I quit artificial Sweetener!!!

24

Replies

  • mortuseon
    mortuseon Posts: 579 Member
    Everything you put in your body is a chemical. I've seen no decent evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners are really bad for you. Personally, I'd just keep using them if they help you meet your calorie goals. Only other way around it is to work sugar into your carb macros (edit: and calories, of course).

    Actually i do have proof - eating artificial sweeteners make my benign tumors grow like mad !

    There is a difference between anecdotes from individuals and 'decent evidence'. Also, could be placebo. If they don't work for you, fair enough, don't ingest them, but I'm yet to see evidence (that isn't 'natural' quackery or anecdotal) that they're bad for the general populace.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    The idea that a variety of wildly different chemicals which only share the property of "tasting sweet" all cause the exact same health effect in a person is ludicrous.
  • patsypooter
    patsypooter Posts: 175 Member
    GOOD FOR YOU!

    I really limit my sugar intake but I use local unpasteurized honey as my sweetener now. I use it in my tea or sometimes I will treat myself with honey garlic chicken wings. SO good!

    I used to get chest pains when I was drinking diet pop, googled it one day and found that other people were experiencing it after drinking aspartame. Quit diet pop and have not had the chest pains since!!!
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    well there are many studies out there that say that it does cause weight gain. I am not saying I believe everything but what do I have to lose.


    http://www.newswire.net/newsroom/pr/00079190-obesity-weight-gain-common-factors.html

    http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2014/01/11/new-weight-loss-strategies/


    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/04/saccharin-aspartame-dangers.aspx


    These are just a few of the hundreds of articles out there
    Artficial sweeteners don't cause weight gain. These studies show correlation not causation. Try PEER REVIEWED STUDIES instead, like those from NIH, Journals of Medicine and Science or even University Studies.
    I've been drinking diet Pepsi for oaver 25+ years now and have never dealt with any of the issues that are stated by many of these "studies".

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Exactly. Correlation is not causation.

    Fat person goes to the drive through and orders a 3,000 calorie supersized meal with a diet coke. Is it *really* the artificial sweetener that is causing this person to be fat?
  • Coral_mist
    Coral_mist Posts: 11
    Good on you aspartame has terrible side effects. Decreased vision, headaches, migraine, Epileptic seizures, severe depression, irritability, phobias, severe PMS, hyperactivity in children. multiple sclerosis (MS) chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and birth defects, including mental retardation. In my opinion it is just not worth it. Good old fashion sugar and honey in moderation is better and the body knows how to processes it. Good luck :smile:
  • loconnor466
    loconnor466 Posts: 215 Member
    I also quit diet soda and stopped adding aspartame to my coffee and foods. I personally felt like it was interfering with my taste buds on exactly what naturally sweet food tastes like. I have a wicked sweet tooth, but I felt the fake sugar was making it worse. It took a little while but now my fruit tastes sweeter and I use honey, coconut sugar, agave now. I try to stay away from refined sugar and flour too. I think it triggers cravings in me.
    Again, I limit it, but it is not completely out of my diet. As someone else said, if you feel better, and it works for you, great! For those that can drink a bunch of diet soda and still lose weight, great! This is all about finding our individual paths to a healthier lifestyle.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
  • MegaMolly
    MegaMolly Posts: 5 Member
    I've just bought some Stevia sweeteners. Isn't Stevia supposedly better than anything with aspartame in it? (Haven't tried them yet as I've just got back from shopping)
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I've just bought some Stevia sweeteners. Isn't Stevia supposedly better than anything with aspartame in it? (Haven't tried them yet as I've just got back from shopping)

    Better? No. Stevia tastes like crap.
  • biankavarner
    biankavarner Posts: 26 Member
    The thing about artificial sweeteners is that they don't make a person gain weight by itself, but it contributes to cravings rather then helping them. It does something along the lines of tricking the body into feeling like it's getting sugar but then it realized it's not so it's like WTF I want sugar now!....and no this isn't a quote from a study but what I've heard it a few times from random doctors and such, so don't ask for facts, just going by what I've heard.

    But they have no affect on making a person gain or lose weight. how they make you feel is different. Some people handle foods better and some don't. If it makes you feel yucky then don't use it.

    As for what to put in coffee and oatmeal, try honey or agave syrup (doesn't spike insulin levels like sugar does). Or Just use sugar. Honestly, a few teaspoons a day isn't going to kill your diet. And at least you'll be getting what you want and not the fake stuff.

    I don't use them because I can't stand the after taste of artificial sweeteners. I'd rather use real sugar but less of it.

    Thanks!! I tried Honey in my oatmeal this morning and I like it.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    1. Everything is a chemical. Even sugar.
    2. Stevia is made from a plant, so I don't see how you can define it as artificial.
    3. Just use real sugar. Or no sweetener at all.
    4. If anyone suggests honey or agave as being a sugar replacement - they are both loaded with sugar (just being preemtive).
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Actually artificial sweetener is the reason why I have not been able to lose weight even when I eat right. Then I seen this article on how it actually causes people to gain weight. Also since I stopped using it I feel more energized and better overall. It has only been a week and since I only weigh myself every two weeks I don't know how it is affecting me on the scale.

    I do add the sugar to my daily count though

    Artificial sweeteners do not cause weight gain, nor are they the cause of not losing weight.

    Calorie surplus=weight gain
    Calorie deficit=weight loss


    well there are many studies out there that say that it does cause weight gain. I am not saying I believe everything but what do I have to lose.


    http://www.newswire.net/newsroom/pr/00079190-obesity-weight-gain-common-factors.html

    http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2014/01/11/new-weight-loss-strategies/


    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/04/saccharin-aspartame-dangers.aspx


    These are just a few of the hundreds of articles out there

    Those are not studies, those are people's opinions. There are no studies that link artificial sweeteners to weight gain.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    I should have also mentioned that I changed nothing else in my diet other then take the sweetener out and using sugar for my coffee and cereal instead. I eat a 1200 cal non processed food diet a day and have not been able to lose infact I have gained weight

    Do you weigh your food? If you are gaining on 1200 a day, you are eating more than you think. If you would like to open your diary maybe we can help.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    The thing about artificial sweeteners is that they don't make a person gain weight by itself, but it contributes to cravings rather then helping them. It does something along the lines of tricking the body into feeling like it's getting sugar but then it realized it's not so it's like WTF I want sugar now!....and no this isn't a quote from a study but what I've heard it a few times from random doctors and such, so don't ask for facts, just going by what I've heard.

    But they have no affect on making a person gain or lose weight. how they make you feel is different. Some people handle foods better and some don't. If it makes you feel yucky then don't use it.

    As for what to put in coffee and oatmeal, try honey or agave syrup (doesn't spike insulin levels like sugar does). Or Just use sugar. Honestly, a few teaspoons a day isn't going to kill your diet. And at least you'll be getting what you want and not the fake stuff.

    I don't use them because I can't stand the after taste of artificial sweeteners. I'd rather use real sugar but less of it.
    This is false. For one thing, aspartame is protein, and the body immediately recognizes it as protein and digests it as protein. It's not fooled into thinking it's sugar instead of protein.

    Also, honey and agave are pretty much pure glucose, they will spike insulin way faster than table sugar.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Good on you aspartame has terrible side effects. Decreased vision, headaches, migraine, Epileptic seizures, severe depression, irritability, phobias, severe PMS, hyperactivity in children. multiple sclerosis (MS) chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and birth defects, including mental retardation. In my opinion it is just not worth it. Good old fashion sugar and honey in moderation is better and the body knows how to processes it. Good luck :smile:
    Completely false, none of those side effects are real. Also, the body knows how to process aspartame just fine, it's a simple protein chain that the body digests all the time, any time you eat meat, or beans, or bread, or milk, or anything else that contains protein.
  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    Back to the original question-I like some raisins in my oatmeal. They add some sweetness and some iron. My mom always made it this way. Of course you track the raisins.
  • Tffanie4712
    Tffanie4712 Posts: 115
    I use to use splenda a whole lot. Im talking about everything I ate including fruit.I guess people don't realize when they are drinking diet pops and eating sugar free stuff they are still using artificials sweetners including sugar free gum.I learn to eat the foods the way it comes no ADDED sugar and no ADDED salt. Once you get adjusted to eating that way then you won't have to worry about sweetners. My opinion I really don't think it's bad for you, but that's my opinion.
  • Nachise
    Nachise Posts: 395 Member
    Congratulations! The only time I ever used artificial sweeteners was when I drank a diet soda. I quit those over a decade ago. Once I quit, I realized that I am a "taster". Artificial sweeteners really bother me, and I can't tolerate them in any food or drink product. The taste nearly gags me, and leaves a bitter aftertaste in the back of my mouth. I use sugar or honey for sweetener.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Good on you aspartame has terrible side effects. Decreased vision, headaches, migraine, Epileptic seizures, severe depression, irritability, phobias, severe PMS, hyperactivity in children. multiple sclerosis (MS) chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and birth defects, including mental retardation. In my opinion it is just not worth it. Good old fashion sugar and honey in moderation is better and the body knows how to processes it. Good luck :smile:
    Completely false, none of those side effects are real. Also, the body knows how to process aspartame just fine, it's a simple protein chain that the body digests all the time, any time you eat meat, or beans, or bread, or milk, or anything else that contains protein.

    Well no. Aspartame is not a protein. It's a pair of amino acids, but they're joined by an ester bond. Proteins are amino acids joined by peptide bonds. So it's a methyl ester. Not the same thing. It's is digested through a completely different process.
  • mlima14
    mlima14 Posts: 112 Member
    I'm unfortunately one of those people who actually have an allergic reaction to artificial sweeteners, I discovered this when a Nutritionist gave a diet plan to use foods with them to lower my calorie intake, I started to feel like I had sand in my throat and it progressed to a swollen tongue and difficulty in swallowing (now that was kind of scary!). It wasn't a food allergy like some people tried to make me believe, as the thing that I actually ate different in my diet was the sugar replacement. What I've done is tried to substitute sugar with honey and if I must use sugar I use dark brown sugar as it has the same amount of calories as white sugar but I find that with less it sweetens more. There also my coffee which I've been sloooowly weening myself of on the sugar by adding a little bit less each time. I also make an oatmeal without sugar, that I found in a magazine, which I enjoy, the recipe is:

    This serves 2

    1 medium banana, mashed
    1/2 cup rolled oats
    1 cup skim milk
    1 tbsp wheat germ
    1 tbsp ground flax seed
    1 tbsp walnuts, crushed

    1) Combine the banana, oats and milk.
    Microwave on high for 3 min, stirring each minute.
    2) After cooking, stir in remaining ingredients and stir

    Calories 230, Total fat 6g, Sodium 65 mg, Total Carbs 36 g, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 14 g, Protein 10 g, Iron 1 mg
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I'm unfortunately one of those people who actually have an allergic reaction to artificial sweeteners, I discovered this when a Nutritionist gave a diet plan to use foods with them to lower my calorie intake, I started to feel like I had sand in my throat and it progressed to a swollen tongue and difficulty in swallowing (now that was kind of scary!). It wasn't a food allergy like some people tried to make me believe, as the thing that I actually ate different in my diet was the sugar replacement. What I've done is tried to substitute sugar with honey and if I must use sugar I use dark brown sugar as it has the same amount of calories as white sugar but I find that with less it sweetens more. There also my coffee which I've been sloooowly weening myself of on the sugar by adding a little bit less each time. I also make an oatmeal without sugar, that I found in a magazine, which I enjoy, the recipe is:

    This serves 2

    1 medium banana, mashed
    1/2 cup rolled oats
    1 cup skim milk
    1 tbsp wheat germ
    1 tbsp ground flax seed
    1 tbsp walnuts, crushed

    1) Combine the banana, oats and milk.
    Microwave on high for 3 min, stirring each minute.
    2) After cooking, stir in remaining ingredients and stir

    Calories 230, Total fat 6g, Sodium 65 mg, Total Carbs 36 g, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 14 g, Protein 10 g, Iron 1 mg

    Allergic to which of them?
  • healthnewlife
    healthnewlife Posts: 30
    stevia
  • Brige2269
    Brige2269 Posts: 354 Member
    I stopped using all artificial sweeteners about 5 years ago. I feel they are not good for me. I looked into many different things and read many labels. I just decided to go with the least refined natural sugar. I use raw sugar. It took a bit to get use to, maybe about 2 weeks, but now I don't notice a difference anymore. I use it in my coffee and oatmeal. Good luck and give it some time.
  • mlima14
    mlima14 Posts: 112 Member
    I'v actually tried Splenda, Same, Equal and I get the same reaction so I think there might be something in common between them not sure of the chemical make up, but I tried Stevia and just felt nauseas afterwards. So for me only the real stuff.

    Oh by the way also Truvia which is in the Bryer's yogurt found it was used in it by accident as my tongue got swollen after I ate it, now I check EVERY ingredient on the labels just to make sure.
  • Ries2013
    Ries2013 Posts: 14
    The thing about artificial sweeteners is that they don't make a person gain weight by itself, but it contributes to cravings rather then helping them. It does something along the lines of tricking the body into feeling like it's getting sugar but then it realized it's not so it's like WTF I want sugar now!....and no this isn't a quote from a study but what I've heard it a few times from random doctors and such, so don't ask for facts, just going by what I've heard.

    But they have no affect on making a person gain or lose weight. how they make you feel is different. Some people handle foods better and some don't. If it makes you feel yucky then don't use it.

    As for what to put in coffee and oatmeal, try honey or agave syrup (doesn't spike insulin levels like sugar does). Or Just use sugar. Honestly, a few teaspoons a day isn't going to kill your diet. And at least you'll be getting what you want and not the fake stuff.

    I don't use them because I can't stand the after taste of artificial sweeteners. I'd rather use real sugar but less of it.

    Not true. Through you'll read this "theory" on a lot of quack health and nutrition websites.

    Here you go:
    Sucralose affects glycemic and hormonal responses to an oral glucose load.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23633524

    and a whole list of them:
    http://www.mpwhi.com/peer_reviewed_research.htm
  • Loves418
    Loves418 Posts: 330 Member
    I use truvia: I don't crave more sweets: I drink maybe 2-3 cans of coke zero/ or diet coke a week. I am aiming to drink none this week/month but not because of the sweetners but because my reflux is acting up :grumble:
    I lost 45 pounds so far. Why have I not been losing lately..nothing to do with the truvia or the soda..the cold hard truth is not pushing hard enough to get my workouts in and poor food choice..last but never least..well yes maybe least..I ALWAYS put my needs last in this family..
    .I don't believe a word Dr.Oz says anymore if you watch him daily and took his advice you would be taking over 100 supplements and heaven knows what else. Diet soda does not stop you from losing weight! Lack of exercise and bad food choices do.
    Now someone have a coke zero for me :drinker:
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    I quit using artificial sweetener which I used for everything! I mean everything....coffee, cereal, baking etc... I quit drinking diet Pop but I can't and don't want to give up my coffee. I cannot drink it without sugar. I also sweeten my oatmeal to make it taste better. Has anyone gone through a similar change and how did they replace the sweetener? I looked at Stevia but I find that I am just replacing one chemical with another...

    Any ideas?
    Stevia! Not the Reb-A garbage in the grocery aisle.
    Get the real extract. Currently I buy it at Trader Joe's.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    The thing about artificial sweeteners is that they don't make a person gain weight by itself, but it contributes to cravings rather then helping them. It does something along the lines of tricking the body into feeling like it's getting sugar but then it realized it's not so it's like WTF I want sugar now!....and no this isn't a quote from a study but what I've heard it a few times from random doctors and such, so don't ask for facts, just going by what I've heard.

    But they have no affect on making a person gain or lose weight. how they make you feel is different. Some people handle foods better and some don't. If it makes you feel yucky then don't use it.

    As for what to put in coffee and oatmeal, try honey or agave syrup (doesn't spike insulin levels like sugar does). Or Just use sugar. Honestly, a few teaspoons a day isn't going to kill your diet. And at least you'll be getting what you want and not the fake stuff.

    I don't use them because I can't stand the after taste of artificial sweeteners. I'd rather use real sugar but less of it.

    Not true. Through you'll read this "theory" on a lot of quack health and nutrition websites.

    Here you go:
    Sucralose affects glycemic and hormonal responses to an oral glucose load.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23633524

    and a whole list of them:
    http://www.mpwhi.com/peer_reviewed_research.htm
    Sucralose IS sugar. Of course it will have a glycemic effect.

    As for the second link, the fact that they posted a bunch of abstracts, and not the actual studies, is very telling.
  • suchastruggle
    suchastruggle Posts: 55 Member
    Good for you for eliminating unneeded chemicals from your diet! I have personally learned to drink my coffee black, but if you can't take it that way, just add a teaspoon of sugar and log it in. Stevia comes from a plant so it's not a chemical; now depending on the brand, I suppose they can add whatever they want to it which might make it not so. . . Also, all brands of coffee are not created equal. If I have a good flavored coffee, I don't need to add anything to it.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I stopped having sweetener/sugar in coffee years ago, and now I can't stand coffee with anything sweet in it (although I do like a vanilla cappuccino sometimes!).

    I put a bit of golden syrup in porridge (oatmeal). It doesn't have that many calories in it, and I'd rather have that than artificial sweeteners.

    I rarely drink fizzy drinks, maybe once every 3 months, so if I do I'll just have the full fat version.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I'v actually tried Splenda, Same, Equal and I get the same reaction so I think there might be something in common between them not sure of the chemical make up, but I tried Stevia and just felt nauseas afterwards. So for me only the real stuff.

    Oh by the way also Truvia which is in the Bryer's yogurt found it was used in it by accident as my tongue got swollen after I ate it, now I check EVERY ingredient on the labels just to make sure.

    If you get the same reaction from all those, it's 100% in your head. The chemicals are wildly different.

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