sugar substitutes...are they bad for you?

i'll try to help you out here...

let's start with the bad:

sweetners such as equal contain aspartame, which is believed to increase the risk of brain cancer.

sweet-n-low and similar sweeteners contain an ingredient called saccharin, which has been linked to bladder cancer.

in both of these cases, there isn't overwhelming accurate evidence, but it's been enough to cause some concern.

splenda is another popular one, but because the body doesn't recognize, it won't digest it, and can actually make you GAIN weight.

fructose is another extract of sugar. because it's natural, it's better for you than equal or sweet n low, but because the liver can't process it as quickly as pure sugar, it converts into triglycerides, increasing your risk of heart disease.

obviously, small amounts of any of these isn't going to seriously hurt you, but a using any for a long period of time can build up and increase your risks.

fortunately, there ARE some better solutions...

my #1 reccomendation would be stevia. it's a natural herb and is actually sold as a dietary supplement.

#2 would be Xylitol. it's a natural sweetener that's actually produced in our bodies... the downside is that it's not calorie-free, although it does have a much lower calorie content.

hope that shed a little light on your questions...

There is a documentary that was aired by PBS about how the companies that make sugar substitutes were able to get these things into the market place without the studies showing all the bad effects being reviewed. They lobbied Congress, ignored the testing that they had done, told the company they didn't need the results after all and went right into production. Once it was out there and in all the foods it was not in the best interest of business to remove it.

Tests have been done on lab rats that have been given these chimicals...that's what they are, and nitrates, which are in a lot of common foods like deli meat, bacon,hot dogs and things like that. The combination caused tumors. There are very reputable scientists that say that the combination of these two things cause tumors...not a doubt in their minds. Also, tests were done on airline pilots that drink the sugar free drinks and the ones that do not. The response times were very different among the two groups.

The Sweet Misery documentary and there may be something on this here on the internet about the studies if you look for them showed the actual people that didi the studies and they were just shocked that they approved it and put it on the market knowing the side effects.

Now sugar is grown in fields, comes from the sugar cane and is processed some, so it's not 100% natural but it's way better than any chemical that can cause tumors in combination with other common foods as well as many other problems. I feel like it makes me think slow and causes me to have short term memory problems....I don't drink it!!!

So, all mothers to be should never ever drink or eat substitute sugar. The fetus is very sensitive to the chemical and so are young children. That is just a part of what I know. Enough to tell you that sugar is better in moderation. Nothing made from chemicals and used as food is good for you. Read and learn.....it is very scary. Good luck.

Miss Mary

Sugar substitutes are bad for you, whether their in a "diet " drink or not. If your going to drink a "diet" drink you may as well drink the regular. It doesn't save you on calories even though the can may say so. There are no good sugar substitutes. Science may be advanced but not that advanced. Also, limit the amount of soda or energy drinks that you consume. Studies have shown that the carbonated water that the soda companies use to the drink that fizz is also taking calcium from your bones. So the more you drink the more your harming your bones, in the long run. It's one of the reasons that you don't give that much to a young child. The same applies to an adult no matter what your age. Studies have shown that not just sugar substitues can lead to cancer and other health problems, but a lot of other things. Personally, I only drink sodas and energy drinks a couple times a week and no more than that.

In short sugar substitutes usually use aspartame which although currently licenced for use carries a lot of possible side effects. Aspartame contains methanol which breaks down in the body, creating formaldehyde.

See: http://www.dorway.com/badnews.html

So, 1) No, this is not just hype and there may be government legislation against them eventually - remember, people used to eat food from lead tins. Currently obesity kills more people than artificial sweetener so this is the best argument for allowing the use of sugar replacement products.

2) Aspartame and Saccharin are what makes these bad. See: http://www.feelgoodcounselling.co.za/Healthy_Natur... for a good explanation.

3) Real sugar is not bad for you, eating too much will cause type 2 diabetes etc, but the answer is staightforward - don't eat too much. Everything in moderation and a small amount does you no harm.

4) Natural sugar substitutes such as Stevia or Fructose are fine, but I would also be careful with Xylitol - although natural even this has side effects. The best bet would be to look out for those that are directly derived from sugar with no additives.

Conclusion: diet foods and drinks can end up being far worse for you and realistically, if you are on a diet you should stay away from carbonated soft drinks and stick to water, herbal tea, real tea, homemade lemonade, fruit juice etc. Hope that answers it for you.

You may or may not be aware that Weight Watchers sells its own brand of sugar substitute. Based on that, and the fact that I've never heard of any adverse effects reported from Splenda, I don't think you should avoid Splenda.

So here is the rundown:

Splenda-So far apparently extremely safe; hasn't been on the market as long as some other sweeteners. Heat stable, can be used in cooking/baking.

Pink Packets: Saccharine. Causes bladder cancer in rats who eat massive amounts from birth, no association with cancer in people. Shouldn't be used during pregnancy.

Blue Packets: Aspartame. NOT heat stable-it decay if heated, and the sweet will turn to bitter. Aspartame is very safe, unless you have a condition that would compromise the blood-brain barrier, including any kind of systemic inflammation, meningitis, etc, you're a nurse so you can finish that list yourself!

Stevia: This is a 'natural' sweetener, and by natural, I mean not regulated by the FDA. People will tell you that because it's plant derived and organic, it can't be dangerous, but considering poison ivy and poisonous mushrooms, I'm not so sure. It's been around for a while, though, so if it were terribly dangerous, then it probably would have made the news by now.

Sugar alcohols: xylitrol, erythritol, sorbitol, maltitol, etc etc etc. There are two things to remember about these. One, THEY HAVE CALORIES. The caloric content is the same as pure sugar, but these are all poorly absorbed from the digestive tract, so the majority of those calories are wasted. But not all! Second point-sugars are passing to the large intestine unabsorbed... so flatulence and diarrhea are the result. However, sugar alcohols are fantastic for giving texture in baking, and they make possible many different kinds of sugar free chocolates and candies.

If your interest is cutting calories, then you should also remember that all packet sweeteners contain 3 calories each. They all contain between a half gram and .999 grams of carbohydrate, which is conveniently rounded down to zero for a label of zero calories-but that's not true. If you really want a good calorie-free sweetener, the best option is liquid. The only ones that I've found are liquid saccharine, which tends to be highly concentrated and sold in dropper bottles, and liquid Splenda, sold as flavored coffee syrups (Torani and Da Vinci).

If flavor is your issue, sugar alcohols taste best, followed by Splenda. Some say you can get better sugar flavor by mixing different types of sweetener together. At any rate, if you regularly use sweeteners, you do get used to the taste fairly quickly-as long as you don't keep switching back and forth between sugar and the sweetener!

Good luck!

1

You are cute, you asked like 10 questions in a row like a little child ;) and then apologized. Don't apologize, this is what this website is for, to ask as many questions as you want. Okay, sugar substitues are also sugars but can be both bad ,and well, ok for us. The plus about them is that obviously they help us to cut down on taking Sucrose (table sugar), which too much of it can make us FAT asses. They say that if you use too much of these substitue sugars (like sacharose and aspartames) they could in a long run (about 16 years) in some people cause cancer. They don't cause any other of the diseases you mentioned (such as diabetes). Now, the diet cokes and diet whatever, has something in it called ASPARTAME which is horrible for you (sorry for the bad news). Aspartame reduces your rate of metobolism (the energy your body uses at a given time), so you might not take any CALORIE in form diet coke, but when it slows down your metobolism, you still get fat. People are studpid and don't realize this. they order a large frys and a doble burger with a diet coke. Diet coke will cause them gain more weight from that burger than a regular coke. I am not sure, but think all substitue sugars do the same thing. If I were to say which sub. sugar is "better" I would guess those red or blue colored sugar packs (forgot their name). Again, the best way is to not drink DIET anything, and if you do drink regular drink, LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION, they have SO much sugar in them that are bad for your teeth and your body. Good luck ;)

Here are some effects aspartame (a sugar substitute, like Splenda) can have on the body:

Eye

blindness in one or both eyes

decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision

pain in one or both eyes

decreased tears

trouble with contact lenses

bulging eyes

Ear

tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound

severe intolerance of noise

marked hearing impairment

Neurologic

epileptic seizures

headaches, migraines and (some severe)

dizziness, unsteadiness, both

confusion, memory loss, both

severe drowsiness and sleepiness

paresthesia or numbness of the limbs

severe slurring of speech

severe hyperactivity and restless legs

atypical facial pain

severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric

severe depression

irritability

aggression

anxiety

personality changes

insomnia

phobias

Chest

palpitations, tachycardia

shortness of breath

recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal

nausea

diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools

abdominal pain

pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies

itching without a rash

lip and mouth reactions

hives

aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic

loss of control of diabetes

menstrual changes

marked thinning or loss of hair

marked weight loss

gradual weight gain

aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

severe PMS

Other

frequency of voiding and burning during urination

excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating

increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all

death

irreversible brain damage

birth defects, including mental retardation

peptic ulcers

aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets

hyperactivity in children

severe depression

aggressive behavior

suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Epstein-Barr

Post-Polio Syndrome

Lyme Disease

Grave’s Disease

Meniere’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

ALS

Epilepsy

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

EMS

Hypothyroidism

Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings

Fibromyalgia

Lupus

non-Hodgkins

Lymphoma

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Sugar substitutes are mainly chemicals that are harmful to your health. Many years ago reports on "Sweet n Low" stated that Saccharin causes all kinds of serious health problems. Now it's Equal which contains Aspartame. That is just as bad if not worse than Saccharin. Aspartame is in everything that states "sugar free".

I recommend you stay far away from anything that states "Diet or Sugar free" on the labels. They will most likely contain Aspartame.

Read the ingredients on every product label before you buy the item. Look for those two chemicals I mentioned above and if you see them on the label, put the item back on the shelf.

A perfect alternative to sugar is a product called "Stevia". It is derived from an herb and is completely natural. No harmful chemicals here. It may cost a little bit more than the chemical substitutes, but isn't your health worth it?

You can find it in any health food store and a little goes a long way. It is three to four times sweeter than sugar so there for you need a lot less of it. That means it will last longer and is a better deal for the money than sugar.

If you must drink soda, drink the regular sugared ones. The chemicals in diet soda are actually worse for you than the regular sugared sodas. Better yet, stay away from soda all together!

2

sweet and low ie saccharin causes birth defects. In fact just one packet can cause birth abnormalties. I am a RD assistant at a hospital and the RD for the peds and new mamas does not allow sweet n low on the pregnant mamas trays for this reason.

Saccharin also causes cancer, but in the study they fed rats an enourmous amount of saccharine,way more than we could ever consume in day.

That is why the ban on saccharine was lifted. But i still don't trust it.

I use spenda, as far as I know there hasn't been any link to health risks (yet) it is made from sugar so seems to be the best in health and flavor.

Some of the other sugar subs are just bad. for example you can't bake with both Equal or Sweet n Low the give off a poor flaovro. Some of them don't work to well very hot.

No sugar sub can cause diabetes.

Diabetes is caused either by a virus that attacks the beta cells in the pancreas (Type 1) so that the body cannot make insulin anymore. Or the cells become resistant to the insulin in the body (type 2). Ususally type 1 begins in childhood, type 2 is during adulthood and is not caused by a virus but usually having it in the family and being overweight or obese. Though not all obese people have diabetes.

Equal ie nutrasweet may people are allergic to, my sister is one.

Also peoplewith PKU cannot have nurtasweet.

All in all real sugar is best. But if you really need to cut calories with your sugar intake and not anything else then choose splenda. I have found that Splenda is really the best for everything, baking, in plain yogurt, hot tea coffee. It has the best flavor, and if it is mixed with equalparts sugar it can be used in allbaked goods (granular sugar gives baked products their lift).