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flamaze13
POSTED: Tue, 09/22/2009 - 11:26pm
Splenda
I know that we shouldn't be eating artificial sweeteners, but I actually like Splenda... this makes it really hard to quit or even limit because I know that it's not really contributing to how much I weigh. What do you think - cut down on using the 50%, or just let it go? I've noticed you build up a sugar immunity after using it. It takes a lot more to make things taste even a little sweet. Anybody else relate?MIREILLE'S CALENDAR
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Musique
POSTED: Thu, 03/31/2011 - 3:41am
Other natural sweetners
You're all on the right track that Splenda and other artificial sweetners are not a good idea. Not only is it bad, addictive, etc... They can also cause so pretty bad reactions. My brother had a horrible time for several months when a reaction left his throat him unable to sing (it's his job). He was scheduling appointments to have vocal chord surgery...Until one morning he noticed his throat flared up after his first sip of coffee (which he had started adding Splena to a few months previously). He went off Splenda and his voice came back within a week.So I wanted to give you a couple of other possibilities other than straight sugar. First of all, raw sugar (usually a light brown color) is a better alternative than white (refined) sugar. It's also better quality when it's pure cane sugar as compared to sugar from beets (on the package if they don't say it's cane, it's probably from beets).
There is also fructose, which you can find at health food stores. It has a higher sugaring power, so you can use half of what the recipe calls for. If you do some quick internet research, you will see that some people say it's bad for you, but all the things they say about it are also true of normal sugar. Just don't use tons of sugar in your diet, no matter what kind.
There is also agave syrup. This is a great alternative to honey or maple syrup, and goes great to add a touch of sweetness to your yogurt or breakfast creations (I haven't tried it in MBC but I'm sure it would be great). It has a high sugaring power too, so less is more.
The great thing about fructose and agave syrup is that they don't make your pancreas produce insulin, which is what causes you to store fat. So that slice of cheese passes without being noticed!
Vintage1944
POSTED: Thu, 03/31/2011 - 7:53am
OMG
If what happened to your brother isn't a wake up call to people who use artificial sweetners to stop instantly,nothing is.Thank heavens he found out before surgery.It is addictive .I am still stuggling to permanently stop diet sodas.Agave is very good and I do use it. OXO Jeanblondetaz
POSTED: Fri, 04/01/2011 - 10:37am
Truvia
Cargill has come out with a sweetener named Truvia...a form of stevia. And I love it! It doesn't have the after taste that other forms of stevia have. So, you might want to give it a try. I've heard that it's been approved to put in sodas, and it's natural. Hallelujah!sammijean06
POSTED: Thu, 04/08/2010 - 4:43pm
Splenda + other toxins...
I know this a little late in response, but I just wanted to give you a little inside detail on the stuff that we are putting into our bodies (and really, it's unavoidable since this stuff is in everything - just try to make a habit of not adding to your consumption by putting these toxins into food yourself.) I did a little research for my dad (47, average weight/height for a male) because after his workouts he would feel worn out/exhausted with headaches and body pain. This is the information I found out and the exact information I sent him...Saccharin: (Sweet'N Low) is approximately 200-700 times sweeter than table sugar, so less is more. It's found in jams, canned fruits, dessert toppings, etc. In the late 1970's, research was done on this product - testing the effects on rats, the results turned out to give bladder tumors to the rats. The FDA didn't want to give up using this product that they talked so highly about and spend billions of dollars on advertisement, so instead they just printed a warning "Use of this product may be hazardous to your health." And all was well. In the early 1990's, without further testing on this, they realized that because the rats were so small and consuming the same amount of saccharin as a human being, that this was the cause of the cancerous tumors, and they brought it back into the market - issuing an acceptable daily intake (ADI) and removing the warning label.
Aspartame: (Equal + NutraSweet) is approximately 160-220 times sweeter than table sugar and can be found in more than 6,000 foods produced. (I just looked at my crystal light drink packet, and it's in there.) An acceptable acceptable daily intake for someone who is 145 pounds is 3295mg (take your weight, divide it by 2.2 and multiply it by 50). A 12 oz diet soda has approximately 225 mg...that's quite a lot. Side effects of consuming products with aspartame is headaches, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue and depression...those with a lot these side effects are known to have "aspartame disease". You can read the book "Sweet Poison" to find out more information on this disease, and how to rid your body of it - doing a 60 day cleanse.
Sucralose: (Splenda) is approximately 600 times sweeter than table sugar, found in over 4,500 foods. This "sugar" was found while trying to create a new insecticide and contains chlorine - a carcinogen! (So, you know how sucrose - table sugar is 1 molecule glucose + 1 molecule fructose? Well this is 1 molecule glucose + 1 molecule chlorine...yum.) Their website states "although sucralose has a structure and sugar like taste it is not natural", but the suffix -ose, normally used to name sugars (not additives) gives a misleading name, many assuming this sugar replacement is healthy. The low calorie count is because only 15% of this additive is absorbed by our body (that's including the chlorine). Long term studies have not been done and the safety of long term use cannot be determined until they do it, but short term effects are: bloating, gas, skin irritations (rashes, itching, redness), wheezing/cough, depression, itchy eyes, etc.
Acesulfame K: (food labels read as acesulfame K, acesulfame potassium, ace-K and sunnet) this "sugar" contains the carcinogen methylene chloride...long term use can cause headaches, depression, nausea, liver and kidney failure, etc.
Neotame: This is a substitute for aspartame without the phenylalanine dangers to those with PKU. It's approximately 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar.
I apologize for the length, it's quite a lot of information to digest, but really...take all of this information into consideration. I understand that sugar is bad - but really, you shouldn't be using massive amounts of sugar anyway. The updated food pyramid states that you should only consume up to 12 teaspoons of sugar a day...the average American consumes almost 3 times as much as that. That's unhealthy in itself. You want to sweeten tea? Use honey. The ratio of glucose:fructose makes it easier to break down and use that natural sugar as energy. While high doses is not healthy, a little "oomph" to your drink is not bad and quite pleasurable.
Farrah27
POSTED: Fri, 09/25/2009 - 9:42am
My thing is that, according
My thing is that, according to Dr. Mercola (www.mercola.com) Splenda is made with bleach like bleached flour. I don't mind cleaning with bleach, but I do not want to injest it. I hope that you are able to give it up!Viva la Diva
POSTED: Fri, 10/16/2009 - 9:16am
Stevia
Stevia is an acquired taste for some. We just made an entire batch of rootbeer with only Stevia, I like it, but my family does not. Stevia has fiber as well as the ability to stabilize bllod sugar. I needed a reminder about the negative effects of sugar, thank you. Peppermint patties and other sweets have been creeping in, and I will monitor that. I find I lean to sugar when I looking for a pleasant diversion from stressful days. There are better choices. I would like to mention that Good Earth Spice Tea has helped me kick the sugar habit in the past. It is so good, I usually have it as dessert.mtnfamillede6
POSTED: Sun, 09/27/2009 - 6:38pm
stevia
I too use sugar in moderation...mostly honey or maple syrup to sweeten things. A friend recommended trying a sweetener called Stevia. She said it was plant based and natural. Has anyone tried it or heard of it? Opinions?Ingrid M
POSTED: Mon, 09/28/2009 - 4:08am
Stevia
I use stevia which is indeed a plant based sweetener. It comes in liquid forms as well as dried plant or powder. I use it in yogourts in the liquid form. I read that you can also cook with it but I have never tried. It does have a taste and a friend of mine doesn't like it at all so I guess it's not as universal as sugar.Username
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 12:53am
LET IT GO!
If you want my honest opinion - LET IT GO RIGHT NOW!I could give an entire lecture on the topic of why we shouldn't put anything artificial in our bodies, but rather just pure, natural foodstuffs! Personally, I'd rather eat nothing than eat anything made in a laboratory! I cannot see a single reason for natural beings putting synthetic "food" in their bodies! Our bodies will most certainly not know how to handle them since they aren't natural, and they will end up clogging up your liver and make it function improperly!
People might say that they haven't experienced anything bad because of artificial sweeteners / food additives etc., but think about this: Do you get lung cancer from smoking your first cigarette? Probably not, but over time...
Love,
Daniela, who has spent nights at the hospital due to many strange symptoms all happening at the same time, all of which turned out to be due to a food-additive allergy (which made me think that they aren't meant for ANYONE to ingest)
Anna
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:57am
Splenda
I agree with Danielle. Food additives of any sort are not a good idea. They confuse your body, and there is growing evidence that artificial sweeteners do, in fact, lead to weight gain. It's not clear whether it's because they increase your liking for sweets, or because your body stops associating sweets with added calories. Either way, best to avoid! Personally, I would recommend just switching to sugar, and then cutting back on sugar bit by bit. In my experience, when you have enough fat in your diet, you stop craving sweets so much. For example, plain full-fat yogurt tastes great on its own, and putting a little whole milk in your coffee erases the need for sugar. Real food tastes good without added sweeteners.sn0wwhite
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 11:02am
Former Splenda Addict here too
Hi Anna, I, like you, have been addicted to Splenda too. I found it sweeter than sugar, and also it dissolved so nicely in liquids without stirring for an hour! But, after reading The French Don't Diet Plan, by Dr. William Clowder, he makes an excellent case for not eating chemicals. He does recommend varying degrees of compliance (good, better, best) but he really convinced me to let this one go. He recommended brown sugar and I have been using that on my oatmeal and it's really quite nice. I buy C&H because it's really brown sugar and not white sugar colored with molasses, which is fine too. Also, I'm thinking for my ice tea next summer to sweeten it I may try to make a simple syrup. A restaurant in Hawaii served sweetener for ice tea that way for me once, and it dissolved very well. So, I also encourage you to quit the Splenda.flamaze13
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 8:03pm
It's a million times stronger
It's a million times stronger than sugar, so when I occasionally have a baked good it's dull. Very sad, but it keeps me away from them... Have you heard of Stevia? It is a plant that is really sweet and natural. The problem is the addiction to the taste, so I think low-calorie sweeteners should be banned. Free they are not; the price you pay is first your palate and then you health.Vintage1944
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:04pm
We have paid a very
high price in this culture for weight loss and science.We are paying with our health.Science has brought us many fantastic things.But the rush now to make a buck off the latest discovery is leading us in the wrong direction.You are doing a great thing for yourself by cooking fresh,whole foods.These I truly believe will help you replace your Splenda craving with healthy tastes and foods.Good for you.I wonder if there is MSG in Splenda?It is put in a lot of foods,under various names,to get us to eat more of somethingi.e. addict us.JeanMarija
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:55pm
I believe that it was
Mireille who said - there are worse things for you than (natural) sugar and butter. Anna's idea of switching to normal sugar, and then cutting the amount down gently sounds good. If the process is incremental, you will find that you will not feel deprived. I feel that including a little bit of sugar into one's life is OK on occasion. For example, one of our favourite spring/summer desserts is fresh strawberries with a bit of caster sugar sprinkled over and mixed. Leave the mix to blend in the fridge for a couple of hourse and hey presto! The aroma emanating in the kitchen makes us all drool! :) Although there is sugar in the recipe - this is still a relatively healthy dessert and a pleasure. Best wishes, MxAnna
POSTED: Thu, 09/24/2009 - 9:57am
Exactly!
I really do believe there is room for some sugar in a healthy diet, just not too much. French women definitely eat sugar, but they are controlled in their consumption. I think there's a tendency (in America, at least) to think in extremes, but in my opinion, there is all the difference in the world between a huge deluxe chocolate sundae at a chain restaurant and fresh strawberries marinated with a small amount of sugar (with maybe a drizzle of cream or mascarpone cheese - yum!). Cutting out all sugar will probably result in feelings of deprivation, which will ultimately lead to a binge on sugary sweets. But, cutting back bit by bit to the point where you choose your indulgences and limit your overall intake will still allow you to stay slim and healthy.Ava
POSTED: Thu, 09/24/2009 - 9:12am
I can taste them now!
Marija, have you tried this with fresh mint sprigs and as an extra special treat (if you eliminate the original caster sugar from the strawberries), fresh Chantilly cream? Yum yum!Ava.Marija
POSTED: Fri, 09/25/2009 - 6:04am
Yum yum it is
And it's on the menyfor tomorrow! I am off to the Farmers Market in the morning (spring here in Australia) and will get strawberries - sounds wonderful with the mint. Thanks for the suggestion :) MxAva
POSTED: Fri, 09/25/2009 - 9:59am
Excellent - hope you enjoy!
I wish we had some fresh strawberries.....I'm jealous now!sn0wwhite
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 11:08am
another point
oh, and I'm sorry, I know I won't do this point justice. But, Dr. Clowder (who is a neuro-scientist) claims that just one of the issues with artificial sweeteners is that our liver treats them like a toxin. So while we crave the sweet taste, our brain isn't being satisfied because our body isn't using it like it would sugar. So, that is why we crave more and then need to consume more. Also, they taste sweeter than real sugar which makes sugar seem less sweet. If you quit artificial sweeteners, within a week, you will find sugar tasting sweeter to you than it does now.flamaze13
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 8:01am
Trying!!!
OK, I had my first cup of tea without Splenda this morning, and it was managable. But this is hard for me. It is well known that sugar - the sweet flavor - is addictive, and I have to say it feels like I am missing something. I need support on here, I'm not going to lie. This is hard for me. Have you overcome any barriers and bad habits in order to lose weight? How?Vintage1944
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 7:52pm
Hi
I have read your posting and all the replies.It is a very interesting discusion.I do understand your struggle to give it up.The wretched stuff has you hooked.Personally,I hate it because it tastes phoney to me.And as you see from the responses people are on the point about additives and chemicals in food,that shouldn't be there.I gave sweetners up because I never lost an ounce using them and I have Type 2 Diabetes,anyway.No prevention there!What tea do you drink?How about a fruit tea,that tend to be naturally sweet.Read labels carefully.And sometimes I allow myself a tiny drizzle of organic honey.Your body reads it as sugar,but at least it is natural and a little goes along way.Over the years I have had to break zillions of bad habits and I am still at it.At times I slip and get back up.I have a lot of weight to release but rght now I am learning to put pleasure first.It has been a very bad habit of mine to eat at warp speed and binge.With the help of FWDGF and this incredible group I am making headway(See Stress elated Eating in this Thread)and you will get an idea of what is going on and how super people are here.We will all be behind you.keep posting,tell us what you are dealing with and we will suport you to accomplish your goals.Jeanflamaze13
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 7:59pm
For some people, artificial
For some people, artificial sweeteners taste really bad. I can't stand the pink and blue packets, but I am addicted to Splenda: I admit with a sense of shame that I steal packets of Splenda when I go to coffee spots that way I do not have to buy it and can use it at home. I am a Splenda junkie. I drink an array of tea, cinnamon being my favorite. Harney and Sons makes excellent tea - you should try the Paris blend! I love honey, and I use it in place of granulated sugar. I do not consume much granulated sugar - fruits, honey, and Splenda, mostly. I will keep posting, but alas, I live the frantic life of a college student. A healthy one though - I cook all of my own food from scratch.frenchy
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 6:33pm
I understand
what it is you are going through you must trust me on this. I have asthma and other inflammatory disorders and the first thing I decided to do was get off the sugar. I began weening myself off and now I check the labels of everything I buy. My cereal is shredded wheat or plain oatmeal and I do not sweeten my green tea. I have noticed a huge difference first in my weight which has dropped considerably and you really do lose the taste for sugar after a short time. You must decide how badly you want the goal. Try this...sugar is a contributing factor to colon cancer. It made it easier for me because it isn't just about the weight but about your health. I'm here for you! Deborahflamaze13
POSTED: Wed, 09/23/2009 - 7:53pm
Thank you. It seems so
Thank you. It seems so insignifigant - the taste of sweetness. Yet the American lifestyle is so full of sweet things that it is natural for us to crave it. I don't know one redeeming thing about sugar, and the fact that it is in everything is a crime. I want my palate back. Since I've been hooked, my other taste buds are weakened. I'm hoping it returns with time.