Aspartame

[WyndWoman]

I think I remember from the book (which is at home, and I'm at work), that aspartame is not recommended because it might cause sugar cravings. Other than that, does Atkins give any reason not to use it? For example, does it (by itself) cause stalls, etc? In other words, if I'm not bothered by cravings, is there any danger in having aspartame-sweetened soda now and then? (I adore Fresca and I miss it....)

[not2late]

Re: Aspartame

I think I remember from the book (which is at home, and I'm at work), that aspartame is not recommended because it might cause sugar cravings. Other than that, does Atkins give any reason not to use it? For example, does it (by itself) cause stalls, etc? In other words, if I'm not bothered by cravings, is there any danger in having aspartame-sweetened soda now and then? (I adore Fresca and I miss it....)

Aspartame is the one that can cause weight loss stalls. Cravings can be caused by aspartame or any other artificial sweetener as well. But Dr. Atkins specifically singled out aspartame for the stalling effect on some of his patients.

[MySongAngel]

I frantically looked for diet soda that was sweetened by a non-aspartame sweetener. I must have looked like a nut picking up all the diet sodas, reading the labels and putting them back.
Anyway... I finally found that Diet Shasta is sweetened by Splenda. Even then, Dr. Atkins says to limit your sweetener intake to about 3 packets a day because each packet is about 1 carb. But anyway... I was surprised at how good it was. Diet Shasta Root Beer is very good. I really can't tell that it's diet. From what people around here say... Diet Rite is also okay, but I haven't tried that.

[scottyj003]

Splenda cause cancer in lab rats...can't believe that is health for you...

[Elizellen]

Scotty - can you give a reference for that statement?
What study was it a result of?

[Pam_C]

Splenda cause cancer in lab rats...can't believe that is health for you...

Yeah? Well I've heard so does the air we breath but I keep doing it how about you?

[scottyj003]

easy people..... i didn't mean to hit a nerve... It was on the local news about a month ago. Just giving you some information.

[Moochiecat]

If you do have a site to link to about such info, please post it, Scotty.
I think it's pretty understandable that we'd want to know more about this.

[spazzyhilo]

Splenda cause cancer in lab rats...can't believe that is health for you...

and how much splenda did they give these rats?

Atkins limits us to 3 sweetners per day... 3 sweetners amongst 64 oz water, veggies, meat, cheese, eggs, excercize, cream, other fats...

Not to mention the excercize that can burn off sweetener like its nothing.

I'm not to worried about it...

[scottyj003]

Here is the evidence... http://www.mercola.com/2003/aug/23/splenda.htm

scottyj

[Isabeau]

I'm sure I'll be the odd person out here, but in my opinion all artificial sweeteners are frankenfoods. Yup, I'll use Splenda once in a while, like I did aspartame at one point knowing any real or perceived risks. Definitely no sugar for me!

[Pam_C]

I didn't mean my comment to be sarcastic it was supposed to be funny but it didn't seem that way huh? Just the other day my neighbor bought a speedometer for her bicycle and it said that in the state of California this product has been known to cause cancer so she sent it back. There is always someone saying that everything is bad for you. I try to stay away from artifical sweetners as well. It's like all the people on a daily basis telling me that I am going to die doing atkins, yeah probably because I am going to be doing it the rest of my life besides we have all got to die sometime right? ha ha ha
Pam

[Elizellen]

All I could find after following several links from that site scottyj was this from a report from 2003

Last year, Cumberland managed to get the US Congress to give saccharin a clean bill of health, 20 years after a flawed study (which administered huge quantities of the artificial sweetener to laboratory rats) produced bladder tumors

Which was about a study on saccharin, not splenda and is described as a 'flawed' study as well!!

In spite of his many statements about how bad splenda is I could find no links to studies of splenda and he seems to infer from the fact that there have been very few of them that somehow that is proof that splenda is harmful :yikes

Weird logic for even a pseudo-scientist like Dr Mercola! ensive

[Becky Sue]

I'm sure I'll be the odd person out here, but in my opinion all artificial sweeteners are frankenfoods. Yup, I'll use Splenda once in a while, like I did aspartame at one point knowing any real or perceived risks. Definitely no sugar for me!

NO! Isabeau you are not alone. I try to not use any sweetners at all. I do stall out if I eat any sweetners. So they are banned from my menu! Ya know! I don't even miss it now.

It's amazing what this WOE will do to you. Wonderful results.
Becky Sue

[not2late]

I'm sure I'll be the odd person out here, but in my opinion all artificial sweeteners are frankenfoods. Yup, I'll use Splenda once in a while, like I did aspartame at one point knowing any real or perceived risks. Definitely no sugar for me!

I'm "odd" with you. I use artificial sweeteners maybe once a week. They're artificial....I don't need that in my body.