Stop Using Aspertame!!!!

[J-lo carb]

Does anyone here still drink or eat sugar-free anything with aspartame? Seriously, stop. Stop buying that stuff and quit putting it in your bodies. We should be mad that it was ever allowed in the first place. What a mess! AND STILL people drink it (in mass quantities sometimes). I wish someone would take it away so my sister and mom can't drink the crap out of it.

[LukeA]

Plenty of folks do totally fine with it. Many of the people saying how horrid it is don't have good science behind it at all. Totally banning it is going way overboard IMHO. Doesn't mean I think its perfect, and I only have it rarely in diet drinks for the simple reason other sweeteners taste better to me.

[LessLiz]

Dang, I thought the election for dictator was still 13 days away!

[MiaKea1]

LOL Liz.......you must be reading minds.

[Caraboo109]

It will never go away because it's cheap replacement for sugar and there's too much money involved. I look forward to the day when stevia sweetened soda pops can be purchased on this side of the earth. Japan sweetens theirs with stevia, have for years apparently. I wonder if long term studies have been done for adverse effects.

[Kisal]

Dang, I thought the election for dictator was still 13 days away! http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-045.gif http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-045.gif http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-045.gif

[Kisal]

It will never go away because it's cheap replacement for sugar and there's too much money involved. I look forward to the day when stevia sweetened soda pops can be purchased on this side of the earth. Japan sweetens theirs with stevia, have for years apparently. I wonder if long term studies have been done for adverse effects.You can buy soft drinks that use Stevia:

https://store.zevia.com/

I understand that Pepsi and Coco-Cola companies have received approval from the FDA to use it in their products, although I believe they will be using an artificially altered form of it that allegedly has no aftertaste.

[ladylaughs]

Hmmmm, artificially altered.... ;)

[Kisal]

Hmmmm, artificially altered.... ;)Yep! My feeling exactly! :lol: :lol:

[johndeb420]

sorry but aspertame is my sweetener of choice could have never lost my weight without my diet coke,coke zero ,and diet pepsi.and i have no probs with it

[Angeltt]

Has anyone had problems with Stevia? I can't have even a bit of Splenda - it causes a serious laxative effect with me (may or may not be attributable to my having Crohn's disease) :eek: So I wonder if Stevia would affect me the same way. I just hate to do the "test and see" approach but I guess that is what I'll have to do!!! :blush:

You folks are funny - love the responses above! :D

[J-lo carb]

johndeb420-sweet, is that your house address :)

I'm not trying to go dictator on you, Liz (ha that's my sister's name and you sound just like her). You drink up babe.

[anyway...]

Has anyone had problems with Stevia? I can't have even a bit of Splenda - it causes a serious laxative effect with me (may or may not be attributable to my having Crohn's disease) :eek: So I wonder if Stevia would affect me the same way. I just hate to do the "test and see" approach but I guess that is what I'll have to do!!! :blush:

You folks are funny - love the responses above! :D

I've been realizing recently that my ongoing, will not die, drugs don't do squat 'allergy' problems are probably not an allergy at all... or, at least, not the way I thought. It's looking like it might be splenda. 2 days off it and I'm starting to be able to breathe again.... but I'm still testing this out, so I won't say I'm 100% positive it's the splenda, yet.

Anyway, I say that just to say 'hey... I totally get what you're going through' :D While I've been taking a break from splenda to do this test, I've been using Stevia Clear, Vanilla Creme liquid (http://www.herbalremedies.com/stevia-2.html) without any problems. I find 5 drops in my coffee is fabulous... and the stuff seems to last forever. Not a fan of the unflavored stuff, but the vanilla adds a nice... 'something'... to my coffee.

HTH!

[girlbug2]

I think the OP is just trying to help people regarding something she is passionate about. We've all been there. When I first started LC I recall preaching a little to my family.

I do agree that aspertame has a lot of negative aspects that most people don't/won't acknowledge, that it is way too prevalent, and I wish my dh wouldn't guzzle the stuff like he does. But I don't think the answer is banning it.

[PlayDoh]

i love aspertame. out of all of the sweeteners, to me, it is the least picky. stevia only tastes good to me in tea or along with other sweeteners in baked goods. splenda is all right and mostly i use that because i can get it liquified as sweetzfree, very handy. of all of them though, i like the taste of aspertame the best. i only wish i could get it in liquid form like sweetzfee so i could totally switch over to aspertame. i don't have a problem using any of them, i just prefer the flavor of aspertame.

[MsChevious]

I think the OP is just trying to help people regarding something she is passionate about. We've all been there. When I first started LC I recall preaching a little to my family.

:thup: I think you hit the nail on the head.

[ruthla]

I personally won't touch the stuff, as I already have numerous health problems and food sensitivities, and I really don't want to find out what aspartame might do to me. Stevia is the only sweetener I use regularly, although I will use sacharine or splenda occasionally (like once a month or less) when out. I also use tiny portions of honey once in a while (and I do have a small portion of a sugar-sweetened homebaked treat even more rarely.)

However, I'm not about to tell other what they can or can't eat (other than my own children.) There's a huge difference between saying "hey, I read this study about a possible danger to aspartame, here's the link to it if you want more information" and saying "don't eat this stuff!!! It's poison!!!!"

It's good to share information; people might be unaware that health problems they're having might be linked to something they're consuming regularly. OTOH, all our bodies are different and the same substance that causes me so much trouble may be perfectly fine for somebody else.

[bobulot]

what's the problem with aspertame?

[Angeltt]

Thanks for the information Anyway. :D Please keep me posted on how the Stevia works out as opposed to the Sucralose. I used to get sugar free candy and couldn't realize why I got that effect then it hit me. Splenda and any sugar free candy will get me. I am curious about the Stevia. For now I use aspartame (or sacchrin since I read in one of the Atkins books that Atkins didn't want dieters to use aspartame.) Neither of them bother my digestive system.

[johndeb420]

not my address...guess again

[anyway...]

Thanks for the information Anyway. :D Please keep me posted on how the Stevia works out as opposed to the Sucralose. I used to get sugar free candy and couldn't realize why I got that effect then it hit me. Splenda and any sugar free candy will get me. I am curious about the Stevia. For now I use aspartame (or sacchrin since I read in one of the Atkins books that Atkins didn't want dieters to use aspartame.) Neither of them bother my digestive system.

Glad to help :)

Not that I'm pro-splenda or anything, but if you're problem was with sugar free candy only (and not splenda by itself), I would bet it wasn't the splenda... it was probably the maltitol.

[mike_d]

what's the problem with aspertame?For starters ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n-gA0wvi84

"Sweet misery a poisoned world."

Don't forget its in all SF gum.

[snowgirl73]

You can buy soft drinks that use Stevia:

https://store.zevia.com/



Kisal, have you actually tried these drinks? I am just wondering if they have a 'normal' soda taste.

:)

[JLx]

Has anyone had problems with Stevia? I can't have even a bit of Splenda - it causes a serious laxative effect with me (may or may not be attributable to my having Crohn's disease) :eek: So I wonder if Stevia would affect me the same way.

There's a thread right now on stevia.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=384343

Some people don't like the taste, but I wonder if they've just used too much, as I've read that too much is what makes it taste bitter. I usually hate bitter -- and that's why I don't even drink coffee -- but stevia doesn't taste bitter to me. I think the brand counts too. Nunaturals or Sweetleaf Wisdom brands is what I've seen recommended the most.

[fairymoon]

LOL...I know you mean well, but ugly me would come roaring out if I lost my one staple in life - my one can a day fix of diet coke!!! :)

[Angeltt]

Anyway - no, it is Splenda too. But also whatever they put in the candy. I know within minutes whether it's got Splenda in it. I got a sugar free lemonade a few years ago and didn't see the "with Splenda" on the label. I just took two sips of it and I was sick for the rest of the day. ICK!!!! :eek: I wish I could have it. It is supposed to be so much better for you than Aspartame or Sacchrin but it's all I got. Keep me posted on the Stevia!

[Kisal]

I wonder if those of you who like aspartame have seen the video "Sweet Misery: a Poisoned World." It's 90 minutes long, but IMO, well worth the time.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-566922170441334340

[ruthla]

I'm not convinced that sacharine is so dangerous. Yeah, it causes tumors in lab animals when given doses 200X the average human dose- but has it actually caused any problems in PEOPLE?? It actually has a pretty good safety record from the decades it was the only artificial sweetener around. Compare that to all the GI distress from Splenda and neurological symptoms from aspartame.....

I wouldn't mind seeing aspartame off the shelves and sacharine sweetened diet sodas readily available again. That would make diet soda available to me. But, at present, aspartame is in a lot of products. If other adults don't have any noticable reactions to it, and like the taste, who am I to tell them not to consume it?

[Kisal]

Kisal, have you actually tried these drinks? I am just wondering if they have a 'normal' soda taste.No, I have not tried them. I wasted a whole bunch of money trying different brands of Stevia in an effort to learn to like the stuff. I will not bother with it again. :)

[J-lo carb]

Sorry-technology?!

I just think it kind of sucks that there aren't options in certain products. Maybe you feel fine now, but how much warning do you get when you have a brain tumor. What's worse is that aspartame problems can mimic the symptoms of other diseases like Parkinson's, so people may not even know the cause.

I've always got a headache after I drank too much aspartame on an empty stomach so I quit drinking it a long time ago. Then I watched the sweet misery thing and I can't help but believe it. Sounds like a lot of scandal to approve a product that's so safe.

Anyway, take it or leave it. You will anyway. That is until I am (elected-what?) dictator in 13 days then you shall all be my aspartame abstinent slaves.

Thanks for the good discussion.

[Caraboo109]

No, I have not tried them. I wasted a whole bunch of money trying different brands of Stevia in an effort to learn to like the stuff. I will not bother with it again. :)

I came across that site some time ago and forgot about it.

I'd try them if they were more readily available. These are available only in the US at the moment and not near my neck of the woods (I'm 45 mins from the border into northern NY). Since I'm too cheap to pay for shipping for a product that our beloved customs folks might ding me duties and taxes on, I'll make due with Schweppes for now.

[pecan]

I wonder if those of you who like aspartame have seen the video "Sweet Misery: a Poisoned World." It's 90 minutes long, but IMO, well worth the time.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-566922170441334340

agreed! VERY informative

[sommeralto]

I'm an aspartame junky -- don't think I could ever give it up!

[johndeb420]

me too sommeralto

[2bthinner!]

Don't forget its in all SF gum.
It's also in a LOT of REGULAR gum. I found out the hard way, but it's on the label.

http://www.wrigley.com/brands/nutrition.do

~This is REGULAR gum~
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 2.7g
Calories 10
Amount/Serving %DV*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Sugars 2g
Protein 0g
* Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

INGREDIENTS: SUGAR, GUM BASE, DEXTROSE, CORN SYRUP; LESS THAN 2% OF: NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, GLYEROL, SOY LECITHIN, ASPARTAME, ACESULFAME K, COLORS (YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE), BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS). PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.

Wrigley's goal is to keep our online nutrition information up-to-date and accurate. However, we always recommend that you check our labels, or call 1-800-WRIGLEY, for the most up-to-date ingredient and nutritional information.

The stuff tears my stomach up..

[Skyliz]

I never think about sodas anymore. I once took the decision to only drink plain tapwater (6 to 8 glasses a day). And twice or three times a day I take a cup of black coffee (without sweetener). It's either that or nothing at all. And believe it or not, I'm doing fine and have stopped missing it alltogether.

[girlbug2]

That's a great routine Skyliz. Thoreau once said that water is the only drink for the wise man:).