Caution with Splenda (Sucralose)

[lucky_bunni]

My mom has been doing Weight Watchers for about 3 months now and I've noticed that she has began substituting Splenda for sugar. She made a peach cobbler with it in it today and I decided to do some research on this *new* sugar substitute. I haven't thought much about it's safety, after all it's "made from sugar", but after reading up I found this disturbing article:

http://suewidemark.com/splenda.htm

If you use Splenda and haven't thought twice after it, I would highly advise you to read this and do some more research on this product. I'll be sharing this information with my mom tomorrow.

 

[02bBarbie]

actually, check into the D.O. who's writing this stuff....clearly he has a slightly skewed agenda...

Personally, I use Splenda and will continue to do so

 

[Dan Murphy]

I like it...........

http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/sucralosebroch.cfm

 

[DoeWDW]

Please look into what refined sugar does to your body so you can make an informed decision about which product does the most harm. I choose to use Splenda, but I use it in moderation. I try to eat mainly unprocessed natural foods - meat, veggies, fruit - and limit the amount of processed food that I eat.

I do think it's great that you're concerned about your mom's health! Steer her toward real food - hard to go wrong with that!

 

[lucky_bunni]

Before I get attacked here... I'm just saying people should use caution and do their own research into the various things being said in the ongoing discussion about this product in the scientific arena. On the surface it's a good thing and I'm not trying to bash it. I'm just saying that people should take some caution now instead of ten years into the future when we find out it causes a multitude of health problems more serious than regular sugar. I posted this not to bash Splenda but out of concern.

 

[bobcat]

Please don't take this as an attack but the web site you referenced had some very inflamatory statements that makes its research less credible. Such as comparing Splenda with DDT and other pesticides. From what I have read and remember from my diatetics classes this is a fairly safe alternative to sugar. Any time I see research that inflamatory I do more searching and find a balance of information.

 

[phamton]

Dr. Joseph Mercola who wrote the article also believes we should not drink pasteurized milk and recommends that we only drink raw milk. He also advocates eating raw eggs and says salmonella is not a significant health risk. Mercola states that sunblock can actually increase your skin cancer risk and that sunscreen is toxic. He is against all immunizations and also believes that the molecules of water can be physically changed by positive or negative thoughts!

 

[Lisa F]

From about.com :

The safety of sucralose is documented by one of the most extensive and thorough safety testing programs ever conducted on a new food additive.

More than 100 studies conducted and evaluated over a 20-year period clearly demonstrate the safety of sucralose. Studies were conducted in a broad range of areas to assess whether there were any safety risks regarding cancer, genetic effects, reproduction and fertility, birth defects, immunology, the central nervous system, and metabolism. These studies clearly indicate that sucralose:

Does not cause:
-tooth decay
-cancer
-genetic changes
-birth defects

Has no effect on:
-carbohydrate metabolism,
-short- or long-term blood glucose control or insulin secretion
-male or female reproduction
-the immune system

Please note that Splenda has been studied for over 20 years and is not "new" by any means.

 

[MeanLaureen]

Just remember how long they insisted that Sweet-n-low would cause cancer and then said "oops - our mistake, it's fine for human consumption"

 

[jrydberg]

As far as I'm concerned, hard to improve on sugar. I'll go with that

 

[stinkerbelle]

I love my Splenda...been using it in my coffee for years. I won't bake with it (I don't bake often - so when I do, it's full fat/full sugar.)

Also...that article was written 4 years ago...if anything really bad has been found in the past 4 years, you'd think we'd have heard something.