Splenda and MC?

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 11:06 pm

Hi Guys:
Has anyone personally experienced diarrhea from Splenda? As I have mentioned before (but probably not since we've been in this new forum) just as I was going under the anesthesia for my colonoscopy, the doc said "you don't use Splenda, do you?" In my 3/4 groggy state I managed to answer, "no, but I used to use it a lot when I was doing Atkins. What's wrong with Splenda - I think it's great!" He answered "yes, it's great alright, but it gives a lot of people diarrhea." And then I was out like a light, and I assume he was "in" with his camera and other stuff.

A day or two after my colonoscopy I realized that even though I wasn't using tons of Splenda like I used to, I was STILL drinking LOTS of Fruit2-0, which is sweetened with Splenda! I immediately stopped drinking it and patiently waited to see if the prescribed Asacort would work for me.

As you all know, it did, and does, BUT.... since I got this recent diagnosis of hypoglycemia and my doc told me to go back to low-carbing, I've been eating my old favorite low-carb treats again, all made with Splenda. And today after one of those treats, I noticed the old familiar pains in my gut, and said "oh no - please don't tell me my CC is going to start flaring up!" And then it hit me.... maybe all the Splenda actually caused my CC? And giving it up is what made me get better, rather than the Asacort? And now that I'm low-carbing again, am I going to put myself right into another collagenous colitis nightmare?

Half of me wants to continue eating it to see what happens, and the other half wants to steer clear of it, just in case, but I honestly don't know if I will be a successful low-carber without Splenda.

What's the story with Stevia? Is that something I should find and try instead?

Sue

Carrie · Post by **Carrie** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:42 am

Hi Sue. I've never eaten Splenda, at least not as far as I know. Shortly after it came on the market I read an article that something about it was not good for you. But another artificial sweetener, aspartame, is on my "short list" of theories about what might have caused my LC. About six weeks before my D erupted I started eating blueberry lowfat yogurt every day; it had aspartame in it. Before then I'd never eaten much yogurt and seldom had any other products with artificial sweeteners. I've wondered if maybe the aspartame had sometthing to do with my LC, or even too much bacteria from the yogurt. Guess I'll never know.

Anyway, since my LC began I have sworn off ALL artificial sweeteners. If any are listed on a label then I don't buy the product. I drink only unsweetened coffee or tea (and not much); if I occasionally decide to sweeten it I use sugar or honey. Here's a link comparing natural vs artificial sweeteners (they're trying to sell you something...but the information still is correct as far as I can tell): http://www.aboutsweeteners.info/?engine=adwords .

It will be interesting to see what others have experienced with artificial sweeteners. If I were you, I'd eliminate everything except natural sweeteners.

Love,
Carrie

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:04 am

Morning ladies---

Well I am not a sugar person---I do drink Fruit 2-0 also---have no problems---

But like we said

we are all so different---

And anything that has the other sugar additives dont bother me either??

Frustrating when one is trying to figure out what *new* thing might be causing *D*

Thats what I do if I have a sudden bout----Now, what did I eat that I NORMANly dont----and then I do the trial and error test--
For instance, I posted the other day that I have been enjoying the dee-licious summer soft fruits---BINGO---today NORMAN is running loose!!!

So now I lay off the honey-dew and the mangos

Take care -----
luve Barbara

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:18 am

I eat Splenda occasionally but not an awful lot, so I haven't noticed any problem. I NEVER used artificial sweetners before MC - only after gaining so much weight.

Good luck on your quest!!

Shirley

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:02 am

I don't eat any artificial sweeteners because they are made from corn, and I react to that.

I remember reading an article that mentioned that artificial sweeteners had the same effect on diabetics as sugar. Don't know if that is commonly accepted though.

Love, Jean

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:09 am

Well, I don't eat Splenda but if you suspect it's a trigger for CC I'd stay away from it. My trigger, I think, was NSAIDS, and I have stayed away from them for over 2 years now. I don't dare try any!

Instead of Fruit2O you could just drink the sparkling water with flavors. It's really good, and more refreshing and has no nothing in it!

CAMary · Post by **CAMary** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:07 am

Sue-

Artificial sweeteners give me D as well!! Not sure specifically about Splenda, as that is a newer product and once I realized Nutrasweet did me in, I avoid *all* of them like the plague!! I would guess if the doc says it can give people with "normal" colons D, it would be more likely to affect US!!

I have tried stevia, however, and that was okay - a lady at our farmers market makes a GF granola and she uses stevia - I think it is an herbal sweetener - so it is perhaps in a different category??? More like honey than aspartame/splenda..

I never ingested much artificial sweetener, but now if someone handss me a diet something or other - I won't even drink a sip

Mary

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:25 am

Thanks for all the replies, ladies.... I knew I could count on you to give me food for thought.

I have used "Sweet and Low" in my coffees and teas all my life and have never had a problem, I guess that uses Saccharin? Seems to be safe in my gut, but I've never tried baking or cooking with it - don't know how it would work.

I agree - if the GI doc specifically asked me about Splenda, without me even bringing up artificial sweeteners, it must be something he sees a lot of. I try to stay away from Aspartame because I noticed it wreaks havoc with my panic attacks and OCD, but I love the Dannon low-fat yogurt, and they use Aspartame, so I have some once in a while.

I think I'll go find some Stevia and see how that works in food and more importantly, what it does to my body. I don't think I could ever go the rest of my life without "sweet", so don't even want to humor that thought yet. I can almost accept having to be on a restricted diet for life, but you gotta give me SOMETHING to look forward to, ya know????

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:29 am

Yes, stevia is indeed an herbal product.

http://www.stevia.net/

Tex

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:46 am

Instead of Fruit2O you could just drink the sparkling water with flavors. It's really good, and more refreshing and has no nothing in it![/quote]

Question about the above....... I have often picked up the flavored waters on the store shelves to read the ingredients, and I have never seen one that had totally "natural" flavors. They always had some sort of artificial sweetener in them. Now granted I gave up checking a while ago since I figured nothing that good existed, but if it exists now, I'd love to know about it! I need to drink lots of water now that I'm low-carbing again, and I just hate plain water. Who makes a "natural" flavored water?????
Sue

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:04 pm

Thanks, Carrie..... when I read the link you provided about "natural vs. artificial" I thought it was definitely worth trying some of their product so I just ordered some online. Wouldn't it be great if it truly was a sweetner that provided health benefits at the same time? Probably too good to be true, but it's worth $10.00 to find out. Thanks for the link.

For those of you who didn't read it, here's a statement from their webite: . . Ideal You is an all-natural sweetener with no calories made from a blend of fiber, fruit and calcium that is also healthy for diabetics."

It supposedly adds some healthy fiber to our systems, and provides the ingredient that helps our bodies utilize calcium better, too?
Sue

Geri · Post by **Geri** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:07 pm

Hi, Sue.

I use Splenda in my regular tea, about two cups per day, and I drink my green tea without any sweetener. I have not had any problems with it, but have wondered how safe it is. I did a little research, and couldn't find anything bad about it.

You have to be careful of the treats that are sweetened with Splenda. I have found that when you see the Splenda label on a product, there is usually written under it in very small print...."and other sweeteners". I don't do well with the "other sweeteners", and had to stop using reg. toothpaste because of them....but again, I do well with just Splenda.

How are you doing off sugar? Are you feeling any better on fewer carbs? I would like to hear how you are doing.

I'm going to check out Stevia also...I have heard good things about it.

Love,

Geri

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 5:55 pm

Sue,
I think in NY sparkling water is called "seltzer". Canada Dry makes some, so do Perrier, La Croix, and quite a few others. You're right though, you have to read the labels!

Sally · Post by **Sally** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:06 am

http://tinyurl.com/2ph4h

Here is some more info on Splenda. I don't know who this doctor is, but his info seems well documented.

Love,

Sally

On the other hand, there's this about aspertame.

http://tinyurl.com/7db47

How is a person going to know???

Geri · Post by **Geri** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:31 am

Whoa, Sally!

I may have to take a closer look at Splenda. I don't use a big lot of it, just a couple of tsp. per day, but I will probably cut that out.

Thanks for the link.

Love,

Geri