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Posted 6/6/2008 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone here ever had problems with artificial sweetners like Aspartame?

I have recently been prescribed Questran Light by my GI for Bile Acid Diarrhea and it has Aspartame as one of its ingredients.

I was wondering if it could be a problem for my colitis?

G
Posted 6/6/2008 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
You would be shocked if you learned the truth about Aspartame.

http://www.wnho.net/the_ecologist_aspartame_report.htm
Posted 6/6/2008 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
I would try to stay away from ALL artificial sweeteners, even Splenda. Yes! They can have a detrimental effect on ones' health. It wasn't until I stopped using them that I realized they were affecting me, even after many years of initially no symptoms. I see Stevia, a natural sweetener (which I use) is becoming popular on the market. Did I hear the FDA soon may be approving it? Say it isn't so....... :)
Posted 6/6/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
There are many anecdotal reports of artificial sweeteners causing everything from diarrhea to cancer. In the case of saccharine, a slight connection was determined between heavy use and bladder cancer. Despite decades of research, no scientific evidence has been found for any other ill effects unless on the general population. Aspartame was tested for fifteen years before being released, and it wasn't much more than fifteen minutes after that until some were reporting it doing terrible things to them.

It all depends on what kind of evidence you find credible. If it bothers you, don't use it.
Posted 6/6/2008 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
If I eat/drink anything with artificial sweeteners, my body lets me know within minutes - it's miserable.

But others haven't had problems. You may have to try it and see what it does to you.

Good luck!
Posted 6/6/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Sugar Alcohols, anything ending in "tol" sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol and lactitol, have side-effects even though they are considered "safe", as little as 1/2 a stick of Extra gum )which contains sugar alcohols) can cause diarreha, cramps, gas and bloating.

Saccharin (sweet'N low) gives a slight increase in bladder cancer when high consumption is used (6 packets or more/day) in Canada it can only be purchased at the pharmacy.

Aspartame (nutrasweet, equal) cna increase the risk of cancer, rare cases of seizures, headaches, dizziness and worsening of depression have been cited when ingested in large amounts (20 cans of diet soda a day).

Sucralose (splenda) it's regular sugar bonded to chlorine and considered safe but if you're aware of how bad sugar is for you then safe is not an appropriate term in my opinion.

:)
Posted 6/6/2008 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
I use splenda all of the time. I probably shouldn't though.  Does anyone know where you caan get stevia?  Is it a owder or liquid?  Thanks

Posted 6/6/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Aspartame (nutrasweet, equal) cna increase the risk of cancer, rare cases of seizures, headaches, dizziness and worsening of depression have been cited when ingested in large amounts (20 cans of diet soda a day).

Yikes!! I think if someone drank 20 cans of Diet Coke everyday they should be expecting quite a lot of problems!
Posted 6/6/2008 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
More info on aspartame. It gives me a headache and blurry vision.

http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/hidden_dangers.htm
Posted 6/6/2008 7:11 PM (GMT 0)

bellski said...
I use splenda all of the time. I probably shouldn't though.  Does anyone know where you caan get stevia?  Is it a owder or liquid?  Thanks


I use Stevia when necessary, which is not too often...I use the powder form and I've purchased it at puritans pride online, it was reasonably priced because I bought it during their "buy one, get 2 free" deal which they often have (they seem to always have some kind of deal)...only a tiny amount is needed as the sweetness goes a loooooong way, I'm talking the tiniest amount on the tip of a tsp and not even the whole tip.

:)

Posted 6/6/2008 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
We're between a rock and a hard place with those products..we are inundated in almost every purchased product.

You could very well have a problem with it.....you could call the pharmacy and request the regular one...or at least see what the difference is in the ingredients.

Regarding sweeteners and my consumption...There is sorbitol in the cough/expectorant liquid that I use. It doesn't seem to be a huge problem during those short periods when I use it, but I do sometimes stomach dicomfort.

Last year, my beloved Doublemint gum has been adulterated by the dreaded artificial sweeteners, and I definitely was bothered by it with a severe specific cramping a few hours after chewing even one stick...so had to scrap it after being a loyal consumer of 40 years...sigh.
I found Spry gum that does have Xylitol in it, but I can chew it with no noticable problems (except the cinnamon that my mouth seems to react to).

I won't consume any aspartame, mannitol, or Splenda, but one has to surely read all the labels.

I'm pretty much a sugar consumer. I'll use it sometimes amount in my coffee and about half the called amount for in in baking/cooking.

When they start to something else such as Stevia or agava in products, I'd consider, but in the meantime, I do keep my consumption of artificial sweeteners very limited.

Hope it works out for you.

quincy
Posted 6/6/2008 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Splenda works like a laxative on me - I can't even have a drop of it. I have just figured out that Aspartame makes my colon spastic. I do much better without it.
Posted 6/6/2008 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Coca-cola is putting Stevia in their product which is good, however with what the carbonation can do to the bones, I still won't become a coke drinker, but it's hopefully going to be the stepping stone for Stevia to replace sugar and all other sweetners in all the other products out there.

:)
Posted 6/7/2008 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
pb4....you mean ONLY stevia to be considered a diet drink or you mean for the classic?

Since they dropped aspartame, there must be warehouses of the stuff being sold for a penny a ton..lol! No wonder all the companies are using it...much cheaper and 100 times sweeter than sugar.

I don't think the sugar option should be totally withdrawn....a coke once in a while is a treat...oh, I'm now seeing a float!!

Of course...coffee is my vice, lol!

q
Posted 6/8/2008 10:55 PM (GMT 0)

bellski said...
I use splenda all of the time. I probably shouldn't though. Does anyone know where you caan get stevia? Is it a powder or liquid? Thanks

Trader Joe's

Powder packets
Posted 6/8/2008 11:31 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
pb4....you mean ONLY stevia to be considered a diet drink or you mean for the classic?

Since they dropped aspartame, there must be warehouses of the stuff being sold for a penny a ton..lol! No wonder all the companies are using it...much cheaper and 100 times sweeter than sugar.

I don't think the sugar option should be totally withdrawn....a coke once in a while is a treat...oh, I'm now seeing a float!!

Of course...coffee is my vice, lol!

q

I don't know, that's never been specified, here's a link about it.

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/nr_20080515_rebiana.html

:)

 

Posted 6/9/2008 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info....hard to know.
q
Posted 6/9/2008 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe we'll know more once it's finally approved and on the market.

Not that it'll make any personal difference for me, I don't do carbonated drinks...I like my bones.

:)
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