Artificial sweeteners

My line on it is simple: If it came from an actual plant, eat it. If it was made by some guy WORKING in a plant, don't eat it.

So how does the "simple" line work when you process stevia leaf from a plant in a process plant to make stevia extract ?

Everything that humans touch is evil, and the more human handling that is involved in processing a product, the more evil the product becomes because it absorbs our human evil in the process. But our evil can be ameliorated by reducing the number of products that have been extensively handled by humans ... thus, we are engaged in a moral struggle with ourselves; it's not just about food. The world would be a much better place without us in it, since we are the fount of everything unnatural and corrupt. Since Stevia is processed by humans, it's evil to a degree, but not as evil as something which has been created solely in a lab. Hope that clears things up.

I believe this kind of back-to-nature eco-theology system has much in common with 2,000 year old Gnostic theology: the universe is an abortion created by an evil and crazy emanation of the true God, named the Demiurge. Our task (according to the Gnostics) is to escape this distorted creation and return the divine sparks within us to the realm of pure spirit. Eco-theology has basically replaced the Demiurge with ourselves: the world is tainted because we're mad creators usurping the true God, and the best thing we can do is rid it of ourselves.

Written as I sip my tea sweetened with Nectresse ...

I've been using Equal in my coffee for 20+ years. Been drinking Diet Coke for longer. I don't have cancer. My kids weren't born with 3 heads. It's not evil. Unless you have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners, like some people do, there's nothing wrong with them. It's just a matter of personal taste.

I've been using Equal in my coffee for 20+ years. Been drinking Diet Coke for longer. I don't have cancer. My kids weren't born with 3 heads. It's not evil. Unless you have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners, like some people do, there's nothing wrong with them. It's just a matter of personal taste.

This is true. However, even stopping diet soda and you will notice a hell of a weight difference. "DIET" does not mean healthier or better calories.

Keep in mind that you should try a little bit of any artificial sweetener, before using it in large amounts, to make sure you won't react. After making muffins one day with Truvia, I found out the hard way that I'm allergic to stevia.

Absolutely terrible. They are made in a lab. Anything that is not natural or sounds like a chemistry experiment will never be easily digestible.

Stick to honey or stevia to sweeten.

Fiber isn't easily digestible ... That's the whole point of including it in your diet ... And it isn't made in a lab.

I also wasn't aware that what something sounds like was related to its digestibility, toxicity, or anything else. As has been repeated ad nauseum in these forums, a lot of "natural" things are very bad for you ... And a lot of things made in a lab are perfectly innocuous.

Ah, the natural fallacy... Processing is bad! Unless it's fermentation of alcohol, or the processing involved in making stevia extract, or processing to make tofu or soy milk, or the processing known as cooking, or canning or smoothie-making... SELECTIVE natural fallacy.

I've been using Equal in my coffee for 20+ years. Been drinking Diet Coke for longer. I don't have cancer. My kids weren't born with 3 heads. It's not evil. Unless you have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners, like some people do, there's nothing wrong with them. It's just a matter of personal taste.

This is true. However, even stopping diet soda and you will notice a hell of a weight difference. "DIET" does not mean healthier or better calories.

Not drinking diet pop will not make someone lose weight. Diet means lower calories or fat than their regular counterpart. Diet pop has 0 calories and therefore won't change your weight.

http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/catalog/sectionpagecontainer.jsp?skuId=910000523895&departmentid=1214921923813&aisleid=1214921925099&startValue=''

You get it is Asda, its not banned in the UK

Absolutely terrible. They are made in a lab. Anything that is not natural or sounds like a chemistry experiment will never be easily digestible.

Stick to honey or stevia to sweeten.

Natural doesn't mean healthy. Natural can be harmful as well.

Something made in a factory or lab can be good for you... they can be lifesaving.

There is no real answer. Everyone needs to use what works best for their calorie budget, their budget and their body.

I'd like to get anyone who embraces all things natural to be denied anything unnatural should they ever end up in hospital...

I understand how everyone wants to eat natural things thinking they are good for you... which in most cases they are however I hate when someone says they will not consume anything that is not natural. So would they not use Advil, Tylenol, flu medicine, vitamins, and other various medications? Would they not allow a doctor to give them lifesaving medications? Do they not use shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, lotions, etc when those are made in a factory and full of chemicals which get absorbed through your skin when used?

You cannot cut out everything factory or lab made and keep perfect health.

I dislike the taste of artificial sweeteners for the most part. Honestly, just use the real thing if it's just a little sugar in your coffee. The calories don't add up to be all that much.

Yuck yuck YUCK!

I personally can not stand the taste of artificial sweeteners. They don't taste like sugar at all and they just leave a nasty aftertaste.

If I had to choose between real sugar and fake crap I'd go real all day long. Sugar in the raw if it was available.