Someone please help me understand why aspartame or Splenda is somehow bad for me?
Replies
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i try not to eat a lot of artificial sugars, BUT, I love my diet dr pepper. I feel guilty when I drink it, but I'm not willing to give it up lol. I don't drink regular pop because it's too many calories and sugar. I don't like to drink my calories. Makes me feel better that maybe aspartame isn't that bad.0
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Idk because it makes the feel good to think they're nutritionally elite? It's annoying af.1
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No. Making uneducated guesses here without actual evidence is just an opinion.angelexperiment wrote: »Artificial is just that artificial. The body doesn't recognize them and can cause actual weight gain, like most diet products.
HOW one researches matters. Many just "google" and go off articles and non peer reviewed clinical information. Not the way to research.If you are concerned research and learn. Do it for you not bc of your friends.
That would be PKU not PKD and if we avoided anything "linked" to cancer, migraines and weight gain, it would likely be everything.I found stevia in the raw works for me. Aspartame I cannot consume bc it's causes me upset stomach and it's been linked to cause cancer, migraine, weight gain etc. and some studies show a link between its affect on autoimmune disease. Should not be consumed by individuals with pkd (containing phenylalanine) who have tardive dyskinisia or schizophrenia as it can affect medicine for it and make effects worse.
No one can really get pushed into something they don't want to do. But it is IMPORTANT to give actual correct information for people to make an informed decision.It's really up to you to make the call what's right for you not anyone else and make an informed decision what you wish to put in your body. I choose not to use artificial sweeteners but I don't push that onto anyone else if they want to know they ask. And that's that. Blessings on your journey
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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There was a girl I used to work with who always made a comment about my Splenda and Wendy's chilli habit. She'd sit at her desk and sip a green concoction deemed healthy by her. In 2 years I never saw her lose a lb and she was probably about 300lbs. I bet she was no doubt one of those "at least I'm healthy" girls. Martyring their physical appearance in the name of health lol2
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Aspartame has been subject to more scare stories than any other sweetener, ranging from allergies and premature births to liver damage and cancer.
It is low calorie and up to 200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame is used all over the world as a sugar substitute in thousands of foods and drinks, including cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, low-calorie (diet) soft drinks and table-top sweeteners.
Aspartame has been extremely controversial since its approval for use by several European countries in the 1980s. A 1996 report suggested a link between aspartame and an increase in the number of diagnosed brain tumours. However, the study had very little scientific basis and later studies showed that aspartame was in fact safe to consume.
The European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences published several long-term studies in 2006 and 2007 linking the consumption of aspartame with an increase in cancers – namely lymphomas and leukaemias – in rats.
Following these studies, the US National Cancer Institute conducted a study of nearly half a million people, comparing those who consumed drinks containing aspartame with those who did not. Results of the 2006 study (PDF, 87kb) found aspartame did not increase the risk of leukaemia, lymphoma or brain cancer.
In 2013 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a comprehensive review of the evidence (PDF, 2.25Mb) and concluded that aspartame was safe for human consumption, including pregnant women and children.
In digestion, aspartame is quickly and completely broken down into by-products – including phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol – which then enter our system through normal routes. Hardly any aspartame enters the bloodstream.
However, the EFSA said the acceptable daily intake recommendations did not apply to people with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder where the body cannot break down phenylalanine. People with this condition need to closely monitor their phenylalanine intake.
The EFSA report stated that, "PKU mothers with poorly controlled phenylalanine intake in their diet during pregnancy may give birth to babies with congenital heart diseases, microcephalus and impaired neurological function."
It is worth noting that phenylalanine occurs naturally in many protein-rich foods, such as milk, eggs and meat. Table-top sweeteners containing aspartame or aspartame-acesulfame K must be marked with "contains a source of phenylalanine".
Acceptable daily intake: 40mg per kg of body weight
Plagiarism is not cool.
Please post the source:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/the-truth-about-aspartame.aspx5 -
Lol, there are lots of them. It's amusing to watch people's faces when they hear how I actually eat, then have them try to explain to me why it's "unhealthy". Yesterday for dinner I had a calorie bomb with 2 Chik Fil A sandwiches, fries and a large chocolate shake. I went over my calories by 1200. Burned some of it off dancing at a concert last night (MORRIS DAY and THE TIME), but not a "healthy" meal in many eyes whatsoever.There was a girl I used to work with who always made a comment about my Splenda and Wendy's chilli habit. She'd sit at her desk and sip a green concoction deemed healthy by her. In 2 years I never saw her lose a lb and she was probably about 300lbs. I bet she was no doubt one of those "at least I'm healthy" girls. Martyring their physical appearance in the name of health lol
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
2 -
Lol, there are lots of them. It's amusing to watch people's faces when they hear how I actually eat, then have them try to explain to me why it's "unhealthy". Yesterday for dinner I had a calorie bomb with 2 Chik Fil A sandwiches, fries and a large chocolate shake. I went over my calories by 1200. Burned some of it off dancing at a concert last night (MORRIS DAY and THE TIME), but not a "healthy" meal in many eyes whatsoever.There was a girl I used to work with who always made a comment about my Splenda and Wendy's chilli habit. She'd sit at her desk and sip a green concoction deemed healthy by her. In 2 years I never saw her lose a lb and she was probably about 300lbs. I bet she was no doubt one of those "at least I'm healthy" girls. Martyring their physical appearance in the name of health lol
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
> drinks half her days calories in a smoothie but hey, it's green so lol
Smh
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Lol, there are lots of them. It's amusing to watch people's faces when they hear how I actually eat, then have them try to explain to me why it's "unhealthy". Yesterday for dinner I had a calorie bomb with 2 Chik Fil A sandwiches, fries and a large chocolate shake. I went over my calories by 1200. Burned some of it off dancing at a concert last night (MORRIS DAY and THE TIME), but not a "healthy" meal in many eyes whatsoever.There was a girl I used to work with who always made a comment about my Splenda and Wendy's chilli habit. She'd sit at her desk and sip a green concoction deemed healthy by her. In 2 years I never saw her lose a lb and she was probably about 300lbs. I bet she was no doubt one of those "at least I'm healthy" girls. Martyring their physical appearance in the name of health lol
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
> drinks half her days calories in a smoothie but hey, it's green so lol
Smh
Shaming her is no different from her shaming you. Just sayin'!1 -
I learned in a weight loss class sponsored by the Veterans Admin. ("MOVE" program) that artificial sweeteners increase or trigger your want to eat! It is true in my case doing a little test of my own.
I was surprised.
Rob1 -
robertengelhart wrote: »I learned in a weight loss class sponsored by the Veterans Admin. ("MOVE" program) that artificial sweeteners increase or trigger your want to eat! It is true in my case doing a little test of my own.
I was surprised.
Rob
No.
But it may be the placebo effect- they suggested it so you expected it to happen.4 -
ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »
Lol, there are lots of them. It's amusing to watch people's faces when they hear how I actually eat, then have them try to explain to me why it's "unhealthy". Yesterday for dinner I had a calorie bomb with 2 Chik Fil A sandwiches, fries and a large chocolate shake. I went over my calories by 1200. Burned some of it off dancing at a concert last night (MORRIS DAY and THE TIME), but not a "healthy" meal in many eyes whatsoever.There was a girl I used to work with who always made a comment about my Splenda and Wendy's chilli habit. She'd sit at her desk and sip a green concoction deemed healthy by her. In 2 years I never saw her lose a lb and she was probably about 300lbs. I bet she was no doubt one of those "at least I'm healthy" girls. Martyring their physical appearance in the name of health lol
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
> drinks half her days calories in a smoothie but hey, it's green so lol
Smh
Shaming her is no different from her shaming you. Just sayin'!
You're right but I'm sure she doesn't know I'm talking about her on a message board years later while she did it to my face sipping on green juice thinking she was being healthy. Ironic that she stayed fat and I actually got healthy lol
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robertengelhart wrote: »I learned in a weight loss class sponsored by the Veterans Admin. ("MOVE" program) that artificial sweeteners increase or trigger your want to eat! It is true in my case doing a little test of my own.
I was surprised.
Rob
They've never triggered my desire to eat.
Actually, I find they really help!1 -
ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »
Lol, there are lots of them. It's amusing to watch people's faces when they hear how I actually eat, then have them try to explain to me why it's "unhealthy". Yesterday for dinner I had a calorie bomb with 2 Chik Fil A sandwiches, fries and a large chocolate shake. I went over my calories by 1200. Burned some of it off dancing at a concert last night (MORRIS DAY and THE TIME), but not a "healthy" meal in many eyes whatsoever.There was a girl I used to work with who always made a comment about my Splenda and Wendy's chilli habit. She'd sit at her desk and sip a green concoction deemed healthy by her. In 2 years I never saw her lose a lb and she was probably about 300lbs. I bet she was no doubt one of those "at least I'm healthy" girls. Martyring their physical appearance in the name of health lol
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
> drinks half her days calories in a smoothie but hey, it's green so lol
Smh
Shaming her is no different from her shaming you. Just sayin'!
You're right but I'm sure she doesn't know I'm talking about her on a message board years later while she did it to my face sipping on green juice thinking she was being healthy. Ironic that she stayed fat and I actually got healthy lol
I never buy into that whole "healthy at every size" idea.
And you know, one day you just may see her around here because maybe she is now diabetic and has varying other physical problems because her obesity and finally sees the light!1 -
cerise_noir wrote: »robertengelhart wrote: »I learned in a weight loss class sponsored by the Veterans Admin. ("MOVE" program) that artificial sweeteners increase or trigger your want to eat! It is true in my case doing a little test of my own.
I was surprised.
Rob
They've never triggered my desire to eat.
Actually, I find they really help!
When I started drinking diet soda my cravings for sweets actually decreased and my appetite decreased also. I think it really is a placebo effect.1 -
Lol, the smell of food alone triggers me. I just learned how to control HOW MUCH I eat.robertengelhart wrote: »I learned in a weight loss class sponsored by the Veterans Admin. ("MOVE" program) that artificial sweeteners increase or trigger your want to eat! It is true in my case doing a little test of my own.
I was surprised.
Rob
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
1 -
robertengelhart wrote: »I learned in a weight loss class sponsored by the Veterans Admin. ("MOVE" program) that artificial sweeteners increase or trigger your want to eat! It is true in my case doing a little test of my own.
I was surprised.
Rob
In my case, the want to eat (especially sweets, but really anything) can be combatted with a diet soda. It's one of those "try and see" things, but expecting a certain outcome can skew the result of your experiment1 -
dudebro200 wrote: »angelexperiment wrote: »Artificial is just that artificial. The body doesn't recognize them and can cause actual weight gain, like most diet products. If you are concerned research and learn. Do it for you not bc of your friends. I found stevia in the raw works for me. Aspartame I cannot consume bc it's causes me upset stomach and it's been linked to cause cancer, migraine, weight gain etc. and some studies show a link between its affect on autoimmune disease. Should not be consumed by individuals with pkd (containing phenylalanine) who have tardive dyskinisia or schizophrenia as it can affect medicine for it and make effects worse.
It's really up to you to make the call what's right for you not anyone else and make an informed decision what you wish to put in your body. I choose not to use artificial sweeteners but I don't push that onto anyone else if they want to know they ask. And that's that. Blessings on your journey
This response is exactly what I was talking about as the OP. Where can research and learn without being subjected to unverified claims ?
Separate the facts from the fearmongering. Here's a link to a 93-page PDF file, which contains numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies specifically and thoroughly addressing the safety of aspartame: http://seriecientifica.org/sites/default/files/scl_enc_butchko.pdf
From the introduction portion of the document:The conclusion of this up-to-date review is in agreement with that of international regulatory agencies and
expert committees: the weight of scientific evidence is clear that aspartame is safe for its intended use. The one
exception is patients with the rare genetic disease, phenylketonuria, which is diagnosed at birth in the United
States, Canada, Europe, and some other countries. These individuals are treated with low phenylalanine diets
for a period of years, and while on this diet, they are required to monitor their phenylalanine intake from all
dietary sources, including aspartame.
After 30 plus years of rigorous scientific research, it is time to put questions of aspartame safety to rest. It
is difficult to identify any dietary constituent that has been more thoroughly evaluated than aspartame. The
breadth and depth of scientific data available on aspartame and reviewed here are unlikely to exist for any other
food additive. The continuing debate over such a “nonissue” only serves to divert attention and the allocation of
resources from more important health issues that need to be addressed.0
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