Artifical Sweeteners

I have a sweet tooth. One way I deal with this is using fake sweeteners when I can (in coffee, sugar-less gum, diet coke, etc.) Are there real risks that these are carcinogenic? Is Splenda any less harmful bc it is made from real sugar?

Sun. Feb 12, 2:26am

Sounds like you've had fun weeding through all the conflicting research on this.

I believe the only known carcinogenic artificial sweetener is saccharin, which is in Sweet-n-Low. Rats fed only saccharin developed cancer...but remember (a) they're rats and not humans, and (b) who eats only saccharin?

I've heard a lot of nasty things about aspartame (Equal), but I have no idea if they're based on research rather than anecdotes. Splenda is indeed touted as the most natural fake sugar out there, but for all I know that could just be some great PR.

I think some new research has proven that fake sugar saves you calories but still affects your insulin levels, causing the appetite spike as real sugar...I believe fad diets like Atkins mention this phenomenon. Apparently Splenda doesn't have this effect, or has somewhat less of it.

Sunday, February 12, 2006, 9:26 AM

artificial sugars were "created" not to be healthy, but rather to be sweet. I don't go near them. I don't eat artificial food, I don't do artificial sweet. If you want to try more natural sweetners, that aren't sugar, try honey, agave nectar (my mom uses this in her tea and coffee), or vegetable glycerin.

Sunday, February 12, 2006, 10:26 PM

If you want something sweet definitely try honey! My mom used to make me honey tea (which is just warm water with honey added) and I loved it.

Monday, February 13, 2006, 10:23 AM

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