Splenda? Bad for you? NO calorie? Confused.

kasandraaa

Just wondering how you guys feel about splenda?

I read Skinny *****, it says NO splenda EVER! Quantum Wellness says to not have it either.

Is it really no calories? Im not sure if I should continue to put it in my coffee...

HELP!
What do you guys think about it?

megpiemac12

I'm curious to see what people say as well. I usually only have 1 packet a day with my coffee. I still feel it's better than real sugar calorie wise, but wonder if there are other bad things. I also will sometimes use pure via which is said to be an all natural sugar substitute.

drog2323

I have used it and still use it - but I am weeing myself off of it. If something is too good to be true, it probably is. I'm trying
Agave Nectar syrup - which is all natural and apparently doesn't spike your blood sugar nearly as much as sugar. I think another alternative is Stevia - which I believe is also natural.

It's too bad since I love how splenda tastes in my morning coffee. But I just can't help but think 0 calories, man-made and that sweet - it just can't be that great for consumption.

jamie_bird

I'm not a fan of splenda but I'm bias because I'm actually allergic to it and aspartame. I don't think fake sugars are particularly good for you because they're just chemicals. I'd suggest looking at natural alternatives to sugar such as agave nectar or honey, they are low calorie but not no calorie.

crystal_sapphire

i use it in my coffee. i'm not concerned

mapnerd2005

I have no idea which research reports about the safety of artificial sweetners to believe because they all seem to have conflicting results. BUT, there have been numerous studies that have shown that people who drink sweetened drinks have a higher tendency to crave sweet foods. Now, from personal experience, I can tell you this: I quit drinking soft drinks three years ago, and quit drinking any sweetened beverages about two years ago. I used to have a horrible sweet tooth, and now I hardly ever crave sweets. Fruits and veggies that used to taste bitter to me now taste sweet. And I noticed those things before I read the research report about the correlation between sweetened beverages (including those sweetened with artificial sweetners) and sweet-food cravings, so maybe there is some merit there.

Panda86

The concern with Spenda is the chemicals... If you want a low calorie, all natural sweetener, try Sun Crystals.

eating4balance

On The Doctors, it says that splenda is the safest sweetener, but it can end up leading to weight gain. Not that splenda itself can cause weight gain, but increases cravings for other carbs and sweet which will lead to weight gain.

Panda86

I was also told that it can cause some problems in some individuals because your body thinks its getting sugar, so it releases insulin, but its not actually getting sugar, so it can throw things out of whack.

MakingAChoice

Honey actually is not that low of calorie considering it takes more to get the same sweetness level. I use liquid Splenda still, but I have cut back my usage to 1/2 what I used to use in my tea. I have seen studies both ways on Splenda, so I guess I will wait for more research unless my weight loss stops. At least with liquid Splenda I don't eat all the fillers and crap they have in the packets. You can get it from www.sweetzfree.com if your interested. I have been using it for years now.

sarahnicolexoxo

I have read about Splenda and how is bad for you. Who knows how true it is. I use Truvia on occasion.

DivaDLB

I only use Splenda when Truvia or Stevia is not readily available to me. I also use Blue Agave syrup for tea.

cmriverside

Not that splenda itself can cause weight gain, but increases cravings for other carbs and sweet which will lead to weight gain.

^ Yeah that.

Any sweetener will fool the body into releasing insulin, which will lead to cravings. Even no calorie sweeteners.

hpsnickers1

Honey is actually much sweeter than table sugar so you use less to get the same sweetness. And buying raw strained or unfiltered honey is best. Sugar has no nutrients - they have been removed. Honey still has nutrients. But heating it will kill the nutrients.

When you use honey instead of sugar in recipes you have to use less.

Stevia extract/powder is has a glycemic index of 0. It will not spike your bloodsugar. Even fruit will spike it.

A lot of your artifical sweeteners will lose their sweetness when added to hot things.

kcdrake

I know that the complaint about Splenda is the fact that it's all chemical and can increase cravings for other sweets/carbs.

That being said, I use it in my morning coffee. And really, any diet soda or low fat yogurt (and I'm sure a thousand other things) are sweetened with Aspartame or Splenda.

drog2323

when I think of chemicals...more and more I think I better get off of it. I suspect humans weren't ever really supposed to be consuming chemicals. damn....too bad. I do like it in coffee!

Agave Nectar will have to suffice.

katschi

I quit using Splenda and Crystal Light this past Sunday but I've also quit adding ALL sugars to my foods and shakes to rid myself of the taste for sweets.
Fruit will be my only sugar treat.
So far, so good. My taste buds are already adjusting and I'm tasting the natural sweetness in the foods I'm eating.

Stevia is awful tasting to me. Agave nectar is highly processed.

Honey and pure maple syrup in very limited amounts would be my choice if I were to eat any sugars.

NOLAdy

Splenda makes me feel high/dizzy. And I usually have no sensitivity to foods. I drink Diet Coke like it's going out of style but if I drink something with Splenda in it I will "feel" it every time. I use Truvia at home for my tea and coffee.
It scares me to think that doctors reccommend Splenda to pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes. I hope that has changed.

tammy200678

I use it every day and I am not worried at all about it

lightthing

I have read conflicting reports on Splenda. I limit fake sugar use and if I need a sweetner in coffee or tea I will use honey, or
Agave. A nurse told me the Agave reacts better with blood sugars. It looks and tastes exactly like honey. Stevia is also said
to be an alternative as a healthy sweetner. I try not to add anything, and if some ice cream or jello has Splenda in it , I will eat that
as it is less calories.

cmriverside

I quit using Splenda and Crystal Light this past Sunday but I've also quit adding ALL sugars to my foods and shakes to rid myself of the taste for sweets.
Fruit will be my only sugar treat.
So far, so good. My taste buds are already adjusting and I'm tasting the natural sweetness in the foods I'm eating.

Nice!!!!

I quit all sugars too. I know I feel much better, and I don't crave carbs any more. I allow myself two whole fruits a day.

Good for you!! If more people would try this, they would be uber-surprised how it changes things.

Good luck to you :flowerforyou:

katschi

I quit using Splenda and Crystal Light this past Sunday but I've also quit adding ALL sugars to my foods and shakes to rid myself of the taste for sweets.
Fruit will be my only sugar treat.
So far, so good. My taste buds are already adjusting and I'm tasting the natural sweetness in the foods I'm eating.

Nice!!!!

I quit all sugars too. I know I feel much better, and I don't crave carbs any more. I allow myself two whole fruits a day.

Good for you!! If more people would try this, they would be uber-surprised how it changes things.

Good luck to you :flowerforyou:

Hey, Thanks! :flowerforyou:
It definitely gets rid of the carb cravings which makes the whole weight loss thing so much easier. It's also surprising how quickly it happens, too.

kdipley

Im diabetic and when I first got diagnosed I started using splenda because it had no carbs, however the longer I used it I started having severe migranes as well as my mom. When we stopped using the Splenda my migranes went away. I honestly think splenda is very bad for your body considering they started testing my mom for ms and when she stopped using splenda all of the symptoms dissapeared. I actually use stevia or honey to sweeten my coffee and tea now.

kasandraaa

Im diabetic and when I first got diagnosed I started using splenda because it had no carbs, however the longer I used it I started having severe migranes as well as my mom. When we stopped using the Splenda my migranes went away. I honestly think splenda is very bad for your body considering they started testing my mom for ms and when she stopped using splenda all of the symptoms dissapeared. I actually use stevia or honey to sweeten my coffee and tea now.

Im pretty sure splenda does have carbs

& to all of you.. where do I buy that agave nectar or stevia?

I dont think I have ever seen it in stores....

humblemonkey

i use it in my coffee. i'm not concerned

i agree. everything is bad if u over-do it. i wouldnt go eating a pound a day or anything but i dont think a little bit here or there will kill you.

absolament

In my opinion, if it ain't real, limit your consumption or avoid it altogether. You're probably better off adding honey or pure cane brown sugar. It's a few calories, but they are more natural. Honey can be purchased raw (unprocessed) and pure cane brown sugar is the least refined of all sugars. I'll add that it takes a little getting used to when you switch sweeteners. But in a week you won't even notice anymore.

denise980

The problem with "chemical" sweeteners is just that: the chemicals that are found in them. However, being a chemistry major in college, I learned a few things about this. The biggest thing is that it only affects you in a negative way if you have the sweetener in large quantities. In the studies that they do, they feed the rats substantial amounts of the product and then see what will happen. They don't give the rat a normal dosage and see what will happen. So essentially they are skewing their results to get the negative that they are looking for to scare people.

In actuality, it isn't as bad for you as articles say. Now, if you have a lot of let's say Splenda in one day (like cups instead of spoonfuls) then in the long run you will hurt yourself. But, just having a packet of Splenda in your coffee or tea won't hurt you.

gbryant

I am allergic to all the fake sugar, it gives me serious headackes.