Aspartame Vs Sugar

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Replies

  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    They said "one or two"...NOT 2-3.......
    I don't put alot of sugar, maybe one to two packets


    Yikes, not sure I'd classify 2-3 packets as "not alot".

    There's the judgmental attitude I was waiting for.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    My point is that you'll have a hard time finding any major scientific studies because their goal is to prove it's safe - not to prove it's not. The only evidence out there involves what's happening to people (personal experiences) or media reports of battles between corporations and poor people who live in areas who are trying to deal with the disasters left behind. It's hard for a poor guy who makes $200 dollars a month to stop a giant corporation. There's a reason why some Latin American's are ticked at our big business companies. We have a bad habit of leaving industrial disasters behind us. They're just too poor to do anything about it. This stuff doesn't come out in our news.

    Now, if I had the time, I would have to go to a university library system to access better documents. But, you don't have to be so snide about it. I do know that I prefer natural and whole foods and to me a chemical is not a whole food or nutritious. I'd prefer to not poison/modify my system. It's your choice to do so if you think it's safe. Tons of people take that route, but I don't plan on taking that risk with my life especially if there are natural alternatives. Why risk accumulating a chemical in my system that isn't natural? Why should I chance this when I've read blogs after blogs of people who detail horrible reactions that occurred over time - migraines, muscle pains...more. It's scary. How can you guarantee that 30 years from now this stuff won't do anything to me? You can't. I'd rather not risk it.

    Our government is really messed up and doesn't look out for us. Here's a great example of how willing they are to allow things to slide. Look up "Chloramine". It's the newest additive to making water safe: a combination of Ammonia and Chlorine. If you own fish tanks, you'd better buy yourself a giant trashcan to pretreat your water before you put your fish in it. It's VERY toxic and there are no studies whatsoever yet they decided to put this into our water instead of Chlorine. Chlorinated water can be left out over a few days and it disappears. Chloramine does not dissipate. In fact, many of the giant fish stores have invested thousands to remove this chemical because their fish will die if the water isn't treated first. I met a local home owner who apparently has so much Chloramine (due to how close he was to the plant that sends out the water to the city) that his fish kept dying and he couldn't do an outdoor pond! He was ticked. He was complaining to the owner of a local LPS who pretty much now sells water by the gallon because he invested in a massive filtration system to keep his fish stock safe. Granted, the common guy can't afford the 10,000 dollar filtration system - this guy had to give up on his pond because the cost was impossible to manage. This chemical can get into our rivers and it takes a chemical to break the stuff down. How's that for safety?

    You want another example of why we can't trust our government? Why is it that we don't have access to some of the best sunscreens in the world? Why do we still allow companies to sell pesticides over seas that are banned here? Why do we allow the use of BHT/BHA in foods when overseas they've proven those preservatives trigger migraines and it's even banned in multiple countries. Obviously, they need to make a profit so it's allowed here. It's in almost ALL cereals in the grocery aisle except for organic stores. These are the types of safety questions that make me ponder whether the safety studies are being done correctly. I suspect not.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    Remind me to never be near a truck that overturns that contains Neotame. Apparently, it's highly combustible. They only recommend cleanup by vacuum in the case of a disaster spill. Bizarre. It does make you want to take a whole bottle and drop a match from a distance into it just to see what happens. I've probably use barbecue gloves and really, really long tongs.

    http://www.neotame.com/pdf/Neotame_MSDS.pdf
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    Remind me to never be near a truck that overturns that contains Neotame. Apparently, it's highly combustible. They only recommend cleanup by vacuum in the case of a disaster spill. Bizarre. It does make you want to take a whole bottle and drop a match from a distance into it just to see what happens. I've probably use barbecue gloves and really, really long tongs.

    http://www.neotame.com/pdf/Neotame_MSDS.pdf
    This a list of combustible dusts by OSHA.

    CombustibleDust
    Does your company or firm
    process any of these products or
    materials in powdered form?
    If your company or firmprocesses any of these products or
    materials, there is potential for a “Combustible Dust” explosion.


    Agricultural Products
    Egg white
    Milk, powdered
    Milk, nonfat, dry
    Soy flour
    Starch, corn
    Starch, rice
    Starch, wheat
    Sugar
    Sugar, milk
    Sugar, beet
    Tapioca
    Whey
    Wood flour
    Agricultural Dusts
    Alfalfa
    Apple
    Beet root
    Carrageen
    Carrot
    Cocoa bean dust
    Cocoa powder
    Coconut shell dust
    Coffee dust
    Corn meal
    Cornstarch
    Cotton
    Cottonseed
    Garlic powder
    Gluten
    Grass dust
    Green coffee
    Hops (malted)
    Lemon peel dust
    Lemon pulp
    Linseed
    Locust bean gum
    Malt
    Oat flour
    Oat grain dust
    Olive pellets
    Onion powder
    Parsley (dehydrated)
    Peach
    Peanut meal and skins
    Peat
    Potato
    Potato flour
    Potato starch
    Raw yucca seed dust
    Rice dust
    Rice flour
    Rice starch
    Rye flour
    Semolina
    Soybean dust
    Spice dust
    Spice powder
    Sugar (10x)
    Sunflower
    Sunflower seed dust
    Tea
    Tobacco blend
    Tomato
    Walnut dust
    Wheat flour
    Wheat grain dust
    Wheat starch
    Xanthan gum

    www.osha.gov/Publications/combustibledustposter.pdf

    Sensationalism sells.:laugh:
    So would you do the same with these dusts too? Or are you just anti chemical?


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    My point is that you'll have a hard time finding any major scientific studies because their goal is to prove it's safe - not to prove it's not. The only evidence out there involves what's happening to people (personal experiences) or media reports of battles between corporations and poor people who live in areas who are trying to deal with the disasters left behind. It's hard for a poor guy who makes $200 dollars a month to stop a giant corporation. There's a reason why some Latin American's are ticked at our big business companies. We have a bad habit of leaving industrial disasters behind us. They're just too poor to do anything about it. This stuff doesn't come out in our news.
    There are lots of studies done by Journals of Medicine. The AMA and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism are 2 good ones.
    Now, if I had the time, I would have to go to a university library system to access better documents. But, you don't have to be so snide about it. I do know that I prefer natural and whole foods and to me a chemical is not a whole food or nutritious. I'd prefer to not poison/modify my system. It's your choice to do so if you think it's safe. Tons of people take that route, but I don't plan on taking that risk with my life especially if there are natural alternatives. Why risk accumulating a chemical in my system that isn't natural? Why should I chance this when I've read blogs after blogs of people who detail horrible reactions that occurred over time - migraines, muscle pains...more. It's scary. How can you guarantee that 30 years from now this stuff won't do anything to me? You can't. I'd rather not risk it.
    How can you guarantee that you won't die in a car crash? Would that stop you from driving? Wouldn't abstaining from driving ensure that risk of a driving accident would be nil? Unless you're growing your own food, raising your own meat, and fully overseeing personally, the chances of any natural food devoid of ALL chemicals is nil. Arsenic (which is in apples) is natural. I'll bet dollars to donuts that if you took the same amount of arsenic vs aspartame, you'd survive the aspartame.
    This is not to say that SOME people don't have reactions to aspartame. But the general population doesn't have some of the reactions they have according to peer reviewed study.
    Our government is really messed up and doesn't look out for us. Here's a great example of how willing they are to allow things to slide. Look up "Chloramine". It's the newest additive to making water safe: a combination of Ammonia and Chlorine. If you own fish tanks, you'd better buy yourself a giant trashcan to pretreat your water before you put your fish in it. It's VERY toxic and there are no studies whatsoever yet they decided to put this into our water instead of Chlorine. Chlorinated water can be left out over a few days and it disappears. Chloramine does not dissipate. In fact, many of the giant fish stores have invested thousands to remove this chemical because their fish will die if the water isn't treated first. I met a local home owner who apparently has so much Chloramine (due to how close he was to the plant that sends out the water to the city) that his fish kept dying and he couldn't do an outdoor pond! He was ticked. He was complaining to the owner of a local LPS who pretty much now sells water by the gallon because he invested in a massive filtration system to keep his fish stock safe. Granted, the common guy can't afford the 10,000 dollar filtration system - this guy had to give up on his pond because the cost was impossible to manage. This chemical can get into our rivers and it takes a chemical to break the stuff down. How's that for safety?
    Here is where I agree with you. There definitely needs to be more peer reviewed study on chloramine.
    You want another example of why we can't trust our government? Why is it that we don't have access to some of the best sunscreens in the world? Why do we still allow companies to sell pesticides over seas that are banned here? Why do we allow the use of BHT/BHA in foods when overseas they've proven those preservatives trigger migraines and it's even banned in multiple countries. Obviously, they need to make a profit so it's allowed here. It's in almost ALL cereals in the grocery aisle except for organic stores. These are the types of safety questions that make me ponder whether the safety studies are being done correctly. I suspect not.
    People don't trust government because there's no transparency. Yes money has a lot to do with it (as well as any other country), but at least here the "little man" can have the opportunity to oppose where in other countries they may get locked up or even lose their life.
    I'm all for questioning if a chemical seems to have an impact on LARGE population. But I do have to defend a chemical that's been studied and peer reviewed and deemed fairly safe against alarmism from a few (normally naturalist's or clean eaters) who use anecdotal articles as proof that it's poison.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • mccbabe1
    mccbabe1 Posts: 737 Member
    go natural.. use stevia... a natural sweetner.. from a plant.. NO CALORIES.. no chemicals, no plastic or weird crap!
  • mccbabe1
    mccbabe1 Posts: 737 Member
    I had to try to cut out aspartame because it agrivates my restless leg syndrome. I do like stevia and I like agave necter.

    Not sure what is in it, I now use the flavored coffee syrups in the sugar free version. Like 4.50 a big bottle at sams club. I don't use much so I wasn't too worried about which sweetener it is because it is pretty concentrated. I also add in a splash of unsweetened silk almond milk. 30 calories in a full cup so mayb 5 in my coffee :)

    coffeemate french vanilla creamer was my last item I gave up. Too much hydrogenated oil in it for me to tolerate any longer without guilt issues.

    yay a stevia user.. ^^^^ this.. why use crap when u have natural available? i always use stevia..
  • ovenbird
    ovenbird Posts: 9 Member
    I was a long time user of aspartame and splenda, then stevia. I now am a user of cane sugar, agave syrup, honey, etc. Here is why:

    I had read for a long time about brain effects of aspartame. Last summer I was with a nephew at Mayo Clinic. He had leukemia and with side effects of treatment was having a very hard time getting any food down. One thing he liked was vanilla frozen yogurt. The vanilla frozen yogurt available had aspartame in it. He would be having a good day, eat the yogurt, and do a 180 on us. Scared the living daylights out of me. He died Aug 18, 2011.

    I read that splenda and aspartame can mess with your hunger signals. Your body tastes sweet and gets ready to digest calories. Calories do not come, so your body sends hunger signals so you send calories. If this is true, then stevia might work the same way. Stevia has been used for centuries, but no one over does it like and American, I am afraid that it will prove harmful in the amounts we consume.

    I use about 10 grains of sugar in the raw when I want something sweetened. That's about 5 calories. In coffee I use a little organic milk which has lactose, a sugar, in it, and have learned to live with that amount of sweetness in my coffee.

    I have also read that coffee itself is an appetite stimulant, and should be used very moderately by dieters.
  • Hyzaarc
    Hyzaarc Posts: 67 Member
    SPLENDA IS ONLY TWO MOLECULES OFF OF DEATH AND ASPARTAME CAUSES BRAIN HOLES IN LAB RATS.

    ONLY EVER EAT ORGANIC XYLISPENVIATOL OR YOU WILL DISSOLVE INTO A GOOEY PILE OF NECROTIC DENDRITES.

    I KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY COUSIN DATED A SCIENTIST'S DOCTOR AND SHE READ IT ON THE INTERNET ONCE.

    I highly doubt that it'll turn me into a pile of ectoplasm. And not every thing is true on the internet, nor do doctors or scientists know everything.

    Other than that, I use both splenda and equal and they work fine for me since my household is 100% sugar free. The only time I really have them is in diet soda and some baked goods.
  • Levedi
    Levedi Posts: 290 Member
    My doctor told me that a little real sugar is better than artificial sweeteners. She told me that when you eat/drink artificial sweeteners your taste buds get the sweet sensation and send signals to your brain which makes your body expect the sugar and the energy spike that comes with it. When your body doesn't get that, it in turn causes you to crave more sweets...

    Not entirely sure of the validity of this but I cut way back on artificial sweeteners and my craving for sweets has gone down drastically.


    My doctor told me the same thing. Since I also get migraines, I'm trying as an experiment to cut all artificial sweeteners from my diet for a month and see if it makes a difference. So far it's been 20 days and I think it is helping - my cravings for sugary things have been significantly less intense lately, even though I'm pretty stressed right now. (Stress is a major craving trigger for me.) It's not a scientific study, but the changes are enough that I think I'll keep going this way for another month and see how it goes. If it helps, it's worth it.
  • BlueJean4114
    BlueJean4114 Posts: 594 Member
    this reply is to the OP question.

    I have always used some fake sweetener, and i do see enough research this is safe for humans to use, or at least safe enough for someone like me, who is not super purist (yet anyway) lol.
    but
    I will look into this Stevia or some of the others mentioned, though, to see how these taste. dawg, i should have written them down, now i have to go back, ha ha!


    here's why i do not use sugar.
    the reason *I* do not use real sugar, is, it makes me sleepy, drowsy, soon enough after i eat some concentrated sweet..

    for real, i crash after sugar. :yawn: I like my coffee very sweet, and if i put enough sugar in it to get the taste i want, as many cups as i like to drink, boy i'd get sleepy.


    If i can't sleep at night, sometimes i try something sugary, like oatmeal with brown sugar, or cereal,
    and yeap, soon enough, i am sleepy.
    ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    sugar in the morning would ruin *my* day.

    okay, BACK to this other page4 other discussion now, sorry to interrupt.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    Ninerbuff -

    I was joking about the overturned truck. I guess you didn't realize it. I just thought it was interesting how difficult this stuff was to clean up and it seemed a bit funny to me. I was lightening up a bit. Let's just agree to disagree. We'll all eat whatever sugars (artificial or real). For me, I'll always stick to the natural stuff. I think that's the safest bet. I'd rather eat right and limit the real sugars than eat chemical ones. There are too many organic ones out there. It seems like the zero calorie chemical stuff is in everything you drink and appears in foods...etc. Basically, it's just easier to avoid it.

    As for chemicals, I think we do need to explore more nature based environmental chemicals. We have too many plastics in our environment and yes - we do need to look into stuff that's more biodegradable. We still haven't found ways to easily dispose of stuff and creating more landfills and dumping stuff on top of them is not a good long term solution. We can't keep creating stuff that can't go back into the environment. It's just not a good feasible long term solution for trash. By the way, look at the ocean gyres. You're going to be surprised how much of the stuff we create ends up in our oceans.

    http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/marine-debris/the-pacific-garbage-patch.html

    This is why I'm willing to start looking at alternatives to some of our chemical based living. Now here's where the anti-animal faction is going to kill me. I prefer to wear cottons, leathers...animal based stuff because it's cleaner than plastic chemical based clothing. It breaks down better too. There's a reason the scientists get super excited when they find old clothing. It's not that common. :) I just think we all need to lead lives with fewer man made materials.

    Monica
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    Splenda is my one vice. I'm not giving it up. ;-)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    Ninerbuff -

    I was joking about the overturned truck. I guess you didn't realize it. I just thought it was interesting how difficult this stuff was to clean up and it seemed a bit funny to me. I was lightening up a bit. Let's just agree to disagree. We'll all eat whatever sugars (artificial or real). For me, I'll always stick to the natural stuff. I think that's the safest bet. I'd rather eat right and limit the real sugars than eat chemical ones. There are too many organic ones out there. It seems like the zero calorie chemical stuff is in everything you drink and appears in foods...etc. Basically, it's just easier to avoid it.

    As for chemicals, I think we do need to explore more nature based environmental chemicals. We have too many plastics in our environment and yes - we do need to look into stuff that's more biodegradable. We still haven't found ways to easily dispose of stuff and creating more landfills and dumping stuff on top of them is not a good long term solution. We can't keep creating stuff that can't go back into the environment. It's just not a good feasible long term solution for trash. By the way, look at the ocean gyres. You're going to be surprised how much of the stuff we create ends up in our oceans.

    http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/marine-debris/the-pacific-garbage-patch.html

    This is why I'm willing to start looking at alternatives to some of our chemical based living. Now here's where the anti-animal faction is going to kill me. I prefer to wear cottons, leathers...animal based stuff because it's cleaner than plastic chemical based clothing. It breaks down better too. There's a reason the scientists get super excited when they find old clothing. It's not that common. :) I just think we all need to lead lives with fewer man made materials.

    Monica
    I don't disagree with Ocean conservation. I'm willing to live without more chemicals to save them. Plastic bottles....people who drink bottled water need to be more educated about where it really comes from and how soda companies are making a TON of money off our free TAP WATER (little more filtration involved). I have an under the counter filtration system in my home that has saved me lots of money and recycle trash.
    Personally I like eating whole foods and less processed. But at the same time there are processed items which I believe to be safe and fine if taken in moderation with diet soda being one of them.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • MizzTatiana
    MizzTatiana Posts: 116 Member
    you should try STEVIA or TRUVIA........you may have to get use to the taste but i'm convince you will like it
    Keep doing research on the varity of sweeteners. While I agree with this guy that this IS the best on the market, I would also suggest using an organic/RAW/unbleached sugar. Actually there are (minimal at best) several key nutrients in RAW sugar. And it's not addicting like WHITE sugar. PLUS, raw sugar has an AWSOME flavor to it that bleached sugar doesn't so I find I need much less.
  • MizzTatiana
    MizzTatiana Posts: 116 Member
    My doctor told me that a little real sugar is better than artificial sweeteners. She told me that when you eat/drink artificial sweeteners your taste buds get the sweet sensation and send signals to your brain which makes your body expect the sugar and the energy spike that comes with it. When your body doesn't get that, it in turn causes you to crave more sweets...

    Not entirely sure of the validity of this but I cut way back on artificial sweeteners and my craving for sweets has gone down drastically.


    My doctor told me the same thing. Since I also get migraines, I'm trying as an experiment to cut all artificial sweeteners from my diet for a month and see if it makes a difference. So far it's been 20 days and I think it is helping - my cravings for sugary things have been significantly less intense lately, even though I'm pretty stressed right now. (Stress is a major craving trigger for me.) It's not a scientific study, but the changes are enough that I think I'll keep going this way for another month and see how it goes. If it helps, it's worth it.
    Artificial sweeteners in any amount are a KNOWN culprit to headaches and migraines. And because the artificial crap is anything 'diet', the amount actually consumed by the 'dieter' is wayyyy more than you'd think....
  • MizzTatiana
    MizzTatiana Posts: 116 Member
    I have tried to cut anything that was made in a lab from my diet. All this about there have not been any ill effects over the last 30 years - have they not noticed the obesity epidemic!! While I am sure it is not Aspartame alone that has done this but a combination of processed foods etc.

    Don't overdo the sugar either it is all down to calories vs calories out.
    You're correlating obesity with artificial sweeteners as being part of the cause? Please enlighten me on how consuming something with zero calories causes someone to be obese?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    You can't be so possibly undereducated to think that calories alone acounts for a weight problem?! Take a look at the damage the artifical crap does to your body in general... And that in no way leads to a weight problem? I'm not argueing the cycle in which the sweeteners sabatoge a persons efforts, but point is, they do
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    You can't be so possibly undereducated to think that calories alone acounts for a weight problem?!

    Instead of calling someone undereducated, do you think you could point out specifics that you don't agree with? That'd be a better way to engage in discussion, don't you think?
    Take a look at the damage the artifical crap does to your body in general... And that in no way leads to a weight problem?

    Since this discussion is about artificial sweeteners, do you have evidence in the form of research, that indicates that aspartame is harmful at regular human dosages? Are you aware that the components of aspartame (phenylalanine, aspartic acid <
    two amino acids, and methanol) are contained in chicken and bananas, naturally, and at higher doses than a can of soda?

    Do you have examples of people who are eating in a calorie deficit and getting fatter?

    The weight problem is excess calorie consumption. If you want to make a case for people getting fatter for any reason ASIDE FROM excess energy consumption, I'd love to hear it.

    Now there IS validity in discussing whether or not there's a cause to excess energy consumption, but that doesn't change the fact that the excess consumption causes the weight gain.
    I'm not argueing the cycle in which the sweeteners sabatoge a persons efforts, but point is, they do

    Do you have any evidence of this? I sure haven't seen any.

    EDIT: You CAN find some studies showing the effects of artificial sweeteners on gut hormones but when you look at several studies and don't cherry pick, it's inconclusive.
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    id just like to point out the original reason for aspartame was so that diabetics had an option to add sweetness with out cause blood sugar spikes used for the purpose it is meant for it is healthy my insulin dependent mother took it from either the time she was diagnosed as a juvenile diabetic at like 8 shes in her 40s now or it was invented with no probs and diabetics have a nasty habit of craving carbs anyways so its mostly about will power to keep them away from those anyways for those complaining it makes you hungry more often so for some ppl flat out this is safer than sugar be it real or fake and frankly having drunk diet dr pepper for yrs even before i was diagnosed diabetic ive never had a problem with it making me crave sweet or making me hungry
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    I totally agree with you about bottled water. That's the biggest scam ever! Sometimes the bottled water isn't any better than the stuff coming out of your faucet. We've also got a system for under the sink and that's what I use too. It's ironic that past generations used to use glass bottles that were returned washed and reused and now...we keep creating more and more plastic. It's not anywhere as nice as the glass bottles.

    Now that my mind is thinking about glass bottles, I had an interesting memory pop up about soda growing up. I don't know about you, but when I do cheat on soda, there's nothing better than Coke Cola in a glass bottle made from real sugar (not corn syrup). It's just different! It was a totally different experience - the sugar also changed the flavor. I hate corn syrup.
  • BlueMacaroniArt
    BlueMacaroniArt Posts: 122 Member
    SPLENDA IS ONLY TWO MOLECULES OFF OF DEATH AND ASPARTAME CAUSES BRAIN HOLES IN LAB RATS.

    ONLY EVER EAT ORGANIC XYLISPENVIATOL OR YOU WILL DISSOLVE INTO A GOOEY PILE OF NECROTIC DENDRITES.

    I KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY COUSIN DATED A SCIENTIST'S DOCTOR AND SHE READ IT ON THE INTERNET ONCE.

    Hahahahaha
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I have tried to cut anything that was made in a lab from my diet. All this about there have not been any ill effects over the last 30 years - have they not noticed the obesity epidemic!! While I am sure it is not Aspartame alone that has done this but a combination of processed foods etc.

    Don't overdo the sugar either it is all down to calories vs calories out.
    You're correlating obesity with artificial sweeteners as being part of the cause? Please enlighten me on how consuming something with zero calories causes someone to be obese?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    You can't be so possibly undereducated to think that calories alone acounts for a weight problem?! Take a look at the damage the artifical crap does to your body in general... And that in no way leads to a weight problem? I'm not argueing the cycle in which the sweeteners sabatoge a persons efforts, but point is, they do
    tigerpalm.jpg

    As Sidesteal mentioned, aspartame is made from the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine (which happens to be an essential amino,) the methanol is actually a byproduct of metabolizing it, not an ingredient in the product itself. Methanol is also a natural byproduct of metabolizing most fruits, vegetables, and meats, and methanol and formaldehyde are actually exhaled from your body every time you breathe out.

    A 4 oz piece of chicken breast contains the equivalent amount of aspartic acid and phenylalanine (essentially aspartame) as 25 cans of diet soda. If aspartame is really as dangerous as you seem to be convinced it is, then eating chicken is far deadlier than drinking diet soda. If you're going to insult someone and call them "undereducated," you might want to take the time to thoroughly educate yourself first.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    I have tried to cut anything that was made in a lab from my diet. All this about there have not been any ill effects over the last 30 years - have they not noticed the obesity epidemic!! While I am sure it is not Aspartame alone that has done this but a combination of processed foods etc.

    Don't overdo the sugar either it is all down to calories vs calories out.
    You're correlating obesity with artificial sweeteners as being part of the cause? Please enlighten me on how consuming something with zero calories causes someone to be obese?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    You can't be so possibly undereducated to think that calories alone acounts for a weight problem?! Take a look at the damage the artifical crap does to your body in general... And that in no way leads to a weight problem? I'm not argueing the cycle in which the sweeteners sabatoge a persons efforts, but point is, they do
    Actually educated enough to know that for the general population, aspartame is fine to consume and isn't the reason that they would get overweight/obese. Excess calories are the cause and that influx isn't from diet soda. Yes there are articles that CLAIM all these issues with aspartame, but scientific study is having a hard time actually finding solid evidence to back the claims.
    There are reasons as to WHY people overconsume, but most correlate with lifestyle and not ingestion of diet soda.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I have tried to cut anything that was made in a lab from my diet. All this about there have not been any ill effects over the last 30 years - have they not noticed the obesity epidemic!! While I am sure it is not Aspartame alone that has done this but a combination of processed foods etc.

    Don't overdo the sugar either it is all down to calories vs calories out.
    You're correlating obesity with artificial sweeteners as being part of the cause? Please enlighten me on how consuming something with zero calories causes someone to be obese?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    You can't be so possibly undereducated to think that calories alone acounts for a weight problem?! Take a look at the damage the artifical crap does to your body in general... And that in no way leads to a weight problem? I'm not argueing the cycle in which the sweeteners sabatoge a persons efforts, but point is, they do
    tigerpalm.jpg

    As Sidesteal mentioned, aspartame is made from the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine (which happens to be an essential amino,) the methanol is actually a byproduct of metabolizing it, not an ingredient in the product itself. Methanol is also a natural byproduct of metabolizing most fruits, vegetables, and meats, and methanol and formaldehyde are actually exhaled from your body every time you breathe out.

    A 4 oz piece of chicken breast contains the equivalent amount of aspartic acid and phenylalanine (essentially aspartame) as 25 cans of diet soda. If aspartame is really as dangerous as you seem to be convinced it is, then eating chicken is far deadlier than drinking diet soda. If you're going to insult someone and call them "undereducated," you might want to take the time to thoroughly educate yourself first.

    Good stuff Tiger. Thanks for the clarification on methanol. I believe I had misunderstood it as an ingredient and not a byproduct.
  • pikselinka
    pikselinka Posts: 154 Member
    For cooking I use normal sugar, for coffee it's Stevia -> natural and safe, unlike Aspartame ...
  • jlmoses91
    jlmoses91 Posts: 87 Member
    I use "Stevia in the raw" for everything. I buy packets for coffee and tea and I buy in bulk for baking, cooking, etc. I LOVE the stuff. No calories + No Aspartame = a winner to me!

    I agree with this! I use stevia in the raw also, it's a different taste than equal, but still good :)
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    For cooking I use normal sugar, for coffee it's Stevia -> natural and safe, unlike Aspartame ...
    Stevia is made by soaking the plant in methanol. Methanol causes blindness and death in humans in high enough doses. Yeah, totally natural and safe...

    Isn't methanol one of the big "complaints" about aspartame? Stevia is no more or less natural than any other artificial sweetener, it just has a better marketing department.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    http://sweetleaf.com/about/faqs

    Read the section about Sweetleaf and it's processing. They don't use chemicals and it has a safe rating from the FDA. Like any consumer, you have to read what you buy or you could get honey mixed with corn syrup or some other concoction.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Yeah, because the company website is such an unbiased source of information. And for the record, that product has the exact same rating from the FDA as aspartame.

    Also, water is a solvent. They admit they use water, yet claim they use no solvents. Hmm.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/News/News Home/Business News/2012/2/Stevia supplier receives patent for extraction method.aspx?cck=1

    They patented a new process that doesn't use methanol. It's new technology. You just didn't know about it. Unfortunately, that means that the other companies making it are all using the method you mentioned. You are half right and half wrong. Basically, like I said, it's a matter of the consumer knowing what they are buying.