Comments on: Splenda misinformation

By: Teresa

Teresa — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:09:42 +0000

Splenda in the packet, makes my kidneys hurt. I know, sounds weird. But, I went on and off Splenda several times to test this. What will happen when I am using it, is whatever side I am lying on when I wake up, my back in the kidney area on that side will be aching. To the point that if I am trying to sleep in on a weekend, it will wake me. It will feel better after voiding. But, when I am not using Splenda, it doesn’t do it at all.

So, I don’t use it anymore.

I can’t use aspartame. It tears my stomach up (cramps/diarrhea) . I found out it was in REGULAR gum along with the sugar that way. I chewed a couple of pieces of my DH’s gum and had symptoms. Since we aren’t into wood alcohol or formaldehyde, he doesn’t chew gum anymore either. It hasn’t been in hubba bubba yet.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:04:57 +0000

I have been using splenda for years with no adverse reactions . It tastes great to me and my family . I like the splenda opposed to sugar . Sugar has put weight on me and my wife ,as we started using splenda we noticed that the pounds didnt kreep up on us as fast so well take our chances

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:04:29 +0000

I wonder if some of the mood reactions are actually caused by the regime change indicated by the switch to Splenda. Dramatically reducing sugar may well have mood altering results.

Xylitol similar sweeteners are acknowledged to cause bloating/gas or bowel cramps in many people: Note the “may have a laxative effect if taken in quantity” label on some of these products. We should check that the Splenda products we think are causing abdominal pain are not sweetener cocktails.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:49:26 +0000

I am one of the people who had a very bad reaction to Splenda. I started using it frequently last fall as part of my weight loss program. I began to experience irritability, depression, and a general feeling of coming apart at the seams. I attributed it to PMS, and resolved to ask my doctor at my annual exam.

Within the past two weeks, things got much, much worse, and I was getting extremely depressed – having thoughts that no one liked me, that I was alone, that I wanted to run off, leaving my DH and 3 kids behind (not suicide, just run off and be alone).

I was just about to call my doctor when I remembered seeing info online a couple of years ago linking Splenda to depression in some people. I decided to cut out Splenda and see if it helped.

Now it is a mere 2 days later, and I feel like I am back to normal! I’m no longer irritable, anxious, depressed, or feeling like I’m spinning out of control. I will NEVER eat Splenda again, and am going to try to stay away from all artificial sweeteners because I fear having this happen again.

It is frightening to think that I could have kept on eating this and taking antidepressants to try to counteract the side effects. I’m glad I figured it out before I went that route!

Hi Vicki–

I’m glad you figured it out, too. I’ve haven’t seen many bizarre reactions to Splenda in my patients, but, as your case makes evident, they do occur. Thanks for the report.

Cheers–

MRE

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:59:34 +0000

I’ve found Xyletol to have about a 1:1 ratio. I haven’t used it in baking or anything like that yet but for coffee and tea – it is bang-on. Give it a try.

I have. It works great.

By: Dee

Dee — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:28:42 +0000

Stevia works for me – Sweet Leaf brand has a clear liquid that is filtered so it has no aftertaste. There is also flavored stevia offered by them such as dark chocolate and orange. Need to remember that it is 300 times sweeter than sugar so only a few drops are needed.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:35:19 +0000

I’ll stick with my Stevia and Xylitol.

By: Nick K

Nick K — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:31:17 +0000

Hi,

Lately I keep hearing from various people that splenda never really leaves your body? It sounds very foolish to me because as I believe it Splenda isn’t absorbed by the body and therefore should pass through wholely. Am I wrong? Does this pose a serious threat to my health?

Hi Nick–

You’re right.� Splenda isn’t absorbed so you don’t have to worry about it never leaving your body.� Unless you are one of those people who have an idiosyncratic reaction to Splenda, I don’t think it’s a risk to your health.� If you are one of those people, you would have figured it out by now.

Cheers–

MRE�

By: Steve W

Steve W — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:41:08 +0000

I am curious what you all think of Stevia. Unlike most of you, I adore sugar, but realize how bad it is for me in large quantities. I make chemical cocktails in my coffee using stevia and splenda, and it comes out very sweet.

I think Stevia is fine.� Some people are bothered by its bitterness, but it poses no health risk that I know of.� It’s certainly better than sugar.

MRE�

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 06:06:10 +0000

Hello, everyone!

I first experienced symptoms from Splenda when eating low carb ice cream products sweetened with Splenda. I would have severe stomach cramps and diarrhea for two days afterwards, but I orginally credited this to the low carb milk product, not the Splenda.

When I started watching my carb intake, I also starting using an increased amount of Splenda from diet drinks and from frozen low carb treats during my diet. I became more and more depressed and lethargic and my abdomen swelled, which has never happened to me previously. When I discontinued all artificial sweetners and began drinking water, ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED!!! If I have to have a sweetner, I use stevia or a small amount of organic cane sugar. I am a healthy person who takes no prescription drugs, so this is an easy call.
I agree with Kevin Trudeau on this point: we should try to eliminate artificial sweetners and non-organic foods from our diets as much as possible. Thanks for all of the good information about Splenda!!!