Side Effects of Splenda and Other Artifical Sweeteners
The Problem with Splenda
As more and more people are becoming obese there are more people looking to substitute their favorite foods with those that are not as calorie packed but taste just as good. Many have found that artificial sweeteners are the way to go, with Splenda being the latest and supposedly greatest in a long line of products. It’s true; this artificial sweetener does taste better than those of the past, but is it worth it? Splenda is packaged well and has been marketed beautifully, but there is some scientific data that suggests that Splenda is not nearly as kind to your body as real, calorie packed sugar is.
Artificial Food Products
It seemed as though Splenda was the dieter’s dream and so many of us are reluctant to admit that artificial sweeteners and other man made products simply are not good for us. The problem is that the only safe foods are those that actually come from the earth, not those that have to be chemically produced or changed to create the product. In fact it appears as though chemically altered substances may take a toll on our health and the health of our children. For this reason, you should not consider Splenda, which is basically a sugar free chemical substance, a product that you want to buy.
Is Splenda Better than Aspartame?
The availability of Splenda came on the heels of disappointment of many as we found out the dangers associated with aspartame. Aspartame penetrates the blood brain barrier, meaning it can enter the brain and create toxins that can literally damage the brain. Many diet conscience people turned to Splenda because they didn’t want to experience neurological side effects that aspartame can and does cause. We don’t yet know what the long term affects of Splenda usage will be, but we do know that it is not a naturally occurring sugar product, in fact it is a chemical substance, and that fact speaks volumes. The fact is we aren’t sure yet if Splenda is any better for your body than aspartame. The question is are you willing to take the chance?
Splenda: To Buy or Not to Buy?
For the longest time NutraSweet was the biggest seller of all of the artificial sweeteners, but when research uncovered the data about what aspartame does to the brain and the body on a whole many people were disgusted and worried about their health. Splenda seems like a great option because it is manufactured by a well known brand, Johnson & Johnson, and it also tastes much more like sugar than anything else that has been on the market in the past. Splenda is also marketed as being made from real sugar, making it an obvious choice for those that are looking for a sugar substitute. Splenda has another attractive feature, which is that it is heat stable, meaning people who are trying to cut calories from their diet or individuals, such as diabetics, can enjoy more of their favorite foods without the calories and carbohydrates associated with real sugar.
What Do We Already Know About Splenda?
While we do not yet have long term studies on the side effects of Splenda, we do know that Splenda and other blends of chemical sweeteners appear to be causing problems. Those that use the substances gain weight, experience sleep disturbances, have problems with sexual functions, as well as an increased risk of cancer! In addition it appears as though Splenda and other artificial sweeteners are causing an increase in Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, diabetes, and many different degenerative diseases. In short, Splenda and similar sweeteners are hurting the very people that the product is marketed toward: those that do not want to gain weight and those that cannot freely consume real sugar!
A lot of researchers are concerned about the chlorine in Splenda. Those that created Splenda have openly stated that there is chlorine in Splenda, which is not a big deal because chlorine is usually used in combination with other elements. Chlorine is not harmful to the body because it is usually absorbed and flushed away like everything else. The problem with Splenda is that those that are in the know have admitted that only about 15% of Splenda is actually absorbed by the body. What this means is that the creators of Splenda cannot actually tell us how much chlorine has been left in the body! The fact is, any element that is being left in the body in undetermined amounts can cause problems, and there is no doubt that the chlorine that you are taking in through Splenda is causing problems for your body.
Don’t Be Fooled by Sweetener Blends
Many artificial sweetener users are turning away from aspartame and sucralose or Splenda and are turning toward the sweetener blends that they are finding in products, assuming that these are somehow safer. These sweetener blends are simply mixtures of the harmful substances. The reason that these substances are often used together is that they can reproduce the real sugar taste better than they can alone.
When consumers ingest these sweetener blends they are not only getting the side effects of one sweeter, they are getting them from all of the sweeteners used. In addition, who knows what sort of toxins could be produced by the mixture of the products? It’s already been stated that you cannot excrete all of these sweeteners or the chemicals in them, imagine how many toxins you have floating around your body right now!
Is Anything Safe Anymore?
Sugar is still safe, and though it does tend to pack the calories into every sugary spoonful it can’t cause any more weight gain than is already being caused by the artificial sweeteners out there. The difference between sugar and the artificial products is that sugar satisfies the body, but the artificial sweeteners actually trick your body and make you hungrier, causing you to consume more calories than you would have otherwise. Seems like a vicious circle, doesn’t it? Be sure when you buy sugar not to buy the altered sugar products as these can be detrimental to your health.
The sweeteners that you probably just want to scratch off of your safe to use list are aspartame, acesulfame-K, neotame, sucralose, and alitame. Sucralose and Alitame both have FDA approval pending. A sweetener known as Cyclamate lost its FDA approval back in 1970, though it is currently up for approval again. There is and probably always will be more sweeteners in various stages of development as well as FDA approval.
In addition to sugar you can also safely consume saccharin and stevia. Saccharin is actually a complex sugar extract that comes from a plant that originated in China. The FDA has reported that neither saccharine or stevia has ever caused cancer! This is more like it!
Weight Gain and Ceasing the Use of Artificial Sweeteners
If you consume artificial sweeteners because you want to lose weight, you might want to know that researches cannot find any evidence that the sugar substitutes actually help consumer’s lose weight. These chemicals, in many circumstances, often stimulate the appetite so it could be working against you. Simply limit the amount of food that you are taking in and making better food choices will be a more straight forward way to lose weight and healthier, too!
When you stop using these sweeteners you will probably notice a huge change. Children are often the most noticeably different when artificial sweeteners are pulled from their diet. Many depressed and aggressive children become more balanced and enjoyable to be around. Many researchers also attribute many mental illnesses or behavioral problems to the over use of chemicals in our diets.
The way to identify what does and does not have Splenda or any other artificial sweeteners is to read labels. When you get in the habit of checking labels you can better your life and the lives of all of your family members. Even diabetics can find better ways to eat and drink rather than take in these harmful chemicals, it’s simply about making better food choices for everyone.
With more than 3,000 products on the market today with just Splenda in them, reading labels will really help you cease using these products. While we don’t know for sure what long term use of Splenda will mean, it’s better to quit while you’re ahead than wait and see based on initial research and the case histories associated with similar products.
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23 Responses to “Side Effects of Splenda and Other Artifical Sweeteners”
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Please tell me if Splenda used 4-5 times a day regularly can cause leg sores. Thank you.
I use spleda on every thing. Not just an envelope ,but 3-4 envelopes per serving. I am using it to loose weight. Please tell me every thing you are positive about. Would appreciate any thing you can do to help me. I go thru a box of splenda a week. I use it in every thing I eat.What are the side affects your positive it does? I am having a lot of health problems and need to know if spenda is causing any of them. Kay
How much Splenda daily is harmful? This article does not specify it.
splenda has cyanide in it!!!!!!!!
I WOULD LIKE OT KNOW IF EATING SPLEDNA YOU CAN HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEART PALP. AND SLEEPING IESUES.
Does splenda cause skin rashes. If yes what does it look like?
I used splenda on everything! I developed a extreme itch on top of both forearms….topical anti-itch lotions were mostly ineffective…I quit taking splenda and the itch went away…I truly beleive that was the cause! go back to sugar…
I want to know more also. I started using Splenda the first part of 2008 as part of new diet. Now I have unexplained itchy, rash sores that started on legs really bad, then arm and spread to torso. Could it be from Splenda?
I was told it was safe by my doctor, now after using it 2 years I have concerns. I think its wise not to put any chemicals into your body.
I was looking into the new sugar substitute and it’s side effects and then decided to look into SPLENDA. I use Splenda in my ice tea, coffee and some foods every day. I know I crave food more than I used to but I thought is was because of other reasons. Thanks to the articles I have read, I plan on stop using Splenda in my diet. I do not plan on using another one nor much if any sugar. It will be hard but my health is more important than these problems. Thank you for this information.
I have been using it for coffee for about a year and 8 months ago my blood pressure became an issue. No high blood pressure in my lineage. I am going to quit using and see what happens. I am not obese by any means - hope going back to sugar resolves…
How can I really believe what is said in this article if there is not one reference to who wrote it? I know that splenda is a toxin and is not good for you in any amount, but who wrote this and where did you get your facts?
I have used Splenda in my morning coffee(approximately 4 cups with 2 packets per day)for several years. I was not aware of all the other food and drink that contained Splenda so my total intake would have been more. About 6 weeks ago my hands and face broke out in a rash and tiny blisters. The itching is terrible. I stopped all Splenda intake three weeks ago. The itching is not as bad but not gone. The rash is still exist too. My original suspicions were laundry detergent, fabric softener,shampoo,etc. I began eliminating these items as well as foods, vitamin pills and everything I could think of to resolve the problem. Then I “Googled” “Splenda itch”. Wow, did I get an education. I’m not the only one. How long will this continue, Splenda? Are you going to test or respond to any of the numerous comments related to this?
[...] juice is sweetened with Splenda (i.e. sucralose), an artificial sweetener that can cause various side effects. Plus, the drink only contains 27% juice. It’s the flavor of cranberry with out the [...]
I’m diabetic I use Splenda for a very long time
but, lately have has trouble with bowel movement
and have been suffering from severety constipattio
my doctor has done way too many test and nothing has change much, I’m wondering if the use of Splenda for som long could be the reason of my
present problem. Please respond me back i really want to know, that way I can change to different
sweetener or not. Thank you
Salt is made up of a chlorine and sodium atom reacted together. Ever heard of anyone getting cancer from salt? As a chemist, I find all these claims made on the internet highly amusing! Relax with the fear mongering!
I’ve been using Splenda for a couple of years and I notice that my sleeping habits were pretty bad, and then the itching started a few weeks ago. I went to the Doctor and he changed my medications,but to no avail. The itching has not gone away.
I agree with I rene’s comment, and I also feel a need to comment about the lousy grammar, spelling and other English usage problems just on this page– “Side Effects of Splenda and Other Artifical Sweeteners”. For example– A,B & C COMPRISE D, but D is COMPOSED OF A,B & C. This is one of the most common usage errors in the language. The article is also way too long and doesn’t say much– edit the page(s) and save us all some reading time. I mean these comments sincerely, not just to be a whining crank. I hope you’ll take them seriously. You have a good site, now polish it.
I have a real bad rash on both my legs and my Doctor has no idea what is causing it… I drink more than a dozen cups of tea a day all with two Splenda packets in it… Going to stop the Splenda and will write again after I see what difference I notice… Also, I am alway hungry no matter how much I eat… I am concerned seeing I have been doing this cycle for many years now…
Hi, I have been drinking splenda in my coffee each morning for several months, one morning recently I woke up to extreme itching in the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet. I even used crushed ice in my hands to quite the intense itch. I thought it was a new Hormone drug, I went to two Doctors that week. I have changed everything, soap,shampoo, lotion, deod,even coffee. Tonight I googled Splenda and now I am thinking thats what it is. Today I had an extra Splenda in a glass of water just for a different taste and now I am itching out of my skin, I do not have a rash just whelps when I scratch the itch. I am having fluid retention as well.
I’ve used Splenda for years. I used to be obese and it helped me lose a lot of weight and keep it off. I think you guys are just paranoid. The only thing it makes me crave is more splenda, evil bastards! I hope more people start using it so the price can come down a little.
I started using splenda in my tea and other foods but I’ve noticed I have more head aches and sleeping issues. I think splenda is filled with chemicals and toxins that are not good for us so I’ve decided to stop using it altogether. I’ve never had so many head aches in my life but now I know why!
I suffer from a grade IV glioblastoma and have been on temador , a maintainance chemo, for the last four years. Due to my energy levels being low I have some pounds to shed. I have been using splenda the last two years quite heavily and was wondering if it would be better to go back to useing sugar.