Last week, I talked about the dangers of Aspartame. This week, I’m discussing Splenda® (aka: Sucralose) which is the derived from chemically altering sugar with chlorine- a known carcinogen.
This yellow packet is *600 times as sweet as regular sugar and was first discovered back in 1976 when a scientist was researching ways to mix sucrose with chemicals to make insecticides. The scientist tasted the substance and discovered it was sweet. So it’s pretty much the same thing as putting a pesticide in your food.
*Pure splenda is 600 times as sweet as sugar, the granulated is a cup to cup substituteSuclarose is a chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have long been known for causing organ, genetic, and reproductive damage. I’m not much of a scientist so when I read more about this I get confused, hehe! But I do understand it isn’t good for us!
What are some artificial sweeteners alternatives?
Low Calorie Natural Sweeteners:
Xylitol
Stevia
Lakanto
Yacon Syrup and Powder
Natural Sweeteners: (to use in moderation) White (table) sugar
Pure Cane Sugar
Molasses
Rapadura
Sucanat
Turbinado sugar
Evaporated cane juice
Agave nectar syrup
Brown rice syrup
Honey
Maple syrup
Sources:
Splendaexposed.com
http://tuberose.com/Sucralose.html
http://www.holisticmed.com/sweet/
What do you think about Artificial Sweeteners?
It’s Healthy 2day Wednesdays 14th Link Up! So glad you’re here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you’ll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier! Check out last week’s link up for a lot of great tips.
Each week, I am going to choose 3 posts that really stuck out to me, something that I thought would be encouraging to everyone. (if you would like to nominate someone, please email me)
My top 3 entries from last week:
TBA
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About Rachel
Hi Rachel, thanks so much for hosting! I shared a Creamy Watermelon Ice Cream recipe (w/ dairy-free option). It’s refreshing and oh so yummy! Great post on artificial sweeteners! It’s so important for people to learn more about them. Thanks again 🙂
Artificial sweeteners are the bane of my existence. 😉 I just wish more people would pay more attention. I have been interested in the xylitol and stevia more recently as good alternatives.
Hi Rachel,
I shared my instructions fro dehydrated tomatoes and some articles I hope you enjoy! Hope to see you at FAT TUESDAY real food carnival next week!
Where do you purchase your xylitol? I appreciate this link up. It is encouraging me to stay on the right track. 🙂
Hi!!
Actually Rachel, your statement that the packet is 600 times sweeter isn’t completely accurate. I did some research on Splenda earlier this year and found that while SUCRALOSE is considerably sweeter than sugar (300-1000 times sweeter to the tounge than sugar), only 5% of the contents of that packet is sucralose. The rest is granulated dextrose and maltodextrin. Splenda stinks. And I think we have only just begun to find out it’s dirty secrets.
http://thetableofpromise.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-stuff-i-never-knew-about-splenda.html
Hi Rachel! Thank you for hosting.
I don’t use any artificial sweetener! I use olny honey and brown sugar.
Great blog!I am your newest follower! I would love to follow me back.
Have a nice day!
Thanks for linking up ladies!
Emily- your recipes sounds yummy, I’m going to check it out in a few minutes!
Brenna- I agree about ppl should pay more attention!
Jill- congrats on your new canival, will link this up if it’s ok?
Living So Abundantly- look in the “healthy” section in your grocery store or in a health foods store like whole foods, earthfare, and the like, look for 100% Pure Xylitol (as the only ingredient) and be aware, in any natural sweetener, low cal or not, they have some effects on your body, some can cause diarrhea in large consuptions, so in everything, whether sugar or low cal natural sweetener, use in moderation.
COB-great articles! I agree that the artificial or natural sweeteners are chemicals, but different dynamics of what they contain, making effects on your body different, although tricking the body into thinking it’s sugar isn’t a good thing. I edited about the 600x sweeter; pure splenda is not the granulated splenda. Thanks for challenging me to dig deeper! 🙂
Maria- thanks for stopping by! I’ll check your blog out!
I get a headache within minutes of using Splenda.
When it first came out several years ago I switched, assuming it was better than sugar – I used 1 pk in my 1 cup of coffee per day – over a period of a few months I developed frequent (10-50 times a day) split-second dizzy spells.
I accidentaly stumbled upon something on the web about Splenda’s side effects. I stopped using Splenda and 80% of my dizziness went away within a couple days. I still have some of the dizziness, although much less frequent.
To me, Splenda is pure evil.
Kim- Thanks for sharing your experience! Do you use something different now?
I used to use a TON of Splenda before we started our healthy eating journey…..then my mom had to quit using it because it was bad for her arthritis. If it’s bad for arthritis, should we really be eating it? Um, no.
I’m appalled to find out how it was created.
Very interesting! People need to know about the dangers of artificial sweeteners!
Thank you for hosting, Rachel. Today I linked up a post on how to protect yourself from Salmonella, E Coli and other food borne illnesses naturally. I hope your readers find it useful.
I shared Lea’s Easy Creamy Cocout Pineapple Ice Cream.
Thanks for inviting me over! I am looking forward to reading more of your blog!
Thanks for the link up!
I posted a profile for anise seed, a distinct and tasty spice.
Amanda
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I have trouble with all artificial sweeteners, although aspartame is the worst–even in chewing gum (from which you swallow very little at a time) it bothers me. I think what happens is that my body tastes sweetness and prepares to digest sugar, so when there is no sugar things go awry: I feel dizzy, STARVING but queasy, headachey, and my vision gets strange as if things are too bright and too dark at the same time. I noticed this from the very first time I tried Diet Pepsi (I guess that used saccharin at first?) when I was 7; I thought I was getting flu or something even worse, but 2 hours later I was fine.
I think that instead of eating fake sugars, we should just choose less-sweetened foods and drinks. Instead of sodas, I drink herbal teas or water with a dash of lime juice.
Rachel I use Stevia now, in both liquid and a powder blend.
In its final form, granular, it contains ‘impurities’ with a coarse, brown grain, however it is not chemically
processed. It also serves food for the brain to have more balanced mood, better brain function and improved memory.
In 2002, almost 132 million tons of sugar were consumed worldwide.