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Artificial sweeteners, please read

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Posted 4/2/2008 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
All,

I know you have heard until you are tired of hearing it about the dangers of artificial sweeteners, but I just wanted to let you know a personal experience.

My rheumy is almost positive that artificial sweeteners of any kind and any amount trigger my lupus nervous system events. I have been keeping a journal at the insistence of his nurse from a few months ago... and how interesting it has proven to be! EVERY TIME I am exposed to an artificial sweetener, I have a CNS flare. The culprits have included sugarless gum, diet soda, yogurt, and childrens benadryl (sorbitol). It may be a small flare or it may be horrible like the one I just went through. Coincidence? I doubt it. The sweeteners I have reacted to as they are listed on the labeling are:

Splenda (also listed as Sucralose)

Aspartame (which I avoid anyway!)

Sorbitol

Xylitol

Maltodextrin

Please, please be careful!! If you are drinking diet sodas, or eating foods with these ingredients, please reconsider. I know we are all different, but Im not having these reactions for no reason... there is something in these chemicals triggering my immune system in these chemicals. And thats exactly what they are, chemicals. Splenda is the Chlorine molecule, with one atom changed... and you know how poison chlorine is to our bodies.

I love you all... please dont think I'm overreacting. I want you all to be safe and well. Im reading labels with a diligence now.
Posted 4/2/2008 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the information Victoria. I had a reaction once to a new soda, it was some sort of flavor of 7up with very few grams of sugar. I've never been a diet cola drinker but I definitely stay away from them now. I've also had a reaction to "fat free" ice cream. I think natural ingredients is the way to go, if you can't pronounce it... you shouldn't eat it. Thank you again. I pray you are doing well my friend.
Posted 4/2/2008 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have a bad reaction to the artificial sweetners too - not really CNS stuff, but I get headaches and feel flu-ish. I agree with Stacie about trying to eat foods in their most natural state and staying away from overly processed stuff.
Posted 4/3/2008 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
I actually read a few articles where some scientists and researchers have found that artificial sweeteners are nero-toxins. Since it is not a widely heald belief I rarely tell anyone about it. I found the information a few years ago but since I don't do artificial sweeteners as I have always reacted baddly haven't pondered it too much. I would not be suprised if your rheumy is right about the CNS flares being connected to artificial sweeteners.
Posted 4/3/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with all of this except in regards to Xylitol every rheumy I have been to ( 12) in total and my naturopath all encourage me to chew gum with this in it as it's a natural anti-fungal and it can help with my teeth and my dry mouth from sjogrens. I have done alot of research on xylitol and I buy it in bulk from the health food store I cook with it extra. Since using it I have finally had three dental check ups without cavaties. I guess differant strokes for everyone.
Posted 4/3/2008 6:33 AM (GMT 0)

  

It is soo true about artificial sweetners. I used to be a huge diet pepsi drinker then one of my co-workers sent me an e-mail about a true story of a women who was on her death bed because of an overload of artificial sweetners she was consuming. So I decided for an experiment to go off all soda and anything with splenda or aspartaine for a week. Now 2 weeks later I feel a huge improvement. Im not getting that achy joint feeling anymore and I find I have way more energy then I did. My arm used to get soo tired from brushing my teeth now it hardly ever bothers me. All of my "lupus" type symptoms have pretty much gone away..so it makes me wonder, as much of a strech it is but could some of these chemicls actually cause a person to have a false ANA positive??? Has anyone heard anything like that before???

Posted 4/3/2008 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Ginny remember this subject has come up many times LOL!!
I am leaving this one alone..... ........

...Ok so i lied im involved, this thread is worth the discussion and its intesting, I just remember the last time,we got in trouble

remember?
Posted 4/3/2008 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
This topic i very timely for me. Nsearch212 and I are on the same path. My naturopath convinced me 2 weeks ago to give up soda and sugar so I cut them both out. Now, 2 weeks later, I feel like a different person. I also buy xylitol at the health food store to use on my oatmeal and in smoothies. As an aside, I have also cut out processed foods as much as possible and for a change have been eating only what my naturopath calls "real" foods like fruits and vegies, fish, chicken, and some meat (which I hardly eat anyway). I have found some wonderful recipes on epicurious. Like you, Nsearch212, the achiness and fevers are gone and I have much more energy. It's like a miracle has occurred.


Victoria, I'll have to do more research on Xylitol. Thanks for the info.
Posted 4/4/2008 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
If I eat or drink anything with artificial sweetners I get a horrific headache. I say away from them.
Babs
Posted 4/4/2008 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Babs, the only artificial sweetner I've used in years is Splenda and my pcp tells me it's ok to use, but then you can get three different answers if you talk to three different doctors. I've switched to xilitol because my naturopath says it's ok to use but she hates splenda and all the others. It's so hard to know what's really the truth. Of course, if something gives you headaches, that's your first clue, isn't it.
Posted 4/4/2008 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I prefer Splenda and agree whomevers dr you talk to gonna say 3 different things, go for whatever doesnt make your head hurt. Splenda doesnt hurt my head. Im not familiar with the xylitol(sp?) can you buy it at walmart or do you have to go to a special store?
Posted 4/4/2008 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have only found xylitol at a health food store, and unfortunately it's very expensive.
Posted 4/4/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
PattyLatty,

I don't know if I can post links here so moderators delete whatever I shouldn't have on this post .... If you are wanting to buy Xylitol at a reduced good price please goto IHERB.COM. I am very big into natural cures for everything and I pretty much have dedicated every waking hour of my free time to reading and researching things. Most of the people I talk to use IHERB to buy there vitamins etc. They have a substantially reduced price their shipping is very cheap ( just bought 58.00 worth of items shipping to Canada was 4.00). Xylitol at my local health food store is around 35.00 a tub I got it for 15.00 on IHERB.

Anyone who has any problems with Candida or Thrush/Yeast should be using Xylitol and not sugar etc. IT has anti-fungal properties. I have dry mouth and had thrush every 8 weeks even with probiotics and eating yogurst without fail since chewing gum and eating xylitol I have not had it once.

Just my two cents if it can help anyone I am so glad my holistic MD told me about it.!

PattyLatty if you have any questions on IHERB please pm and I will help you.
Posted 4/5/2008 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
You may be able to argue about xylitol. However splenda aka sucralose is HORRIBLE. Everyone I know gets either a rash a headache or a stomache ache after eating anything that contains it.

My friends father's stomache was bleeding, severely. Then his kidneys started having problems. Turns out it was the splenda. There was so much proof he was able to sue Splenda for not having a health advisory on the box. They settled in 3 days of his lawyer filing the first complaint. 110,000 dollars.( his annual salary for 2006) I wonder why they settled so quickly? 3 days?

stay away from splenda health or sick!
Posted 4/7/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Angela,

Thanks for the info. I love it when other folks do research for me. lol. I'll check out that site as soon as I can. Just returned from the health food store and bought two bags of it. I'm trying to go gluten free for a while and found some things that look pretty yummy. We'll see what happens.

I don't get any reaction when I eat xylitol or splenda but just trying to cut out anything that's not natural. So far I'm feeling much better. Yesterday, however, I ate a handfull of crackers and have been feeling down today....achey and exhausted. This elimination diet is not as hard as I thought it would be. I guess whenever something makes you feel better it's worth doing whatever it takes. I'll be in trouble though if I get tired of baked sweet potatoes and cauliflower.

I'll get back to you after I check out that site. Grandkids are on their way over so won't be today.

Pat
Posted 4/11/2008 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
canuckgirl- I wasnt saying argue in a rude way. I ment argue, as a healthy debate. People should definitely do their own research.
Also my friends dad telling his daughter how much he got is not voiding anything. That's a little silly. No law says you arent allowed to tell your wife and kids whats going on.

Anyways my main point was splenda is bad, healthy or not. Also that Splenda is quite aware they mislead people into thinking its all good for you.

When you have lupus using artificial anything is risky. SInce I switched to my" no box no canned no artifical crap diet" I have been about 80 percent better.
Posted 4/12/2008 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Eating anything artificial dosn't make sense for anyone lupus or not. I generally only eat foods available at a health food store with the exception of organic fruits and vegetables. Hence why I only use xylitol and stevia as recommended by my naturopath and holstic md. And no you are correct telling his wife and/or child would not be against any laws and " silly" I was however refering to your knowledge of the settlement value and public mention of it and my assumption of you not being his wife and or child being a conflict of most gag clauses that are "generally" always a factor in any out of court civil settlements especially one's with the a company the size of Splenda.
Posted 4/12/2008 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
I use generic sweet and low, its the only one I can afford. But I love splenda becasue it tastes better, I really nver thought of it as beind bad for me. the xylitol sounds interesting, wish they sold it at walmrt...... ......
Posted 4/12/2008 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sheryl,

I know I wish they sold it at more main stream stores as well. However my holistic MD said at the last medical conferance he went to they did a whole presentation on it and it's anti fungal properties and how it prevents gum disease etc etc. So he said more companies will likely start using it in products I do know I have now been able to buy gum and some soda pop that uses it as it's sweetener. As far as Splenda and sweet n'low are concerned I use Splenda brown sugar. If neither of them give you side affects or cause you to feel a flare up I wouldn't think there is anything wrong with them for you. Personally we may all have the same or some type of auto immune illness however we do all have differant immune systems so what is a sensitivity or allergic reaction for one could possibly be fine for another.
Posted 4/13/2008 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Canuckgirl, yeah I agree what works for some may not wprk for others. If I could afford it, I would be buying the xylitol at a place they sold it.
But I love slpenda too, I cant even afford that. So all I have to choose from is the generic sweet&low.or the generic nutra sweet. I think the sweet and low is a little better the nutra sweet.

I am hoping to get a part time job soon, if I do then I can get what I want probably splenda at first cuz i really like its taste, then when im feeling real rich go to a whole foods store and get the xyitol. ZI know if have seen it in pops and gums, I wonder why we dont see it in other things like cereal or pastries, icecream etc? do you think its because its to expensive or just hard to get into those products? ......... .........
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