nutrasweet, splenda or... sugar?

carpdiem, Nutrasweet is aspertame, which I personally do not think is at all good for us, and may actually be quite dangerous:  Here's a very recent article about it:    http://www.mindfully.org/GE/Aspartame-GM-Bacteria.htm

Have you tried Agave Nectar?  It's a liquid -- a bit like honey, but without the pronounced taste of its own that honey has.  You can find it in many stores these days, from Trader Joes to natural foods markets and most supermarkets.  

You may also want to check out the Natural Girls thread, in the Alternatves forum.  It's full of chatter about things like this and the other questions you've posted about healthier choices.   Deanna

When my friend had a severe head injury they told her to never have nutrasweet. I go with sugar or honey.

I read where Nutrasweet will kill ants if you don't have ant killer.  Nice huh?    If I ever had to go without my sugar, I'd pick Equal but even it is only a C- on my scale.

When I saw the thread subject I immediately thought Democrat, Republican or Independent, because I think people are that set in their ways as to what they want.  LOL

Catbird

This makes me so angry. About 8 years ago I decided I really needed to lose weight, so I started using Nutrasweet in my cooking, as well as in drinks ect. Well instead of getting healthier I've been putting poison in my body.

As a diabetic who must avoid sugar, I prefer the taste of Splenda except in Diet Coke. For some reason, the Splenda version doesn't appeal to me.  I tried Truvia in my coffee and found it to have a bitter aftertaste.  Yet, the Trop50 low sugar orange juice drink is made with Truvia and I like it - it seems to have kept the "bite" of real orange juice that most low sugar versions seem to lack.

 I participate in a diabetic discussion board on WebMd and we've had lots of discussions about artificial sweeteners, as you would expect they are used extensively by many of us.  We have a renowned endocrinologist who is our "expert" consultant and his opinion is that artificial sweeteners are safe in moderation.

I believe it is more than theory that too much circulating insulin feeds cancer cells.  Eating carbs causes a release of insulin and too many can make your cells resistant to the right amount of insulin, thus triggering additional a need for additional insulin, until your pancreas "wears out."  Minimizing sugar, simple carbs, highly processed foods (all the white stuff except cauliflower, really) will help keep insulin levels in check. 

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-insulin-affect-breast-cancer-survival.html

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/98/32199/breast-cancer-linked-higher-insulin-levels.html

One way to increase insulin sensitivity and thus reduce circulating insulin is diet and exercise.  Another way is the use of the drug metformin hydrochloride, a common inexpensive drug used to treat Type 2 Diabetes.  There are currently Phase 3 clinical trials underway in Canada using metformin rather than anti-hormones for a five year period.  Metformin is on WalMart's $4 list so a 3 month supply is $10, a whole lot less than Femara or Arimidex (not sure about the cost of Tamoxifen). 

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01101438?recr=Open&cond="Metformin"&lup_s=07/04/2010&lup_d=30

I am Type 2 and take 2000 mg of metformin.  I also work very hard to keep my insulin levels low and my cReactive Protein levels in the normal range, both to avoid diabetes complications and to reduce my risk of a BC recurrence.  Metformin has helped me keep both my glucose levels and my weight in the normal range.  I expect to stay on this drug for the rest of my life (I am 60). 

I hope this is "food for thought" for my sisters.

Michelle

I use turbinado sugar in coffee.  Just delish on top of the sweetening.

Unless you want your coffee ultra sweet, or drink it by the gallon, you aren't adding that much in terms of calories.

I use honey in tea when I want it sweeter.

All the artificial sweeteners taste blech to me.  I realize I am in the minority here.

I would much rather start the day with something utterly delicious than with something just OK.

I think Dr. Oz pushes for xilitol and stevia.

I find it hard to remove all sweetener from my diet. I don't drink coffee so that's not an issue but my yogurt has some. I don't drink diet cola much anymore (once in the last 4 months… used to be at least 1-2 cans a day). I just try to watch and keep it down. I do have the occasional cookie or taste for gummy cherries or red licorice but those are not items I even eat weekly. If I cook I tend to not use artificial sweeteners. I rather use less sugar.

None of those are good options!!!!  Stevia.

Nutrasweet is neurotoxic.

Splenda is sucralose, which is a sugar alcohol.  Xylitol is also a sugar alcohol.  All sugar alcohols cause digestive and inflammatory issues for people, it's just that some are sensitive to them and some aren't.

 Sugar feeds cancer.

I'm a certified nutrition educator.

I bought into the aguave when it first came out, but later learned that it has a higher glycemic index than sugar.  

If you are just drinking one or 2 cups of coffee a day, I wouldn't sweat it and use the real stuff. 

it's time to admit that there is a no free tictet to eating all the sugar free product you desire without peying the high price of harming you body in the long run.

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