Sucralose Concern

[FightingTheFight]

I've been kinda edgy about using Splenda, I use it but still have this feeling is getting to me. I came across this website. I don't know if the info is true, but am curious of what others think.

Few human studies of safety have been published on sucralose. One small study of diabetic patients using the sweetener showed a statistically significant increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (Hba1C), which is a marker of long-term blood glucose levels and is used to assess glycemic control in diabetic patients. According to the FDA, "increases in glycosolation in hemoglobin imply lessening of control of diabetes.
Research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems in rats, mice, and rabbits, such as:
Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)
Enlarged liver and kidneys.
Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
Increased cecal weight
Reduced growth rate
Decreased red blood cell count
Hyperplasia of the pelvis
Extension of the pregnancy period
Aborted pregnancy
Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights
Diarrhea

According to one source (Sucralose Toxicity Information Center), concerning the significant reduction in size of the thymus gland, "the manufacturer claimed that the sucralose was unpleasant for the rodents to eat in large doses and that starvation caused the shruken thymus glands.

The rest of the article can be found here http://www.vitaminlady.com/Articles/sucralose.asp

So, what do you all think?

[Miss Phode]

I don't trust it either. Dr. Mercola, at www.mercola.com doesn't have anything nice to say about Splenda either. Be prepared for a lot of people telling you it's just propoganda though. Some people are very protective of their Splenda. My feeling is, they have to chemically alter it to change it from sugar to Splenda, and I've heard that chlorine is used in the process. How safe are any foods that are chemically altered? I don't trust it.

Peace

[MotherOfGizmo]

What makes you believe Mercola?

[Miss Phode]

Have you read his book? He's a pretty smart cookie.

[k5commando]

I use it in small amounts and was just as concerned as you are. While I still don't trust it enough to give to my child or to use myself in more than one small serving a day, I did read that the doses given to lab rats and such were dozens of times the amount a human would normaly ingest (relative to size). Unfortunately with this diet our choices for the sweet stuff are limited and Splenda is no doubt the lesser of the artificial sweetner evils.

[Brook]

I'm not a big fan of Mercola either & yes, I've read his book. He's another person with a specific agenda & *gasp* something to sell too. His information is not unbiased, but not unfounded either. He's fabulous at scare tactics though.

All the information is relative, as k5commando points out. The studies are indeed valid, but I have no intention of consuming 6x my body weight in Splenda this year or any year for that matter. LOL

The way I was eating when I was fat was by far and away more damaging to my health and well being.

Pass the Splenda, please.

~Brook

[Miss Phode]

He's another person with a specific agenda & *gasp* something to sell too.

What is Mercola's agenda? and what is he selling?

[Brook]

http://www.mercola.com/store.htm

http://www.mercola.com/forms/total_health_book.htm

His book, his eating plan, his products, his perspective. I fail to see a lack of agenda!

[Miss Phode]

I guess Atkins had an agenda too then.

[Miss Phode]

http://www.mercola.com/forms/myvision.htm

Now I see what you mean about Mercola having an agenda. I think more people need to have an agenda. Good stuff.

here is an excerpt from his site:

It is my vision to transform the existing medical paradigm from one addicted to pharmaceuticals, surgeries and other methods that only conceal or remove specific symptoms - with morbid results to our health and economy -- to one focused on treating and preventing the underlying causes.

Makes him sound real evil, doesn't it? :yikes

[shmooziecat]

Hi, if you are uncomfortable with splenda, you can try "stevia" which is basically a ground up sweet herb. I like the sweetleaf brand, "stevia plus" in individual (green) packets. There are many on the board that use stevia instead of splenda. Splenda causes me to break out in an itchy rash :anger , however, my husband has no problem with it and he uses it. I was very upset about not being able to use splenda, because it tastes so good, but am relieved to have discovered "stevia", I like it. Trish

stevia description:

Stevia is a naturally sweet plant native to Paraguay that is 30 times sweeter than sugar in its unprocessed form. With more than 1,000 studies and patents on Stevia, it is known to be all-natural, contain zero calories and have a zero glycemic index. Through a patented process the pure glycosides can be extracted from the Stevia leaves and turned into an intensely sweet powder that is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia can also be turned into a delicious consumer friendly product safe for all beverages, soft foods and baking.

The plant


the one I like

[Miss Phode]

I use stevia too. Sweet Leaf in the green packets.

[Brook]

Of course Atkins had an agenda. I think it's silly to assume anything less, don't you?

Of course Atkins didn't spend his time trying to scare the bejeebers out of people with portions of facts and bashing everyone else or with parts of studies, etc.

The varying views are all out there and easily accessible to anyone who wants to find them - but I'm a big advocate at looking at both sides of the coin instead of just the shiny, pretty one.

I can pull several portions/excerpts of text from anyone whose wrote darn near anything and use it to make my point. <shrug> His vision doesn't impress me - it's entirely too similar to anyone else that's, I dunno..? ...human?

Regardless, there are several studies and perspectives on this issue among many others. Alarmist columns are exactly that, alarmist, and again - most of us aren't consuming several times our body weight in things like sweeteners and what not. It's where the old phrase "Moderation in everything" comes into play and practice

[Finelly]

Brook - you go, girl!

I don't plan on eating my body weight in splenda, either. However, I have the distinct impression, given my current size, that I HAVE eaten my weight in sugar previously!

[shmooziecat]

Brook - you go, girl!

I don't plan on eating my body weight in splenda, either. However, I have the distinct impression, given my current size, that I HAVE eaten my weight in sugar previously!

ROFLMAO, I hear ya sister!!!!!!!!