Splenda???

[ead79]

I have noticed that lots of WW recipes have Splenda in them. What is the difference between Splenda and other sweeteners like Sweet & Low or Equal? Does it taste different than those sweeteners or work better in recipes? Just call me confused, LOL!

 

[lulu71]

Splenda is a low-calorie artificial sweetener, but is actually made from sugar which, IMO, makes it tase much better than SweetNLo or Equal. You can buy it in granular form at the grocery or in the packets. I find that it's great to cook with but doesn't dissolve in cold beverages, much like Equal.

I love it and always carry it around with me.

 

[Rajah]

It doesn't have the bad chemicals Sweet and Low and Nutrasweet use, it has a much better flavor, you can cook with it and it measures 1 to 1 with sugar. We've found in our recipies that some of them work great when you substitute all sugar with splenda, but others you have to do half and half to get it right. Splenda is somehow made *from* sugar if I'm not mistaken, but it works for people who can't have sugar.

 

[dizneegirl]

Splenda (sucralose) is heat-stable, Nutrasweet (aspartame) is not, so Splenda can be used in baked goods.

Aspartame has been getting a lot of bad media attention lately... linked to health problems. A lot of people are moving away from using it for that reason.

Some people don't use Sweet n Low because of the saccharin... either because of the bad rap it's gotten in the past, or because of the saccharin aftertaste.

 

[ead79]

Thanks--I knew you guys would know.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that there isn't that much research on the safety of Splenda yet (something like 1/10 the amount of research there is on saccharine). Despite that, based on the early studies, I feel pretty confident that it will one day be found to be as safe as saccharine.

 

[Ven]

Formaldehyde Poisoning from Aspartame

In 1997 there was an increase in aspartame users reporting severe toxicity reactions and damage such as seizures, eye damage and vision loss, confusion, severe migraines, tremors, depression, anxiety attacks, insomnia, etc. In the same years, Ralph Walton, MD, Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine showed that the only studies which didn't find problems with aspartame where those funded by the manufacturer (Monsanto). Given the agreement amongst independent scientists about the toxicity of aspartame, the only question was whether the formaldehyde exposure from aspartame caused the toxicity. That question has now been largely answered because of research in the late 1990s.

The following facts shown by recent scientific research:


Aspartame (nutrasweet) breaks down into methanol (wood alcohol).


Methanol quickly converts to formadehyde in the body.


Formaldehyde causes gradual and eventually severe damage to the neurological system, immune system and causes permanent genetic damage at extremely low doses.


Methanol from alcoholic beverages and from fruit and juices does not convert to formaldehyde and cause damage because there are protective chemicals in these traditionally ingested beverages.


The most recent independent research in Europe demonstrates that ingestion of small amounts of aspartame leads to the accumulation of significant levels of formaldehyde (bound to protein) in organs (liver, kidneys, brain) and tissues.


Excitotoxic amino acids such as the one which is immediately released from aspartame likely increases the damage caused by the formaldehyde.

Readers are urged to followup by printing and reading the extensive and heavily-referenced discussion related to aspartame and methanol/formaldehyde poisoning (suitable for scientists and laypersons) at: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/. This document details the research showing formaldehyde toxicity from aspartame and demonstrates the techniques the manufacturer used to help hide these facts. Finally, an updated discussion of formaldehyde dosage from aspartame has been added to answer questions raised by what appears to be a manufacturer public relations campaign. Please read this document only after reading the first methanol/formaldehyde document linked to above.

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/embalm.html

 

[bicker]

Well, that's one side of the story, and from the attribution, a rather biased one. I doubt aspartame is as bad as that article claims.

Here's the other side of the story, from an equally biased source:

The food safety authority in Europe, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) of the European Commission, has reconfirmed aspartame’s clean bill of health following a comprehensive review of the sweetener’s safety. The SCF is a body of independent scientific experts which advises the European Commission on matters of food safety; its aspartame report was issued on December 10, 2002.

The overwhelming body of scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that aspartame, even in amounts many times what people typically consume, is safe and not associated with adverse health effects. However, over the years, some consumers have reported symptoms, which they believed were associated with aspartame. The FDA has investigated these allegations and concluded that there is no "reasonable evidence of possible public health harm" and "no consistent or unique patterns of symptoms reported with respect to aspartame that can be causally linked to its use." In 1984, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reviewed 517 of these anecdotal reports and stated, "the majority of frequently reported symptoms were mild and are symptoms that are common in the general populace" and that “focused” clinical studies would be the best way to evaluate these complaints.

As a result, numerous scientific studies “focused” on the allegations were conducted by expert researchers at major academic institutions. The results of these studies overwhelmingly demonstrated that aspartame is not associated with adverse health effects, including headaches, seizures, changes in mood, cognition, or behavior, or allergic reactions.

Despite the overwhelming documentation of aspartame’s safety, unfounded allegations that aspartame is associated with a myriad of ailments, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and lupus, have continued to be spread via the Internet and the media by a few individuals who have no documented scientific or medical expertise. Recently, several governments and expert scientific committees (including the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency, the French Food Safety Agency and Health Canada) carefully evaluated the Internet allegations and found them to be false, reconfirming the safety of aspartame. In addition, leading health authorities, such as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Lupus Foundation of America, have reviewed the claims on the Internet and also concluded that they are false.

Many consumers have been the victim of aspartame Internet email hoaxes. Although they may sound legitimate, don’t be fooled. The bottom line – aspartame is safe.

[Source: Calorie Control Council.]

So the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

However, there are also statements from unbiased sources:

“There continues to be unsubstantiated claims that the nonnutritive sweetener aspartame (brand name NutraSweet) poses health risks to people with diabetes. Aspartame has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a governmental agency that conducts thorough scientific reviews to determine foods are safe for public consumption. The American Diabetes Association follows FDA recommendations and recognizes that there is no credible scientific evidence linking aspartame to any health-related problems for people with diabetes.”

-American Diabetes Association Statement, February 9, 1999

 

[southernwingz]

I like Splenda a lot. I like that it doesn't have a funky aftertaste like a lot of the artificial sweeteners. I do however find that it tastes a little sweeter to me....so if I put it in my coffee, I use less of it then I would of regular sugar.

 

[RaySharpton]

Great thread Elisabeth. Thank you for all the information.

I'm glad that I gave up aspartine in Diet-Coke. The splenda made Diet Rite soda is pretty sweet to me. And it is great as a treat.

I wish Crystal Light would switch from aspartine to to splenda.

 

[Rhonda]

Crystal Lite in the bottles is sweetened with Splenda!! Just not the powder stuff yet.

FYI - Splenda (Sucralose) is the first artificial sweetener ever approved by the FDA that doesn't have to have any warnings on the labels!