's hardly a ringing endorsement). So what's your point?
And please don't say "everyone is entitled to an opinion". I'm asking you what that opinion, your opinion, is.
Gimpy-a-gogo2008-04-11 16:45:05Wait a minute, what am I missing here? Why does popcorn have any sugar, Spenda, etc. in it at all? Since when is popcorn supposed to be sweet? I buy Newman's own organic microwave popcorn and that has no sweeteners in it. I don't think I'd like sweet popcorn. Ick! My point is that finally, my RA is under control and I'm taking less meds. It has taken a long time,but I believe that B-cell depletion is the solution to most of my issues.. My only problems now have to do with bone on bone damage. I'm trying to decide what to do about that since I'm not a huge fan of surgery..
[QUOTE=Jesse88]Wait a minute, what am I missing here? Why does popcorn have any sugar, Spenda, etc. in it at all? Since when is popcorn supposed to be sweet? I buy Newman's own organic microwave popcorn and that has no sweeteners in it. I don't think I'd like sweet popcorn. Ick! [/QUOTE]
I'm not sure...but I have seen carmel corn for the microwave....maybe that's it.
[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo]Jasmine, I'm not eating antibiotics for lunch. How is that even an analogy? Can you tell me nature's answer to Minocin? Because believe me, if I could find one, I would choose it.
Why do so many people on this forum think passive aggressive digs at my medical treatment choices are fair game? What is it that they find about AP that is
so threatening to them?[/QUOTE]
My stepbrother is not eating splenda for lunch either. It's a flavoring, used in minute quantities. It is neither good or evil.
I am not "threatened" by your antibiotic usage. But my comparison is a valid one. Splenda and most antibiotics are made by adulterating so-called "natural" products.
My shoulders hurt because I have an ongoing rotator cuff problem that I chose to treat with PT instead of surgery. Again, it is previous damage from RA and a shoulder separation. I also have knee and ankle problems from an accident that I had shortly after being diagnosed with RA. Again, I chose to go the PT route rather than surgery....
I'm the girl whose aunt has RA:
I would have to agree that Splenda has its benefits for diabetics.
My husband is a Type 1 diabetic (since the age of 5). It kills me to see him go without sweets. He cannot even eat certain fruit because of the sugar content. Anyway, Splenda, Nutrasweet, and Equal have been very good to him, so far. Splenda allows me to bake things for him and he made his own stollen for Christmas with it.
However, I also agree that too many foods are being altered when they really do not need to. I read a story where they said that they were going to start putting caffeine in all sorts of different things, like milk!!!
I do not have diabetes, but I have migraines. I think they may have gotten worse when I shacked up with my now husband and started eating a lot of sugar-free foods.
Three weeks ago I began this diet from a book called "Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program" which recommends you put yourself on an elimination diet for a few months. After you have been able to control your migraines (to your satisfaction) for four months, you begin to add the restricted food back into your diet, one at a time.
I mention this not to promote the book, but because I truly think there is a corellation between certain foods and their effects on people and diseases, like migraines and RA, plus a slew of other things.
I think a good rule of thumb is to eat more natural foods and less processed foods. I know it is inconvenient for some (it's an adjustment), but the payoffs are so worth it!
My diet is pretty ho-hum right now. I have a long list of things I can eat, but end up eating the same things, so it gets boring. But this is the price I am willing to pay to take care of my migraines.
Do any of your rheumatologists tell you to stay away from MSG? I wonder because as a migraine suffer, we are told to. I didn't realize MSG is disguised in so many ways. You really have to read the food labels.
The popcorn that had Splenda in it could have been kettle corn, my husband has it. Oh, SnowOwl, when I said "natural" I didn't imply organic. I just mean like whole fruits and vegetables. More like what our ancestors ate, that's all.
I am not one of those tree-hugger types or anything like that.
I only mention that because I keep hearing over and over again how certain foods can cause reactions. With my migraine struggles and this elimination diet I am on, I am pretty convinced it's true.
Now, keep in mind that I am talking about my migraines, while my main focus is to find help for my aunt. While I am on this elimination diet, there is a laundry list of fruits, vegetables, etc. that I cannot eat and a shorter list of those that I can eat. It seems to be working (knock on wood). I don't know what it is that I am not eating that is helping, but I will find out eventually. Maybe it is just that I have cut out the MSG containing foods or the artificial sweeteners, who knows?
As for cost, I know where you are coming from. I currently live in Southern California and have access to all those organic places, but I still shop at the local supermarket because it is affordable. I rarely buy organic, except for my milk. I thought I would give it a try. FYI: I grew up with the milk right from the tank at my grandfather's dairy farm and never had problems, so I thought maybe that was a start. It's all just a crapshoot anyhow.
I think the thing is that one has to choose what they want more - to enjoy foods they love but KNOW they cause pain or try to learn to live without them. Just small changes. I have a co-worker who suffers migraines much worse than me. She is content with her quick fix medications and dealing with the pain. I could talk to her until I am blue in the face about trying an elimination diet, but it is her choice. She won't do it. She has a busy job and it's all about convenience for her. She rarely cooks. And that's OK. It's her life to live as she wants to.
The reason I wanted to try this was because I hit rock bottom. The last time I had a really bad migraine I wanted to kill myself (not seriously), but if someone ran me over, I would be fine with it. I couldn't even lay down and rest, it hurt so bad. You get desperate and sometimes you start smacking yourself. I don't know why, but I do when it is really bad and so do others. Maybe there's more going on there.
I never thought I could go a day, let alone a week without chocolate, but I have. I am allowed white chocolate on my diet though - It's not the same. :-(
I was interested in those who think that RA sufferers should avoid nightshades. Interestingly my diet allows for them, but I am not allowed things like yellow onions, but green ones are fine.
I'm definitely not a preacher either. I am like most everybody else, looking for answers and adding my 2 cents when I think I might be able to help. But if someone reads how something like MSG could be causing problems with one disease and thinks that it might be true of their disease, and then actually avoids it and sees improvement, that's a small accomplishment. I know most are looking for the cure, but some people just want to see a little or ANY improvement.
So I hope you understand me a little bit better. I didn't come here to lecture or berate people for their choices. Like I said, everyone is entitled to live their life as they see fit.
Oh, and just a small example of what I can have versus what I cannot:
I can have a bagel and cream cheese, but I can only have PLAIN cream cheese because the flavored kinds have an ingredient in there that is either a form of MSG or acts like MSG or it is filled with natural or artificial flavors which could be disguised as MSG.
Has anyone been told to stay away from fresh yeast-risen bakery items? I am only allowed to eat bakery foods that are more than a day old.
The popcorn we bought was Orval's brand and was kettle corn with salt and no butter. Called smart pop.
My husband got it to keep away from the butter and just have a flavor other than plain with the popcorn. We all thought kettle corn sweetness was natural, we didn't know it came pre-sweetened. I bought a natural version with just salt and grabbed the wrong one.
For the one that asked about organic sugar compared to regular, organic is when the pesticides they use etc. are made of organic products instead of horrible chemicals. Our vegies and fruits are so packed with chemicals, it's horrible. They even pick stuff almost completely raw, put it in trucks with a chemical that ripens them fast. Whenever i can, i buy organic.
For natural and organic foods, we have a very very very tiny section for that. We live far away from large variety stores, so we are limited.
We also can't cook too much because my husband runs everything since i am still too disabled, so sometimes between home and the kid and disabled relatives that he also helps take care of, there is no time for home cooked meals, so crud is what we have to eat and then you find splenda sneaking it's way into things.
If they could just put a nice sized splenda logo or something for the generic on each front of the container that uses it, we wouldn't have a problem with it sneaking in there.
And of all things, why was it in a popcorn that should have been sweet enough on it's own.
I thought it was the kettle corn!!!
My hubby (Type 1 insulin diabetic) has it in our pantry. Isn't kettle corn like a candy taste? It doesn't thrill me.
I know what you mean about the labels, they are hard to find. In my case I am LOOKING for them for my husband and sometimes you can't readily find them so you have to look to the ingredients.
Wow! I didn't mean to cause such a lot of fuss. I was just reading about it on the web. I agree that there are upsides and downsides of everything, but I really don't feel like anyone has been trying to push their lifestyle on someone else. I try my best to eat how I feel makes me feel best, but sometimes my life is too crazy to do that. I really hate it when stuff likes this comes up and everyone goes up in arms. Listen and take what you want, but don't attack something you don't think will help you, people are just sharing what they have found about their body.
I'm so glad I read this post (except for the yicking and yacking, but you take the good with the bad LOL).
Came home from our trip yesterday, and one of my knees was swollen so bad I couldn't bend it. Never happens. Didn't hurt at all, but looked like the pictures Joonie posted of her knees.
I wish I read this before I went to the dr. today! Hubby had to leave for a week long trip today, and I was scared something was going to get worse while he was gone, so I went in. Dr. said it must have been from riding in the car because he couldn't find anything wrong.
But now I know it must have been Splenda! We had been making coffee in the room all week, but since we were leaving yesterday, hubby brought up coffee from the lobby.....with Splenda, which I've never tried that I know of.
And I ended up with a big fat knee for the first time ever.
Suzanne2008-04-12 11:06:05You know what? I think some of the yogurt I buy for my daughter has Splenda in it sometimes - the pink lids? Light and Lively? I think some of their versions have that. I'm not going to get that kind anymore!
Personally I hope they never stop making fake sugar. I would dearly miss my diet pepsi. Among other things.[QUOTE=Linncn]Personally I hope they never stop making fake sugar. I would dearly miss my diet pepsi. Among other things.[/QUOTE]
I agree! i don't drink tons of it...but I like one or two a week. Plus I've been doing some baking using splenda.
kelstev2008-04-12 12:48:33I've used it for baking too, mostly just while my husband was dieting. But I would'nt say no to using it again.My husband prefers to use splenda in his morning coffee. He's an odd bird - I can't stand the taste of the stuff. I'll keep using refined white sugar. A teaspoon in the morning in my coffee, and two sugar cubes in the afternoon in my rooibos or green tea.
My doctor told me this week to completely avoid aspertame and sugar as much as possible so I thought splenda was the answer for me until I read this thread. I saw some other natural sweeteners mentioned. Can anyone recommend one? And where to buy it. My diet keeps getting restricted more and more. Being sick is forcing me to be healthy! LOL!
Laker
I use only sugar or honey, I will not use any artificial sweetner I have severe reactions to them and have been advised to stay away from them.I love stevia. I have different reactions to all artificial ones, but stevia is my best buddy for teas etc. I don't like it too much in cold things, but hot teas and stuff it tastes great.
It's a very old used herb that has been used for hundreds of years in other countries as their form of sweetner.
I found this in regards to Stevia....it is really interesting.
Stevia has been grown on an experimental basis in Ontario, Canada since 1987 for the purpose of determining the feasibility of growing the crop commercially. In the United States, it is legal to import, grow, sell, and consume stevia products if contained within or labeled for use as a dietary supplement, but not as a food additive. Stevia has also been approved as a dietary supplement in Australia, New Zealand[12] and Canada. In Japan and South American countries, stevia may also be used as a food additive. Stevia is currently banned for use in food in the European Union[13] It is also banned in Singapore and Hong Kong.[14]
Rebiana is the tradename for a patent-pending, calorie-free, food and beverage sweetener derived from stevia and developed jointly by The Coca-Cola Company and Cargill. In May 2007, Coca-Cola announced plans to obtain approval for its use as a food additive within the United States by 2009. Coca-Cola has also announced plans to market rebiana-sweetened products in 12 countries that allow stevia's use as a food additive. The two companies are conducting their own studies in an effort to gain regulatory approval in the United States and the European Union.[15][16]
Recently Blue California a US ingredient firm claims to have developed an economical industrial production process for the 'natural sweetener' stevia, which promises lower prices for manufacturers. The ingredient firm said it has completed the isolation of Rebaudioside A, a sweet compound derived from stevia, using a "more economical and proprietary process". The company expects to go into industrial scale production in 2008. The isolation process for Rebaudioside A results in a product that delivers the desired sweetness without the bitter aftertaste.[17]
Very interesting. I had never heard of it. I'll see if I can find it and give it a try.
Thanks!
Hope you feel better soon. I just never could eat anything with splenda. Made me run to the bathroom all night. It is hard to be careful with all the brain fog and medicines we take. I just eat my meat veggetables and fruit for the most part anymore. Do to the low potasium i have become a healthy eater. I have to stay away from the nutra sweet also. I have tripped up like this in the past myself. I have to look up an inhaler they tryed to give me with my meds today. I said give me the flyer so i can research and hang on to it for me. Had it not been for the price they may have tricked me. It is something mixed with albuterol. As well as i can see the script said albuterol. Really felt to yucky to look it up yet. Maybe it is ok but i am allergic to Serevent. This inhaler sounds sort of simalar.
I looked over at my brother and said they are trying to kill me over here. The woman says no there is no Serevent in this. Forgive me but i was not in a trusting mood today. Can you blame me? A sever allergic reaction on top of RA , Strep and Bronchitis well that does not sound like my idea of a good time. The lady maybe correct i have not researched yet. Still it is not a day for experimenting in my opinion.
I use proventil (not sure of the spelling) as my asthma inhaler.
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