The TRUTH About Artificial Sweeteners

Tell me more about this,i drink diet soda occasionally

I’m with you Joel…give me my equal and no one will get hurt! I’d actually love to hear your take on beverages in general. I know you think alcohol moderation is important (kept to a minimum on cheat days), but what do you typically drink during the week/day. WW is all about drinking water, so that has been my primary beverages during the day, with an occasional green tea in the afternoon if I need a lift. I try to keep away from soda, even diet, due to the sodium.

Thanks…Tim

I’d like to hear more on this subject! I’ve heard all sorts of things about it, such as it’s just flat out bad for you, a processed no-no, that it fools your body into thinking it’s getting a high calorie carb and when it doesn’t it messes with your fat loss ability, etc. I pretty much just drink water, but I like a little sweetener in my green tea and have been using Stevia for that, so would you include that in your info?

I always go back and forth on this one… but sugar-free hazelnut in my coffee usually wins! It’s funny how everyone THINKS artificial sweetener is soooo bad, but yet we KNOW how bad sugar really is….

Well, it’s artificial not natural. Does ones body know what to do with it?

Who’s paying for the researches? The food industry? The very companies that sells that stuff?

It’ll be very interesting to read what you have in store for us.

Yeah its all bs ppl say stuff like aww thats bad cause cancer and stuff, where did they hear it from in the first place ???

I use splenda sometimes. I read that scralse is compleatly harmless, because it ha almost the exact same composition as sucrose (sugar). This is splenda has some maldoxtrin as well. I have no clue what that is… Cananyone help?

I try to use mostly Stevia but I struggle with all the stuff out there about what is good and isn’t. It gets confusing and frustrating. I am interested to see what else you have to say.

This was the latest infor I have on artificial sweeteners. I don’t personally use them, but the doctor said it was okay for my Dad to use them for his diabetes. haven’t made up my mind yet, but maybe stevia is the “natural” way to go?

http://www.cbn.com/livingthelife/features/health/sugar_substitutes.aspx

Hey Joel, Diet Coke is my lifeline! Though I have it very occasionally…
Doesn’t regular coke have just TOO many calories?

And from what I’ve read about Aspartame online, some people cannot take it well and it gives them headaches and such, and others can process it just fine. So Diet Coke is OK for the latter sort of people.

Joel,

I’m with you. Diet Coke is my friend when I’m dieting. I have a post looking at the serious exaggerations on aspartame as well…it simply doesn’t seem to be as bad as everyone makes it out to be!

“Diet Coke” Addict Tells His Scandalous Story

Good job on getting off to such a fast start on your blog. I get quite a bit of traffic as well, but it took me about 2 years and 200 posts.

Congrats!

Rusty

i would like know more please! I know gum contains aspartame and I chew gum all the time!

I used Splenda for a few years now, pretty much dropping refined sugar all together. After reading just a few items on the internet it appeared Splenda was the LEAST harmful off all the alternatives. The only place I used it was in my morning coffee. Turns out that I really dont need the Splenda in my coffee either!…so I have dropped it all together. If there was something that I NEEDED sugar for, I would use Splenda….and diet pops scare me!

Joel,
I’m a fan of your information, but I think you are wrong in this regards.
Please note the following link to an M.D. citing 92 different negative effects attributed to Aspartame alone.

I have no personal axe to grind with you, but have tripped across such information consistently over time, thus, I don’t drink anything with artificial sweeteners in them, nor do I drink soda pop of any kind for that matter.
I have to confess cappuccinos are my downfall but I get decaffeinated and without any sugar at all.

This happened to be the first web-site I came across tonight, but I also subscribe to Dr Stephen Sinatra, and Dr David Williams eHealthNewsLetters, and believe they may cite similar findings, while I’d have to go back to research that to corroborate it.

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

Aspartame Side Effects

The components of aspartame can lead to a number of health problems, as you have read. Side effects can occur gradually, can be immediate, or can be acute reactions.

Aspartame Information:

Aspartame Side Effects
Aspartame Case Histories
Artifical Sweeteners
Phenylalanine
Phenylketonuria
Message Board Forum:
Think you are having an aspartame reaction? Join Dr. Hull’s aspartame message board forum and communicate with others!

Ask Dr Hull Forum
According to Lendon Smith, M.D. there is an enormous population suffering from side effects associated with aspartame, yet have no idea why drugs, supplements and herbs don’t relieve their symptoms. Then, there are users who don’t ‘appear’ to suffer immediate reactions at all. Even these individuals are susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids, phenylalanine, methanol, and DKP.

Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:

Eye
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes

Ear
tinnitus – ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment

Neurologic
epileptic seizures
headaches, migraines and (some severe)
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias

Chest
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS

Other
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
death
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

These are not allergies or sensitivities, but diseases and disease syndromes. Aspartame poisoning is commonly misdiagnosed because aspartame symptoms mock textbook ‘disease’ symptoms, such as Grave’s Disease.

Aspartame changes the ratio of amino acids in the blood, blocking or lowering the levels of serotonin, tyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Therefore, it is typical that aspartame symptoms cannot be detected in lab tests and on x-rays. Textbook disorders and diseases may actually be a toxic load as a result of aspartame poisoning.

Ever gone to the doctor with real, physical symptoms, but he/she can’t find the cause? Well, it’s probably your diet, your environment, or both.

Aspartame is the common denominator for over 92 different health symptoms at the root of modern disease. The Aspartame Detoxification Program demonstrates the most effective way to reverse disease symptoms is removing the underlying cause – aspartame.

I drink diet pop alot…I would definetely like to know if the artificial sweeteners in it are truly dangerous

When I need a pick me up I use artificial sweeteners. It took me a long time to wheen myself off of sugar…my dad used to give me large spoonfuls in my tea. So either Hermesetas or Equal just when i feel myself dragging

Hi Joel
I was a big user of artificial sweetners,but must say since I gave up sugar my sweet cravings are definately less.I’m even into dark chocolate rather than the milk chocolate,to sweet for me now.However, I do still drink diet soda,sugar sodas make my heart race.

I agree with you, Joel! I’m very interested in the additional info you share on this. I drink about 64 oz. of water during the day, but also a Diet Coke or even two. I have Splenda in my tea whenever I drink some as well. I freely share this info with my clients and boot campers. I believe that if someone likes carbonated drinks, a good way to get that fix and save major calories is to drink the diet versions. Thanks for the post; can’t wait to see tomorrow’s!

SO… what is the difference between the artificial sweetners and the more common sugars.

I heard that some research suggested the low calorie diet foods can undermine the body’s association between sweet tastes and the calories that come with those tastes. This can lead to false hunger signals and overeating.

Since in my own anecdotal experience I recall having gotten outrageously hungry and consequently overeating by way of living off of diet foods, I gave the study some credence. Having tried it, I do find that it is easier to eat in moderation by avoiding diet foods (Zero Impact Bars, Splenda, diet root beer / cream soda, sugar free spelt cookies).

Note that I did not replace my diet treats with non diet treats I just removed them altogether and replaced them with more fruits and vegetables. That’s probably a bit of confounding variable.

Hi. I use Splenda in my protein drink if I am out of fruit to toss in and I use it in my ice tea.

Hi Joel, I use artificial sweeteners in my coffee and I too have heard that they cause cancer, but what doesn’t these days!
I don’t know if you have heard in the States that CSR have brought out a new Natural Sugar with a naturally Low Glycolic Index (GI). It works by spraying an all natural molasses extract onto raw sugar. This molasses naturally increases sugar’s resistance to digestion. By having a low GI, CSR Logician takes longer to be digested, resulting in a slower release of energy, which can help curb hunger cravings.
I’m very interested in what you have to about the new low GI sugar and the artificial sweeteners.

Yes, I use Splenda and I get crap for it b/c of the aspartame in it. Being that I have Multiple Sclerosis I receive all kinds of stories on how aspartame causes MS like symptoms. I usually tell them to go look at my MRI film and tell me how aspartame put lesions on my brain. Anyway, thank you for the info you may send.

Oh Joel, please tell me artificial sweeteners are fine to consume, oh please. I stopped drinking Hansen’s diet soda because of the health risks I have heard but I would love it if I could start drinking them again.

Joel, no I don’t use artificial sweeteners but it has nothing to do with health concerns. I quite simply loathe the taste of every single one of them. In fact it’s not just artificial sweeteners, I also dislike stevia and whatever they’re using in Vitamin Water 10. To my taste buds not only do they NOT taste like sugar but they’re not even sweet. And they all leave a nasty after-taste.

I’ve weaned myself off of them for the most part, I will use a little when I am also having a little “real” carb with it, like a light fruit juice drink or some such, and then usually with extra water and ice. Why? The research I did read suggested strongly that people who are heavy users would tend to gain more weight than non-users. I thought that it had to be due to confounding, that heavy people were more likely to be using diet soda, but I remember beign convinced by the details of the article that was not the explanation, they’d controlled for that. And since I did that, I do notice the appetite increasing when I have any significant amount. I don’t think they are deadly poison, but the theory that they trigger some insulin release which in turn triggers sugar storage as fat and cravings for sugar to get more into the bloostream seems a reasonable theory. And fortunately, I do like my tea and coffee unsweet – if you see me putting sugar in coffee, its either for some Turkish I will be sharing with my son, or its BAD coffee.

I just think that most artificial sweeteners are just toxic chemicals which will be stored in our body fat and hinder the fat-burning process. (yes they are stored in fat such that these toxins will do less harm to our body) Some said there are “natural” sweeteners of low calories but I really don’t know how to choose one. So basically I just try to avoid all sorts of sweeteners as far as possible. Please tell me more about the issue =]

Hi Joel! Do you have any info in re stevia? Thanks, Andrea

Hi Joel,

I use splenda in my tea … without it I would use sugar. I believe that the amount of calories in sugar far outweighs the possible side effects of splenda. I don’t drink very many sodas but those I do are diet types if they are available.

Hi Joe,

I drink regular coke or sprite on the occasion of having pizza or greasy food for dinner. Most people in Korea do this to aid digestion- What do you think for this motive for drinking some?

Ken

I have one teaspoon of sugar in one cup of coffee once a day. Everything else tastes terrible and at least I know exactly what sugar does to my body.

If it was created in a laboratory, I will make every effort possible to avoid it. Just because it tastes sweet, if it does not come from nature, I am not convinced that my body really knows what it is and what to do with it. That is enough reason for me to avoid it.

Carry Stevia with you, it is 100% natural, has 0 calories and 0 glycemic index. You can get it in packets that you can keep in your wallet or put in your pockets when you are away from home.

I never use artificial sweetners because ‘I heard’ they weren’t good for you. Granted, as you said, I never did any research but there are just some things I’d like to not find out were true the hard way! Until I hear otherwise – no artificial sweetners for me!

As always, much mis-information is spread by “word of mouth”, though usually if one follows the money, where those rumors start becomes clear. I recall that the saccharine industry drummed up enough “research” that they were able to get cyclamate banned in the US around 1970. Unbelievably, despite research that proves the saccharine industry’s claims that cyclamate caused bladder cancer were false, cyclamate remains a banned substance in the US. Just goes to show how easily and well people (including Congressmen) can be fooled.

Ironically enough, Canada banned saccharine due to extensive research proving saccharine caused bladder cancer in labratory rats. While cyclamate remains a legal substance in Canada, saccharine was banned in 1977. The FDA considered following their lead, but “public outcry” (read LOBBYISTS) kept them from doing so. Instead, for a time, they put warnings on products containing saccharine, but have since removed them.

Aspartame, Sucralose and Acesulfate potassium, however, have shown ZERO harmful side effects, despite much efforts from “ecology conscious” groups such as Green Peace to link aspartame to seizures and birth defects. EXTENSIVE clinical research has shown this to be completely untrue. While it is true that MASSIVE doses of aspartic acid will cause brain damage, a regular person would be extrememly hard pressed actually to consume the amount of aspartic acid required to do themselves harm. The amount a person gets in a day who uses the “blue packets” in thier coffee and drinks even several diet cokes in a day can’t even reach 5% of the necessary dose to do any harm.

Well Joel I like my sugar,

I don’t judge anyone for using the other stuff, but most of the research I’ve read about it was done using animals as subjects, not humans.

There was weight gain cause by overeating and a decrease in intestinal bacteria. Also the rats that consume the higher amounts of sucralose (splenda) did not gain weight.

I think is going to take about 8 years of research to be certain of any effect.

About the diet sodas or any soda I just have one word (migrane) and that’s a personal opinion that me and my wife have. To stop the headaches I need to stop drinking soda for more than a week.

Now I just enjoy water

Thanks for the post, keep them coming

I rarely drink diet soda but use Splenda and Stevia in Kool-aid and tea. Interested in what you found.

i always thought that artificial sweeteners where a joke :|
you never end to surprise me joel.
Thanks for all.
can’t wait for the 2nd part :|

Originally Posted By KirstenI always go back and forth on this one… but sugar-free hazelnut in my coffee usually wins! It’s funny how everyone THINKS artificial sweetener is soooo bad, but yet we KNOW how bad sugar really is….

@Kirsten –
hey, in this case the hydrogenated fat in your coffee flavor is probably worse for you than the artificial sweetener.

I don’t personally use “diet” products. Ever since I was little, pop with aspartame has given me an upset stomach (even chewing gum with aspartame will make my stomach feel a bit queasy). I knew it wasn’t for me.

I can tolerate some of the other artificial sweeteners, but I truly don’t like the aftertaste that I’m left with. I admit I’m a bit skeptical about them in general.

I prefer to just add a little bit of plain old sugar if I need something sweetened. At least I KNOW what I’m getting.

If it was really that harmfull would it not have been taken off the shelves?
All the symptoms listed everywhere could have been caused by all sorts of foods and the way people react to it, without a uniform conclusion I will not stop using artificial sweetners.
I just lost 45 kilos in 7 months and because I cut out refined sugar, the little sweetness I do consume is either from fruit, stevia or artificial in a diet drink.
It is just a shame that I can only get liquid Stevia here in the Netherlands.
I am interested to read your opinion.

I started the Cheat your way thin diet three weeks ago, at the same time I began taking liquid mineral which are sweetened with Fructose. And I purchased some protein powder drink mix sweetened with Fructose.
I lost 6 lbs the first two weeks, but I began having swollen joints, pain in my knees and a strange lump started growing on the inside of my right knee.
So I went to see my MD about the pain that was keeping me awake at night. She said I have (Suddenly) arthritis. She X-rayed my knee and said there is not much can be done for arthritis but pain pills, specialists, etc.

I didn’t like that answer.
I went home and looked it up on the internet. According to my symptoms it is Rheumatoid arthritis and it is an autoimmune disease.
So that sounded to me like something was compromising my immune system that had not been doing so before.

I talked to my elders and friends. They commiserated.
Then one friend mentioned that her sister had the same symptoms in 9th grade and had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis. She discovered that it was being caused by her coffee sweetener: sucrose which she was also putting on her yogurt, in her home made desserts etc.
When she stopped taking it she went back to normal.
I emailed a friend and he said a friend of his had a similar experience but didn’t figure it out quick enough and ended up with MS and is now in a wheel chair.
I went home, looked at my liquid minerals, my protein powder, and I put them aside.
Since then (two days ago) I have gone to a Native American sweat lodge, drunk copious quantities of water, and now the symptoms (pain in joints, hips and knees) is gone, My finger joints ~ alas have not shrunk much but the pain is gone.

I found out that my supposed arthritis (my autoimmune disease) is caused by a chemically induced poison I was ingesting multiple times daily. I had heard that artificial sweeteners were poison and that using them to diet would have the opposite effect (produce hormones that make you feel hungrey) but I didn’t want to believe it was true for all of them ~ although I went through the splitting head aches of asperitime and that ilk and stopped using sucrose, I didn’t want to think it was true for fructose ~ which after all, they said it was made of fruit Go figger.
anyway,
It got me thinking about the ills we as a people are going through at younger and younger ages.
Maybe we all need to go see a good healer and get muscle testing done on all the things we are eating.
Or maybe we need to get back to that ole time religion. . . . . making ALL our own foods, growing as much as we can and not get taken in by the food industry that is only trying to make money from us and does not have our health and well being in mind at all.
Maybe we could stop every ill from depression to diabetes with home made everything. And lightening up on sugar of all kinds.
I feel so much better today, without the fructose.
Anyway, I wish I could tell everyone the pain that I went through to learn this truth and the wondrous magic of getting better by simply adjusting my diet.
That said I wish to put in a disclaimer: EVERYONE’S BODY IS DIFFERENT. The same things don’t exactly happen to everyone. And you must remember, I am 65 years old and have already noticed that milk products have a similar effect on me
Wende

Hi, Joel
I sturggled with weight problems & I tried all kinds of sweeteners. I tried one kind at one time for 6 months and if I don’t see any improvement I move to another alternative. What I can say is; refined sugar really not an option for weight management, artificial sweeteners may lessen the calorie intake but I had cravings. So far the best sweetener of my choice is stevia, honey and unrefined sugar cane, which may not be as lower calorie as artificial sweetener but my body can process it better, I have less cravings which prevents me from overeating frequently, my sugar addict problem gone, my weight reduced at steady state.

I read an article they did some experiment on rats they gave them all day artifical sweetener, and after a couple of month they had a big cancer bubble on their back. so i think too much is really bad for you body…you shoud minimizae it with 2 glases a day (sorry for my bad english)

I get very little of them. I don’t try too hard to avoid them, I don’t like most things with them. (I don’t drink soda or coffee.)

joel,
i m really getting too much from ur articles and hope tt it wil contribute to my further fitness.
really want to hear from u abt the artificial sweetners.
thanks
khayal

Pink packet (saccharin) is known to cause a cancer (if taken in a bucket load of it … I know, but I don’t want to take a chance), and Blue packet (aspartame) gives me a headache, same with Diet Coke/Pepsi.

I seem fine with Splenda and Coke Zero at work/outside, but I spice up with Stevia, Agave Nectar, and Brown Rice Sirup at home/cooking.

I do use sweetner and have been using it for years. I do this because my family
has a history suger diabetics and I am trying to take preventive measures.

@Don Bell –
absolutely, totally true what your are saying about aspartame. it is a real POISON. i have numerous reports that list the same side effects you mentioned. one lengthy report i have was printed in “informed consent” and it’s called “sweet delusions”. that 12 page report is a real eye opener!!!!!

i already know a lady who was having problems with her vision and almost went blind, and another who spent months in and out of the hospital with severe digestive problems. both of them became well when the diet soda was removed from their diet.

another interesting fact is that when aspartame is consumed with hot dogs or any products containing NITRATES, those two chemicals interact to form a new chemical which is one of the most cancer causing chemicals known to man!!!!!

when a pregnant woman consumes aspartame, it can cause degrees of mental retardation.

hey man. ive heard that there are two sides to them. ive heard that they are all chemicals, but ive heard they can be better than suger? what? im confused!

Personally I use the Stevia sweetener as much as I am able .It mixes well and to date has no bad press… so no bad stares when I use it in my coffee…