Artificial Sweeteners vs. Real Sugar

juliekbwell
juliekbwell Posts: 155 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Ok...has anyone noticed (who uses artificial sweeteners) that you are bloated and gassy? ...maybe even only after prolonged use. Since I started my lifestyle change (Jan. 4), I switched to artificial sweeteners (Splenda) and hadn't really noticed any issues, until recently. I'm not even really sure if the Splenda is to blame, but I read an article that got me thinking. Of course I have my normal once a month explained bloating, but it's not happening only during that time. I am going to experiment and cut it out and see what happens. The article I read was "10 ways to get rid of bloating" and one of the ways was to stop consuming artificial sweeteners. It got me thinking and wondering if that was my possible cause. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Here is the link if anyone is interested. http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/digestive/articles/10_ways_to_beat_the_bloat.aspx

Replies

  • Junepal
    Junepal Posts: 148 Member
    I have been trying recently to cut out artificial sweeteners too as I recently read "Self-reported adverse reactions to Splenda or sucralose collected by the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center include skin rashes/flushing, panic-like agitation, dizziness and numbness, diarrhea, swelling, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues, and stomach pain. These show up at one end of the spectrum — in the people who have an allergy or sensitivity to the sucralose molecule. But no one can say to what degree consuming Splenda affects the rest of us, and there are no long-term studies in humans with large numbers of subjects to say one way or the other if it’s safe for everyone."
  • juliekbwell
    juliekbwell Posts: 155 Member
    Interesting, Junepal. Thanks for sharing! :)
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    some people do react that way to certain ones. If you react that way to splenda, try something else.

    Or, use regular sugar and count the calories.
  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    some people do react that way to certain ones. If you react that way to splenda, try something else.

    Or, use regular sugar and count the calories.

    THIS!

    Sugar taste > Splenda taste

    IMO, of course =)

    My morning coffee has like 30 cals of sugar in it. I'll do a few jumping jacks and squats if that's what it takes to enjoy me coffee the way I like to =)
  • 247momma
    247momma Posts: 14
    It is very possible the artificial sweetener is the cause. I would suggest using Stevia as your sweetener. It's natural and zero calorie. I use the Sweet Leaf brand because some of the others I've looked at have Dextrose it in and that's just sugar.
  • kariberi84
    kariberi84 Posts: 186 Member
    I have decided to stop artificial sweeteners all together and am trying to get my mom who is diabetic to stop too. What those do is tricks your body into thinking it needs the glucose because it your tongue tasted sweet and then you end up with too much glucose released into your body because the glucose is released before your body realizes that its not needed. Glucose doesn't do anything to fake sugars.
  • wildboar1
    wildboar1 Posts: 88
    ^^ Insulin. Not glucose.

    Glucose is sugar.
  • kariberi84
    kariberi84 Posts: 186 Member
    Thanks!!! I'm up WAY late and am not thinking straight. But yeah... insulin!!
  • slim104
    slim104 Posts: 160
    So, i'm type2 diabetic. I only use hermeseta sweetener in my coffee. I dont use added sugar in anything else. You think i should be cutting it out then?
  • kariberi84
    kariberi84 Posts: 186 Member
    I don't know what that is and since I'm not a doctor I can't tell you that you should. BUT if it were me... I would. I would work as hard as I can to put only natural foods into my body.
  • 4rgl
    4rgl Posts: 106
    I would stay away from artificial sweeteners. There is a lot of controversial information out there and reported side effects and even though the FDA has approved it, I try to stay away from artificial sweeteners. If I had to pick one, I would say real sugar in moderation is better for you.
    There is another alternative, stevia.
    I use stevia. You can buy it in a packet already powdered and that's what I did until I found out the Home Depot near my house sells the actual plant. It's an herb and the leaves are sweet. I still buy the powdered/granulated version of it for baking and other stuff but the fresh leaves I use them in smoothies, or crush a couple leaves with a muddler to make sweet hibiscus iced-tea. If you are interested I know most Safeways carry it (at least where I live), it is a bit pricey but a little goes a long way. It's much sweeter than sugar.

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