Splenda? Not so sure anymore!

The couple other posts I just put up about Coke, Sugar, and Diet Sodas were found while I was attempting to find information about Splenda. Here's a breakdown that I found on a site that is against Splenda (they make that very clear) HOWEVER, this is also common information that I found on several other sites, including several articles by doctors and nutritionists.

As a Diabetic, I have used Splenda for years. However, in the last 2 months since changing my whole eating lifestyle, I have actually increased by use of Splenda, as I know drink only water or decaf tea--the tea I have been loading up with Splenda. I also use lots on my daily Cheerios, on my sugar-free jelly toast, etc. I have been going through a large bag of Splenda every week!

Anyway, also since changing my eating habits, I have noticed some unpleasant side effects. I have developed "bathroom" issues of "both kinds"--not going and too much going--(to put it nicely in polite company! ), and a rash of blisters on my legs. I attributed the bathroom issues to increased fiber intake but my doc said that should have the opposite effect given the amount of fluids I also take in! She asked about Splenda, and suggested i decrease my use of it.

Determined to find reasons to argue against her advice and hang onto my Splenda, I checked on the 'net--only to find out she might be right!

This stuff is made with chlorine!! Just like you put in a pool!!! :sick:

I have also been having some of the side effects of Splenda I found on the web as well.


SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo....

starting today, I'm decreasing my Splenda intake and see what happens. Maybe I can wean myself off it completely.

---

Some side-effects of Splenda

Observational evidence shows that there are side effects of Splenda, including skin rashes/flushing, panic-like agitation, dizziness and numbness, diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues, and stomach pain.




Is Splenda an all-natural product?

Absolutely not. The finished product contains no elements of natural sugar. It is made in a chemical plant, not in a sugar cane or beet field. Splenda is a highly processed chemical. Despite advertisements stating “Made from Sugar so it Tastes like Sugar”, which attempt to confuse consumers, Splenda is not natural.


What is Splenda made from?

Splenda is the trademarked name for sucralose, an artificial chlorinated sweetener that is formed when the hydroxyl groups in a sugar molecule are replaced with chlorine molecules. Sucralose is manufactured in a chemical plant in Alabama, and then a bulking agent is added to create Splenda. While the FDA has ruled that the chemical compound sucralose is not in itself toxic, there is no question that it is unnatural and is a highly-processed chemical artificial sweetener that depends on the presence of chlorine for its intense sweetness.


What is sucralose (Splenda)?

Sucralose is the final chemical compound created by the addition of chlorine atoms to sucrose molecules through a complex chemical reaction involving a number of highly toxic chemicals. Sucralose is not natural.

How is sucralose different from sucrose?

Sucrose is naturally produced from sugar beets or sugar cane. There is nothing natural or organic about sucralose. It is a chemical compound with a name similar to sucrose that helps to market the product. The similarity in names is extremely confusing to consumers.

Is the chlorine in Splenda any different than the chlorine used in swimming pools?

No. The same atoms of chlorine that are used in products to disinfect swimming pools are also found in Splenda. Those products are labeled as containing chlorine, and Splenda should be labeled as exactly what it is: a chlorinated artificial sweetener. Consumers have a right to know.

Is it safe for me to eat or drink a chlorinated product?

In the case of Splenda, we simply don’t know for certain what long-term consumption of this substance can do to people over their lifetimes. Some health professionals have expressed concern that Splenda may put the health of people who consume it at risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed possible side-effects from consuming Splenda, including enlarged liver and kidneys, decreased white blood cell count, reduced growth rate and decreased fetal body weight. Source: FDA Final Rule on Sucralose

Who makes Splenda?

The pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary business McNeil Nutritionals.

Has Splenda been tested on humans?

The majority of studies conducted by Tate & Lyle were performed on lab animals, such as rats and rabbits, and no long-term tests have been conducted. In fact, much of the testing done to determine the safety of Splenda was conducted by its manufacturer, Tate & Lyle.

Have there been any long-term studies to identify possible side effects from eating Splenda?

No. There have been no long-term tests of Splenda to fully determine potential health effects on humans. We have no idea what the long-term consequences of eating this chlorinated artificial sweetener may be, and it is impossible to say with any certainty that Splenda is safe to eat over an extended period of time.

Why was Splenda approved for use in the U.S. if there are no human studies on its health effects?

The FDA approved Splenda for human consumption even though they acknowledge that it is a chemical compound containing chlorine even though there were no long-term tests conducted to fully determine potential health effects on humans; and despite concerns raised by consumer interest groups.

Is Splenda as safe for me as all natural, real sugar?

Because there have been no long-term studies performed on humans, it is unknown whether Splenda is as safe to use as all natural, real sugar. Sugar has been safely used by humans for more than 2,000 years.

How long has Splenda been available in stores?

Splenda has been on the market since 1998, and Johnson & Johnson has invested what is estimated by some industry experts to be about $40 million per year in advertising to convince consumers that Splenda is similar to sugar. One marketing ethics reporter has characterized Johnson & Johnson’s advertising campaign as “sleight of hand marketing.” No where on Splenda’s packaging is a label informing consumers that it contains chlorine or that it is an artificial sweetener.


Why isn’t chlorine listed as an ingredient on Splenda labels?

Sucralose, which is the basis of Splenda, is listed on all packaging for products that include Splenda. Sucralose is a chlorinated artificial sweetener that results when hydroxyl groups are replaced by chlorine molecules. So while chlorine is not listed, sucralose is, which contains chlorine and is not natural sugar.

Which products contain Splenda?

According to the manufacturers of Splenda, more than 3,500 products in your grocery store contain Splenda.