Author: Sorting Last Post on Top Message:
5/3/08 2:40 P

Wow, This thread has caught my attention! Real sugar in moderation is the best thing. I should throw out my Splenda! SCARY!

5/3/08 2:11 P

Ok I think the no fake sugar is more common sense. I love the name croptart. but now I want to eat pop tarts
no pun intended

CROPTART2000 Posts: 113
5/3/08 2:02 P

I've linked a reliable article you might enjoy on why artificial sweeteners can actually hinder your weight loss efforts. I personally can't consume aspartame, as it brings on panic attacks and an irregular heartbeat in me, though I know it doesn't affect most people that way.

I avoid all artificial sweeteners, just in case, though I use Stevia (from the health food store) occasionally. Mostly I stick to real sugar in moderation. I definitely don't let my kids have fake sweeteners, as it seems that the benefits do NOT outweigh the risks--just limit sweets overall.

FARMERMOM2 Posts: 140
5/3/08 1:51 P

Yea i think i need to give this Stevia a try, I dont need to be hit over the head to get the picture.I have never heard of it before and I don't know about its availability around here. I only used Splenda in my coffee and so far it was fine,but if there is an healthier alternative i am all for it.

BOSSMOMMY Posts: 467
5/3/08 1:44 P

Yes I have Stevia that I use. It's a little pricey but because you only use a small drop it lasts a long time. It does take a little adjusting to get to know how much you need to use of it when baking as your sugar replacement.

OYINBO Posts: 10
5/3/08 1:19 P

well I'm not sure as to how to do this sugar thing.. i finally got myself to where i don't do sugars much.. i'm down to like 1 teaspoon of splenda a day in my tea or kool aid.. i don't do the 1 to 2 cups like i'm supposed to.. yeah it's nasty but it's healthier.

5/3/08 12:44 P

Hello Everyone!
There is a new sugar substitute that you can buy at your Health Food Store, yes...that's what I said, Health Food Store! It's called Stevia and it's all natural.... No Chemicals!

I had seen it at our local "Earth Fare" at the condement table there at the food bar in little green packets. The powdered stevia tasted bad...then a friend told me about Stevia Clear, which is Stevia in liquid form. It taste's very natrual and I put it in everything I want sweetened. I love it! Here's what the bottle says:

SteviaClear: liquid stevia is a natural, convenient and healthy way to supplement your diet. It contains no calories or carbohydrates and may be used in your tea, coffee, smoothie, protein shake or any recipe. SteviaClear liquid stevia has no bitter after taste and has a zero glycemic index. All Natural!

Check it out!!! I found it at "Earth Fare", our natural foods grocery, located in with the vitamins! Go ask about it!

DUTCH4 Posts: 49
5/3/08 12:40 P

Thank you for the article. I have been a firm believer in natural sweeteners for a very long time. I have had many mothers over the years criticize me for letting my children drink regular pop. One of which is my mother inlaw. I have watched over 20 years all of the health problems that she and my sister inlaw have had and I wouldn't trade them. They both experience some if not all of the symptoms you related in your article. I have been over weight for 18 years and have always used regular sugar, no fake stuff. I have never had a medical problem in my life.

SDBLONDIE SparkPoints: (5,325)
Fitness Minutes: (1,054)
Posts: 66
5/3/08 12:30 P

My thoughts ... I use Splenda - I think it tastes the best and cooks the best. I know sugar is okay in moderation... its the fat we have to watch out for. when i bake for holidays i do half splenda/half sugar. most sugary foots are fatty foods too, so i tend to stay away from them. anyway - I dont like the aftertaste of sweet'n'low or equal and had heard there was something in sweet'n'low that was supposed to be harmful to your heart (dont remember what it is now) but I stay away from it.

RANETTA29 Posts: 5
5/3/08 12:20 P

When I was trying to break my sugar addiction I started using Equal. Then I got on this all organic tip and I stopped using it. I just want to natural things in my body. Sugar contains sugar. Equal contains a lot of crap that I can pronounce. I drink 100% orange juice and coffee (with sugar) in the morning and I have water the rest of the day. Sometimes I do want something sweet so I will have an occasional crystal light. Don't tell anyone :o).

KAYDAKISS SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (1,150)
Posts: 255
5/3/08 12:02 P


SYREN3340 Posts: 238
5/3/08 11:44 A

Hi ladies :),

Anything processed, including fake sugar is made & tested in a lab on rats.
I have seen these pictures - it's not pretty - full of tumors.

You can find the sweeteners I mentioned at your local health food store or Whole Foods.

Please pm me if you need anymore support around this - I'm here to help!

KAYDAKISS SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (1,150)
Posts: 255
5/3/08 11:40 A

i, unfortunately, tend to use splenda more often then i actually realized. only in coffee though. i see below it is suggested to use natural sweetners.... where can i buy these?

5/3/08 11:33 A

It's not Rocket science, its just common sense. You want to take a chance to raise your child to grow up in pain full of huge cysts, and serious bone problems.
That will cause them a short life span. And alot of pain. Feed them a ton of chemicals. and eat them your self. If you have doubts I will scan my last
MRI report. I take 15 pills a day now and am on patches for pain, we drank tab every day.

TURN707 Posts: 529
5/3/08 11:28 A

i do not use any artificial sweeteners, the body does not metabolize the waste from these chemicals efficiently.. i have heard many people with fibromyalgia and MS symptoms from the use of the fake stuff. Moderation is the key to a healthy life. Just use less sugar, at least the body knows what to do with sugar.

OHANAMAMA SparkPoints: (107,272)
Fitness Minutes: (18,721)
Posts: 21,211
5/3/08 11:25 A

My thoughts on fake sugar... I'm glad they're around.
I use Davinci Gourmet sugar free syrups in my coffee and I drink an occassional diet pop.

5/3/08 11:18 A

When I took a anatomy class at college, my instructor told us how "unhealthy" the fake stuff was. Not that it was going to kill us. In all, we were taught that moderation was best. If we were going to do without sugar, it was best to do without, not use all the other sweetener products. Another thing she pointed out, was the foods that have sugar in it that we least expect. So every time you pick up something that you believe has no sugar, test it by reading the label. Even chips have sugar! When you think of buying a bag of chips, you think of the fat and salt, not that it will have sugar. Some of these sort of products may have just a limited amount, but when you are counting on 0, it adds up.
It was about 9 years ago when I took that class, and I sure wish I could remember exactly what it was the 'fake' stuff does to our body; all I can remember though is that it isn't good for us. She was just as adamant about that as she was for describing why we should drink water!! For that I can still hear her voice in a shrill cry as if she were a cell begging for water. Lack of water kills off cells.
Maybe all us dieters should take an anatomy class, so we all understand what certain foods do to our body; the good, the bad, the ugly. emoticon
I am more of a visual learner, and too often, out of sight, out of mind (if it's good) applies. Now, if it were something I want, it's always on the mind.

Now I feel the need to break out the old books and do some research on this.
Good luck to all.

SYREN3340 Posts: 238
5/3/08 11:17 A

Hi ladies,
Splenda contains formaldehyde & Equal contains chlorine - enough said?

Natural sweetners to try: Agave Nectar, Xylitol (tastes like splenda) & Stevia.

To qualify what any info I share: I am a Certified Holistic Health Counselor who has been studying all the major dietary theories & nutrution for many years. I have lots of resources I can share with you. I look forward to getting to know you all better. emoticon

5/3/08 11:02 A

My mom was diabetic, I was raised on Tab. I can tell
you from my heart, and my body these fake sugars are poison. My spine is so bad at the age of 49, I am getting ready for my 5th surgery for stenosis. I have had a complete hysterectomy at 40. for a 6LB cyst. and poor health since 25. My 3 sisters are even worse. We all were raised on the stuff. If we even have any of that junk in our food we have massive migraines. I just feel its big money.

XLIBBIEX Posts: 37
5/3/08 11:01 A

I only use it once in a while but a good way to get a fruit in is

1) peel & cut an apple

2) add 1 tbls. Splenda for baking & a pinch of

3) cover the bowl W/plate & microwave for 3 min.

It is a pretty good snack for a change.

5/3/08 10:46 A

One word says it all: FAKE.

FIT_GIRL_ Posts: 84
5/3/08 10:45 A

I just wanted you to know that a lot of the "claims" that people make about aspartame are actually completely unfounded. Research on artificial sweeteners such as aspartame has been going on for more than thirty years in over two hundred studies, and so far they've all concluded that it is a safe product and can be used by almost everyone, including pregnant women and children. The only people who definitely can't use aspartame are those with phenylketonuria, which is when an individual lacks the enzyme to convert phenylaline into tyrosine (and phenylaline is one of the amino acids that aspartame breaks down into upon digestion). In addition, the amounts of the constituents that aspartame breaks down into when digested are so so small compared to other foods we regularly intake. For example, low-fat milk contains 6 times more phenylaline & thirteen times more aspartic acid (another amino acid that aspartame breaks down into upon digestion) than does the same quantity of diet soda sweetened with 100 percent aspartame. Also, a serving of tomato juice has 6 times more methanol (the third thing that aspartame breaks down into when digested) than equal amounts of diet soda.

Just some facts to chew on.....

In all honesty, I've canned the diet soda purely because of the caffeine in them. I found the excess caffeine gave me pounding headaches, my heart raced, insomnia etc. When I drink non-caffeinated soda which is sweetened with aspartame, I have none of these effects. My motto is absolutely EVERYTHING in moderation, no matter how good or bad it is for you.

LABELLA1022 Posts: 4
5/3/08 10:41 A

Girl, stay away from Splenda. It is 80% from real sugar. If you knew what was in the last 20% you wouldn't use it. It messes with your metabolism and hormones. As a woman it is the worst thing going. It is all a marketing tool for selling, they make you think its good for you

LABELLA1022 Posts: 4
5/3/08 10:39 A

P.S. SPLENDA is a SCAM. It is only 80% made from REAL sugar, the last 20% is ALL chemicals. Organic sugar is actually not too bad in calories, great for baking and great for you.

LABELLA1022 Posts: 4
5/3/08 10:38 A

If anyone wants to know the TRUTH about artificial sweetners, meats, SKINNY BITCH. You will get the low down on food. It is written by two nutritionists who were also models.


5/3/08 10:33 A

I know the article on sweetners is true. I get major
migaine head aches, and confusion when I drink diet soda. All I drink now is Iced tea with Stevia. The
Fake sugars are poison. Its even better off to just use the real sugar in moderation. Or Just drink Green
Iced tea. Its so good with a orange slice in it!

CASHLESSNCR SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (14,188)
Posts: 1,247
5/3/08 8:04 A

Like others, I was raised on diet sodas but managed to break a diet coke habit a few years ago due to cost rather than concerns about health.

I started out on SP drinking no diet sodas but eating low calorie yogurts with lots of additives including artificial sweeteners and other low calorie processed snack foods, but found they were expensive. It was easy to keep my calorie count in the low end of the recommended range and weight flew off. But it wasn't a sustainable means of feeding myself. I found the flavor cloying or the texture unappealing. Now I tend to eat in the mid-range of my recommended calories. My weight loss isn't as rapid, but I am still losing.

When the recent articles about artificial sweeteners came out, my husband did a little experiment - he normally drinks a lot of diet soda, but eats no artificially sweetened foods. He replaced all liquids he drank with water, but ate and exercised the same for a week and lost 2 lbs. Then he went back to drinking diet soda. He maintained the loss. A month later, he cut out diet soda, drinking full sugar Gatorade and water instead,eating and exercising as before and he lost another lb.

So I don't know what to think.

5/3/08 7:52 A

BOSSMOMMY, That e-mail has been debunked, an interesting article to read is on

TAMSALIVE SparkPoints: (29,474)
Fitness Minutes: (44,993)
Posts: 77
5/3/08 4:23 A

I won't take any type of artificial sweeteners/fake sugars as I don't believe that they have done enough research into what these chemicals can do to the human body.
I totally agree with the article about aspartame. I found that the sweetener affected me, nothing as bad as what happened in the article, but since I stopped drinking anything with artificial sweeteners in it, I have felt more full of energy, and am trying to get my sister (11) and brother (15) to cut them out of their diets permanently.

JESSI729 Posts: 274
5/3/08 4:02 A

I agree with MSS on this one. Stevia is my sweetener of choice. My kids LOVE it with their sugar free cereal in the morning, I use it in smoothies, its a fantastic NATURAL way to satisfy that sweet tooth, and the best part is NO calories, NO carbs, and NO fat! I found out about Stevia from watching the Biggest Loser. Bob recommended it to his team this last season. It has been a God-send in my family. :)

The fake sweeteners are just that! FAKE!

Edited by: JESSI729 at: 5/3/2008 (04:00)
BOSSMOMMY Posts: 467
5/3/08 3:37 A

This was an article sent to me by my daughter. Some view this as a hoax article but I have always had problems whenever I have tried eating or drinking any Diet product which I have attributed to the artificial sweetener that they use. There is a reason why on the outside of the Asparatame packages it states it should not be used without the consent of a physician.











This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia.





Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics.





Herein lies the problem:

Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED!


This has been recently exposed in the New York Times.

The bill was killed.


Edited by: BOSSMOMMY at: 5/3/2008 (03:44)
JUDI_CUTIE Posts: 7,954
5/3/08 1:19 A

I use Splenda or SweetNLo in my coffee every day, but I do not eat "sweets" with fake sugar. About six months ago, I decided to stop eating sweets (no cake, pie, cookies, ice cream, candy) because of blood sugar problems and weight problems. At that time, I decided not to have fake sugar sweets because part of what I was trying to do was to stop the habit of eating desserts. So that has worked well for me.

MSSHYLO Posts: 1
5/3/08 1:07 A

I am a newbie here, but I have to respond to the "fake" sugars. They are chemicals and nothing less! Splenda is made from Chlorine and possibly the worse one! They are banned in Japan. I cannot believe Anyone would put any of these in their body! I am a health nut and use Xylitol and Stevia which are made from plants. They are also good for you not just as a sweetener. They are listed as supplements.
I also just read where Coke products are going to start using one of the natural sweeteners but I am not sure which one. Just google Splenda and the others and see what you find!

PMSLIVES Posts: 16,916
5/3/08 12:05 A

I just looked at the FCIC site and wonder what the money line is there, looked like an Ad for Splenda to me and with their partnerships...well I still have questions as to safety. I just hope that those using that stuff don't regret it in the future when they may be close to their goal weights and start having pains they don't understand or break out with rashes and they are wondering why. I really hope that doesn't happen to anybody, so please use as moderately as you feel you can. I wouldn't want you to feel my pain that I have had in the past.

KIRILL13 SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (50,503)
Posts: 826
5/2/08 11:38 P

I love Splenda and Crystal Light!

PSALM22 Posts: 8,061
5/2/08 11:27 P

ALso, I often substitute honey, using about 1/2 the amount of sugar called for, reducing the number of empty sugar calories.

JOGIKA Posts: 2
5/2/08 11:27 P

I do not use fake sugar, I feel it can be hazardous to my health and I decided to try and use brown sugar or honey when I need sugar in a recipe. I heard so many things about fake sugar that I will not put my health on the line. If I have to eliminate sugar from my nutrition I will do so in order to maintain a good health.

PSALM22 Posts: 8,061
5/2/08 11:26 P

The very few times I need a sweetener, I'll use the real thing, thank you very much. As Redpeppers said, basically doing a "sugar busters" on waht you eat for a few weeks will definitely change how your taste buds perceive sweet.

REDPEPPERS Posts: 18,862
5/2/08 10:49 P

I minimize my intake of processed/manufactured foods, including fake sugar. But I also minimize my intake of added-sugar containing foods and liquids.

It's remarkable how sweet plain fruit tastes is you stop eating sweetened foods.

And I've noticed that the more sugar-containing foods I eat, the more sugar I want to eat. So one cookie just makes me want more. But if I hold out and don't eat any, my desire for something like cookies, sweets, other sugar-containing foods really decreases to the point that I don't care about them any more.

5/2/08 10:44 P

I drink an occasional juice or flavored water that contains Splenda but I do not eat/drink aspartame.

From the International Food Information Council about sucralose (Splenda): "Chlorine in the form of chloride is a safe and natural element present in many of the foods and beverages that we eat and drink every day. It is in most natural water supplies, and is also found in lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, melons, peanut butter and table salt. In the case of sucralose, the addition of chlorine to the sucralose molecule is what makes sucralose free of calories. Sucralose is an essentially inert molecule and it passes through the body without being broken down for calories."

Now, I will never assume that there should be no limits on ANY kind of sweetener, and I had to do some research after hearing that Splenda contains chloride since I don't know what that really is! LOL I still try to eat as naturally as possible...everyone needs to do their homework and make a decision based on several sources of info. :)

JANIERAYE SparkPoints: (5,658)
Fitness Minutes: (1,310)
Posts: 412
5/2/08 10:40 P

I would need proof of blood work and labs that Splenda was the problem of there illnesses and who these people really are that have had negative experiences from Splenda. I have learned over the years just because it's in black and white doesn't mean it is so.

LUNAADMIRER SparkPoints: (9,215)
Fitness Minutes: (6,330)
Posts: 122
5/2/08 9:16 P

Niteman, it's sad to think that people give in more to their cravings than realize that in the long term...a lot of these fake sugars with really affect their lives. I posted an actual page that lists real e-mail that are from real people who have had negative experiences from Splenda. I hope people read them. It's scary!

NITEMAN3D SparkPoints: (97,018)
Fitness Minutes: (17,480)
Posts: 5,067
5/2/08 9:11 P

OMG! I see quotes from one of the internet's biggest snake oil salesmen, good ol' Dr. M. I also heard someone quoting Mr. True Dough, the expert on everything from poop to finances. With advisers like these folks, you won't have to worry about the long term. I'll pray for you.

BTW Kathy, I posted the Snopes links ten pages ago and they were largely ignored. Seems many aren't interested in facts or truth. Rumors and fairy tales are more fun.

LUNAADMIRER SparkPoints: (9,215)
Fitness Minutes: (6,330)
Posts: 122
5/2/08 9:03 P

P.S. Here are e-mails from people who have been affected or know someone who has been affected by Splenda.

MCPENGUIN5 SparkPoints: (0)
Fitness Minutes: (9,410)
Posts: 246
5/2/08 8:57 P

Arizonan, you are correct. If you go to the Snopes website, you will find the wild tales about NutraSweet and Saccharine are false. There are apparently none on Snopes about Splenda, but I would bet good money that all of these tales are scare stories. The real truth is that most people need to remember one thing: as primates, we are attracted to eat sweet things because fruits, which are sweet, are part of our nutritional necessity. When our diets are out of balance and we are lacking a key chemical (I have been told it is Chromium, but I can't be sure of that) we develop a craving for sweets. Eating a diet high in whole grains and various vegetables can help keep the sugar demon from overcoming our need to eat sensibly.I have a great love for sweets, and it was a big factor in my weight problems. However, since I have been eating a diet centered around whole grains and a variety of vegetables and fruits, my sugar cravings are gone. I admit to loving Splenda in my fruit smoothies, and I don't feel and fear that it is dangerous, it is just a fun thing I can do that I am certain is doing me no harm.
Remember, our focus here is to develop a well balanced diet and good exercise habits. It isn't very productive to focus too heavily on only one part of the process. The whole person, our whole lifestyle, is being improved, but only a bit at a time. I know from years of experience that trying to change too much too fast leads to no change at all. I still like my Splenda treats, and maybe some day I will find I don't really care about them anymore, but for now, I am happy with keeping it in my kitchen.

LUNAADMIRER SparkPoints: (9,215)
Fitness Minutes: (6,330)
Posts: 122
5/2/08 8:53 P

I don't like fake sugar. I like to use sucanat to bake with or agave syrup to put in my tea or coffee. If they are not available, I will use honey, brown sugar and lastly, a little bit of real sugar (in that order)

I will now quote my husband verbatim on fake sugars. He's studying holistic health and is pretty wise in regards to this:

"Between Sweet N Low, Equal and Splenda, Sweet N Low is the lesser of the three evils. Sweet N Low has had the most research done on it, it was invented first and it's the most stable compound of the three. A large amount of it, like anything else, is not good for you. But in normal, respectable, occasional doses, it's no worse for you than fast food. If you're drinking by the pound, you're asking for it.

Equal is not even a sweetener. It happens to be a cyto-toxin, which only tricks the brain into registering a sweet response. It "pushes the right button" on the tongue to make the brain believe it's sweet, but it is not sweet in of itself. It also breaks down to temperature much more easily than Sweet N Low and has a shorter shelf life.

Splenda is just EVIL. It is regular sugar chemically altered. The super super condensed version of the chemical alteration it undergoes to become Splenda is: it takes away three hydrogen atoms, and replaces it with three chlorine atoms. This is how it doesn't affect the glycemic index and makes it your "diet" sugar. However, it also puts it into a class of chemicals known as chloro-carbons. Other things in this category are many common pesticides and bug repellants, such as DEET. All other chloro-carbons are federally regulated in the US and are strictly advised against any consumption. The medical and FDA research on Splenda is half assed and incomplete at best. Rather than finish the studies to find out that it has negative effects, the studies were never completed to full term. A quick Google search will provide you with most the details of all that information. In addition, keep in mind that much like the tobacco company and many pharmaceutical companies, this is a hot money maker that will be sold to America until America can prove that it is harmful."

KUANAC Posts: 3
5/2/08 8:46 P

I have used Splenda for the past year. I find that I don't like regular sugar anymore. I have also used the Splenda brown sugar to cook with and I LOVED it!

JOMALO SparkPoints: (3,159)
Fitness Minutes: (2,579)
Posts: 101
5/2/08 8:44 P

Well, it seems to me that if used in moderation, it would be ok...the same as real sugar or just about anything else, for that matter.

FITGIRL15 Posts: 5,483
5/2/08 8:28 P

If it's a derivative of sugar, then I love it (Splenda) but if it's a chemically created substance (Aspartame) I try to limit my consumption of it.

I agree that once you use these products to assist you in loosing weight and you start eating more healthy portions, you will eventually also seek out healthier alternatives to these un-naturally sweetened items!

My motto is "Everything in moderation!"

Edited by: FITGIRL15 at: 5/2/2008 (20:27)
5/2/08 8:22 P

My favorite is Equal. I don't use much but I taste the "sweet" and I don't miss sugar. Isn't it a derivative or something of sugar? Oh well. I like Equal.

Other Diet and Nutrition Topics:

Topics: Last Post:
Unsweet Tea 10/4/2013 8:10:20 PM
Daily carb limit 11/13/2013 6:04:38 PM
Protein Supplements 10/8/2013 7:31:41 PM
Low carb 9/19/2013 9:58:40 AM
USA throws in the towel on diet and exercies 11/20/2013 8:04:03 AM

Diet Resources: travel workout routine | travel workout tips | travel workout crossfit