Splenda: Is it really sugar? Find out

Don’t let these big companies fool you. There is no magic alternative to sugar when it comes to sweeteners. There are reports from around the world of people reporting being harmed by sucralose, the main ingredient in several sweeteners. Learn the bitter truth about Splenda. In 2006, there were only six published human studies on Splenda (sucralose). Of these six trials, only two were conducted and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. The two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects. 36 people are not many, but also, only a total of 23 were actually given sucralose for testing and yet, it had only lasted four days and the reactions of sucralose were observed in relation to dental caries and not to human tolerance. Why do you need to know more about Splenda? Splenda, best known for its “made with sugar so it tastes like sugar” marketing work, has become the number one selling artificial sweetener in many parts of the world in a very short period of time. Between 2000 and 2004, the percentage of American households using Splenda products jumped from 3 percent to 20 percent. In a one-year period, Splenda sales earned $177,000,000 compared to $62,000,000 spent on aspartame and $52,000,000 on sweet ‘n low saccharin. McNeil Nutritionals, in its marketing pitches for Splenda, emphasizes that Splenda has undergone some of the most rigorous testing of any food additive to date. Enough to convince the average consumer that it is safe. They claim that More than 100 studies have been conducted on Splenda. But what they don’t say is that most of the studies have been done on animals. Additional Concerns About Splenda Studies No long-term studies on human toxicity were conducted until after the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. A human toxicity trial was conducted after FDA approval, but it lasted only three months and no studies have been done in children or pregnant women. Much of the controversy surrounding Splenda centers not only on its safety, but rather its false advertising claims. The competition between sweeteners is anything but sweet. The sugar industry has sued McNeil Nutritionals over its claim that Splenda is a natural, calorie-free form of sugar. Is it really sugar? There is no doubt that sucralose begins as a sugar molecule. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally prepared in a laboratory. In the patented five-step process of making sucralose, three molecules of chlorine are added to one molecule of sucrose, or sugar. A sucrose molecule is a disaccharide that contains two individual sugars linked together: glucose and fructose. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it somehow converts it to a fructo-galactose molecule. This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature and, therefore, our body does not have the ability to metabolize it correctly. As a result of this “unique” molecule, Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, which would be the same as having zero calories. However, it is not that Splenda naturally zero calories, it is because the body does not have the ability to metabolize it. How long does Splenda stay in our body? If you look at the research (which is mainly based on animal studies), you will see that actually 15% of sucralose is absorbed by our digestive system and ultimately stored in our body. To arrive at a number like 15% means that some people absorb more and some people absorb less. In a human study, one of eight participants did not excrete sucralose, even after 3 days. It is evident that his body was absorbing and metabolizing this chemical. That’s what our bodies are supposed to do. The bottom line is that we all have our own unique biochemical makeup. Some will absorb and metabolize more than others. If you are healthy and your digestive system is working well, you may be at greater risk of breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines. If you feel that Splenda affects you negatively, that is valid. Don’t let someone convince you that it’s all in your head. You know your body better than anyone. How to determine if Splenda is harming you The best way to determine if Splenda or sucralose is harming you is to carry out a removal of it. First eliminate it along with other artificial sweeteners from your diet completely for a period of one to two weeks. After this period, reintroduce it in sufficient quantity. For example, you use it in your drink in the morning and eat at least two products containing sucralose for the rest of the day. On this day avoid other artificial sweeteners so that you are able to differentiate which one may be causing a problem for you. Do this for a period of one to three days. Take note of how your body feels, especially if it feels different than when you were not consuming artificial sweeteners. For example, the following symptoms have been reported after eating sucralose: Gastrointestinal problems Seizures, dizziness, and migraine Blurred vision Allergic reactions Increases in blood sugar and weight gain