AHA! What I've learned about artificial sweeteners!

kmreynolds11

So this past week I came to some realizations about artificial sweeteners. I've always had the "cool, 0 calories. they say EVERYTHING causes cancer. I think it's fine." attitude when it comes to splenda, diet sodas, or any other artificial sweeteners. I've always loved a Diet Pepsi here and there and actually liked the taste of artificial sweeteners better than the non-Diet version.

About three weeks ago I decided that I could cut out some of my sugar calories (I usually like a little in coffee or tea) by using Splenda instead. I went to the store and bought a box and even ordered a couple of Mojitos with Splenda when I went out with some friends one night. No problem, right? What a good dieter I am!

WRONG! During those same weeks I felt unbelievably hungry and had several binges -- a couple of times even doubling my calorie goal. My weight went up and down and all around... and I was... errr... experiencing cramps and less frequent #2s. (sorry if this is TMI). I also felt exhausted and all I could think about was fries, Diet sodas, and ice cream. The cravings for food were crazy... especially when I really haven't felt hungry since joining MFP in Jan. WTF was going on?

To make a long story short... while trying to figure out what was going on, I decided to research Splenda a little more. Although there are no substantiated studies where Splenda is linked to cancer or anything else... the amount of people who have experienced mal effects from using artificial sweeteners is ASTOUNDING. I read somewhere that Splenda decreases the effectiveness of your intestines, basically making it harder for your body to absorb the nutrients in your food, leading to discomfort, exhaustion, malnutrition, hunger, sweet-food cravings, and less regular BMs. BINGO!

This week I decided to experiment... I went back to eating real sugar and avoided any aspartame, sucralose, or artificial sweetener. The transformation was amazing. My appetite went back to normal. My ... er... digestive system began going back to its regular, efficient self. And I felt over-all much more healthy, energetic, and satisfied. I felt more control over my nutrition, and my weight steadied.

I will no longer use artificial sweeteners. One week of a controlled experiment with the stuff proved to me how bad it is. If you use Splenda or drink a lot of Diet soda, you may think you are making a great 0 calorie choice... when you may really be hijacking your digestive tract and sabbatoging your efforts to lose weight. Don't make things harder. Build in real sweeteners (sugar, maple syrup, honey) into your daily calories and avoid the mistakes that I did.

stormieweather

Plus they give me headaches. :mad:

I have had no reactions to Stevia, and no blood sugar issues either. Suggest you research and check it out.

SheilaSisco

Thanks for this... VERY helpful!

anubis609

It still falls under personal bodily reactions to it. I use Splenda in my coffee and oatmeal. Granted, it's not a constant overload of it, but it doesn't have any ill effect on me as far as cravings and/or bathroom hobbies are concerned. It could be that I'm uniquely outside of the norm for such studies, but to each their own. Glad you found a discovery towards better alternatives for your health benefit.

FearAnLoathing

some people have those reactions to it.I drink diet soda ALL the time and none of that happens to me.

ppiinnkkmmoonn

never had a problem with splenda again i still think everyone is and will always be different

cowpoke06

wow. never knew!. I bought some fake sugar for my coffee in the event i run out of creamer so that I don't have to use regular sugar (just like you said, 0 calories!) Luckily, I hardly use it. However, I used to drink a lot of diet soda. I don't any more because I started taking a med called Topamax for headaches that makes all things carbonated taste nasty so I've stopped drinking soda almost all together (i had sprite yesturday with a straw tho). I didn't make the correlation by my...digestion...has become much more regular than it ever was.

interesting!

kmreynolds11

some people have those reactions to it.I drink diet soda ALL the time and none of that happens to me.

Ha! You all are saying the same stuff I used to say ALL the time! Only now that I'm eating healthier stuff and really thinking about how my body reacts to foods, did I realize all this......

melt57

I personally agree. To each their own, but cutting out the artificial sweeteners has made me less hungry, and healthier. I confess once in a blue moon I have one splenda in a coffee, but if thats once a week, its a lot. I'll use natural sugar whenever my daily goals allow it. All in all, I am trying to get some of the overly manufactured chemicals out of my diet.

happy_vegan

I always thought splenda was gross.

Recently I started using truvia - which is stevia - and I haven't had any weird effects like you had with splenda. I would recommend trying that.

Remember: just because splenda was worse for you doesn't mean sugar is fine or 'natural' for you.
But if your glucose doesn't get out of control (mine would) then do what works.

FearAnLoathing

some people have those reactions to it.I drink diet soda ALL the time and none of that happens to me.

Ha! You all are saying the same stuff I used to say ALL the time! Only now that I'm eating healthier stuff and really thinking about how my body reacts to foods, did I realize all this......

Ive been eating healthier stuff for over a year,and have been pretty aware of my body for awhile.Not everyone reacts to things the same way.I have no digestion problems no extra cravings and my last physical my dr said im in great condition.I havent gotten sick in over a year not even a cold.I stopped drinking diet soda for 4 months and didnt feel any diffrent from when i do drink it.
It just goes back to what I said some people have bad reactions to spenda ect. but not all do.

EDesq

GREAT Observation! Artificial Sweeteners are No Joke. I had the same findings: When I dropped diet soda and most other artificial sweeteners, My cravings STOPPED. I can now actually eat a sweet treat once a week and move on. Sometimes it is just better to have sugar in that drink if a natural sugar substitute is not available.

EDesq

some people have those reactions to it.I drink diet soda ALL the time and none of that happens to me.

Ha! You all are saying the same stuff I used to say ALL the time! Only now that I'm eating healthier stuff and really thinking about how my body reacts to foods, did I realize all this......

Ive been eating healthier stuff for over a year,and have been pretty aware of my body for awhile.Not everyone reacts to things the same way.I have no digestion problems no extra cravings and my last physical my dr said im in great condition.I havent gotten sick in over a year not even a cold.I stopped drinking diet soda for 4 months and didnt feel any diffrent from when i do drink it.
It just goes back to what I said some people have bad reactions to spenda ect. but not all do.

Just curious...You said that you have been off of diet soda for 4 months; how much of your weight loss has come in that time as compared to all the time before?