Reactions/Side Effects to Splenda

[vworld]

Has anyone else had side effects from splenda? If so what do you use to replace the sweetner?

I've been out of commission for the entire day due to splenda and am typing this on my laptop from bed. It really hit me hard and I'm concerned. I noticed in the past small amounts would make it easier to use the bathroom but I let it go since I realized the diet sometimes has the opposite effect.

But last night I made some cole slaw added splenda and this morning it was like I had the worst stomach flu you could ever get.

So after some research I've decided to cut out all my sweetners, including my diet soda since one of the side effects is problems with memory and I've been experiencing that lately too.

I've heard about stevia -- has anyone used this?

Thanks in advance for any feedback or encouragement -- right now I'm really discouraged but want to continue but everything I think about eating just makes me nauseous.

Thanks in advance.

[Butternut]

I have never been able to find Stevia in any store. Always wanted to try it and have only read good things about Stevia.

[lgna70]

I am on my second day without any Splenda products, and oh man, I am not feeling so hot either!
I have given Splenda up for just what you mentioned! Memory loss! I was unclear if it was the aluminum cans as I heard that contributes to memory loss, but also, that I was full blown addicted to Diet Rite Black Cherry and Tangerine sodas....up to 6 per day, not to mention some low carb candy bars with Splenda....no wonder I was putting the weight back on! Too much of anything cant be good.
Anyway, I have had a headache for 2 days and just want to crawl in bed and sleep for the next week! Yikes!
My friend swears by Xylitol for her sweetener, she gets it at Whole Foods.

[Just4Me]

I use Stevia regularly. Get it a health food store, it's classified as an herb (though some grocery stores are stocking it in the section w/ the sugar and Splenda). Sometimes I use it with Splenda, as they sweeten slightly differently. I've been shy of xylitol, because it is an antibiotic (or has that effect, anyway), I think.

If you put it into liquids, look for SteviaClear, comes with an eye dropper. It is SUPER sweet, a LITTLe goes a loooooong way. Ex: to make a mug of hot chocolate (unsweetned cocoa, hot water, splash of cream), I use about 1/2 a dropper and it's quite sweet. Too much stevia makes things bitter.

The powder is hard to disperse in liquid, but not impossible. The same people who make SteviaClear make a powder that's cut with inulin, a fiber (rather than maltodextrin, which I think is a corn starch). I really like both their products. I've also used some other brands, they all are similar, but if you're picky about food additives in relation to carbs, just look at what the powder is cut with.

If your grocery doesn't have it, maybe a natural foods store, or an herbal store?

[k5commando]

I use stevia for a lot of things like protein shakes. Has a little bit of a different taste to it but it's better than the alternatives. I get mine at a health food store. It' super sweet so buy a small bottle first, usually you only need two drops max in any drink.

[slimlizzie]

I don't use artificial sweetner much..but when I do it is Necta Sweet
(Saccharin) 1/4 grain No Dextrose No Lactose..I even cut the 1/4 grain in half sometimes cause it is so sweet. You can find it at the grocers.

[sueo]

I've not had any negative effects from Splenda or Equal. I have a friend, however, who cannot use Splenda as it makes her fibromyalgia flare up.

I grow stevia plants in my garden in the summer. I love to go outside and grab a couple of leaves to chew on while I'm out in the yard. I also put it in pesto to replace a small portion of the basil, to replace the tiny bit of sugar that my pesto recipe calls for. I have some dried in a bag that I add to tea and some recipes.

I've not tried liquid stevia.

[zigzaggity]

I have used Stevia before and really liked it. Maybe I should try it again since I am stalling so badly.

Can Splenda cause you to stall?? I only use 2 or 3 packets a day.

Does anyone know if Stevia has carbs that we should count?

Thanks!

[MichelleM]

ive done some research on SpLENDA online and have found some "horror stories' about it.

Hmmm. I also drink quite a lot of sodas with splenda and SF chocolates.

Id really love to know more.

[Cinders411]

I don't use Spenda much but, when I used it in the past while doing LC I had no problems.

[vworld]

Thanks for all the replies. Just to give you an update on my progress, I stopped using splenda all together. And as Michelle noted there are hundreds of horror stories about it. I would say if you've had mild reactions to it you will increase the reaction if you use stronger forms like I did and nothing to me is worth what happened.

[metqa]

[quote=SarahB150;7839478]I've been shy of xylitol, because it is an antibiotic (or has that effect, anyway), I think.

Actually it is not an antibiotic. It cannot be digested by the bacteria
that lives in our mouths and causes tooth decay. Because they need
sugar to replicate, they cannot and they die of starvation (simplistic explanation, sorry)
Xylitol is just the commercial name for the type of sugar that naturally occurs
in ripening fruit and in the bark of some trees. It is not manufactured by man.
It is a natural product that you consume anytime you eat ripe fruit.
There is no need to be afraid of it. It can loosen the bowel in some people
who's intestines are sensitive to it, but that can happen from eating too much fruit, coincidence maybe?

BTW, I don't think Stevia has enough carbs to count, it is SO strongly sweet.

Hey sueo, where do you get your stevia plants for your garden? The nursery near me doesn't carry them. Do you use seeds?

[daisymae]

I use TONS of Splenda ... all the time. I have had NO problems / side effects.

*Every* sweetner seems to have *millions* of bad stories about it.

[silversunfire]

I personally have never had a problem with Splenda and I have used it in place of sugar for quite a while. A girl I used to work with had probs though. It just depends on what your individual system can handle.

[mmam5]

Great info everyone...

Making my homemade protein bars - using splenda based maple syrup upsets my stomache... using aspartamine based doesn't... of course the aspartamine is probably scrambling my brains

I just found a website: (hopefully they don't fine me for printing it...) cookingwithstevia dot com: Recipes and conversions for using stevia...

http://cookingwithstevia.com/cgi-bin/recipe/recipe.cgi

[gotchocolate??]

Splenda gives me a stomachache for some reason. I don't have many reasons to use it though. I don't let myself have sweets because I know that I will crave other stuff and I drink only water and unsweetened tea and coffee. I have found that when I drink the Aquafina Splash or other flavored waters that contain Splenda that my stomach hurts alot!

[oneyearold]

I thought it was being in ketosis that gave me those symptoms but maybe its the artificial sweeteners that I have been using. Wow.. I just restarted induction today... I think that I will try it without the artificial sweeteners and see how I feel.

Thank so much!

[mmmcheese]

I've noticed some recent headaches and wondered if it could be the Splenda. hmm....I think I will refrain and see if there is any change. Hope you're feeling better.

[Allan]

Originally Posted by silversunfire

I personally have never had a problem with Splenda and I have used it in place of sugar for quite a while. A girl I used to work with had probs though. It just depends on what your individual system can handle.

About 3 years ago I was getting headaches and ended up going to a headache clinic,after several tests and plenty of paperwork ,they discovered my headaches were from sweet and low..

The doctor there told me to use splenda ,I said I have heard bad things about splenda.
He said its perfectly safe dont believe everything you read on the internet.
Ive been using splenda ever since ,Im even useing it on induction with my coffee(half a packet) Atkins says about 3-5 packets a day .

Im on day 6 of induction and down 5 pounds..

[telemetrynurse]

I love stevia! It doesn't give me cravings like nutrasweet and splenda.

I get mine at walmart. It is sweetleaf brand called stevia plus. It is a powder, mixed with inulin, which adds NO carbs. Unlike nutrasweet (equal) and powdered splenda packets which contain maltodextrin, making each packet 1 carb each.

Also, the inulin it is mixed with has been reported to decrease the appetite. It seems to help me but YMMV.

[jennmc31]

I have tried stevia before. I got it at the health food store and I hated it. There was no way for me that I would use that. I use splenda now and have for years and I haven't noticed any side effects for myself. I have also read the stories and it's horrible how they say it's made from sugar when that is so not true. Anyway I have cut down significantly but I do still use it.

[Barbelicious]

The only caveat I'd offer regarding stevia and xylitol is that it can cause, um, digestive upsets if consumed in very large amounts.

Then again, that might be a welcome change of pace here.

One thing I LOVE about Xylitol (as Metqa mentioned) is the fact that it inhibits dental decay. It's sweet AND helps your teeth- can't beat that!

FWIW, I don't have any bizarre reactions to Splenda, but it tastes so sweet now that I can't eat much of it. Atkins has killed my sweet tooth!

[vandi68]

Splenda gives me real bad cravings for sweets. I try to avoid it. And the post taking about xylitol, It is in a lot of sf gum and I chew gum often to counter a snack attack and when I did Atkins last time for over a year I didn't have one cavity. When I went back to my old ways in just 6 months I had 2!! Beating this sugar monster has many wonderful benefits!!