Splenda Studies In Health News

Copied from an article over at giveittomeraw.com:


MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James Turner, chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists at Duke University. "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study, published this past week in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A, confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label," said Turner.

Among the results in the study by Drs. Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, Eman M. El-Masry, Ali A. Abdel-Rahman, Roger E. McLendon and Susan S. Schiffman is evidence that, in the animals studied, Splenda reduces the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%, increases the pH level in the intestines, contributes to increases in body weight and affects the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the body in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected. Turner noted that the P-gp effect "could result in crucial medications used in chemotherapy for cancer patients, AIDS treatment and drugs for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines rather than being absorbed by the body as intended."

The study was conducted using male rats over a period of twelve weeks. The manufacturers of Splenda also used a rat study when they applied for and received approval to market the product from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At the time, the findings from their rat studies were extrapolated as to possible effects on humans. This is standard FDA practice and this study is consistent with that practice.

Turner said, "This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda. It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria." Although the effect of consuming Splenda does not result from a one time use, the side effects do occur after accumulated use. Turner also noted unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to the claims of Johnson & Johnson.


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The more I read about Splenda, the more and more my Stevia is starting to taste good to me every day.

Actually it's not bad. It just takes a little getting used to, and I didn't think I'd be able to wean myself off the Splenda kick but in the two cups of coffee I have had this week (down to two, which is a milestone in and of itself) I've had just two packets of SweetLeaf in each and it was pretty darn good, I must say. Probably the real reason I'm adapting is that as my body is detoxing I've lost my craving for sugars in general, unless it's fruit sugar, which is the good sugar and always a good thing to crave. And honestly, getting off coffee in general is easier as well, since eliminating sugar from my diet again has made it unnecessary to drink coffee to keep me awake at work, since all it really did anyway was make me jittery and edgy and pissed at the world (my customers will love me again, wheee!).

Breakfast: A half of a giant yellow papaya.

Lunch: A small banana and about 3 handfuls of blueberries.

Snack: About five sips of my "ghetto americano" (a Starbucks Cafe Americano filled halfway in a venti cup, then filled to the brim with non-fat milk and 2 SweetLeafs)

Dinner: 4 small Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burgers with no bun or condiments, grilled with olive oil and garlic, and two avocados on the side (fats ahoy, baby!)

This has been similar to what I've been eating for the past month or so, with at least two raw meals a day, breakfast always being fruit although I typically try to eat something raw and leafy green for lunch, like a salad, a bag of spinach, or something veggie. And dinner is sometimes a cooked meal, like whole grain pasta or a delicious baked spaghetti squash or, in this case, veggie burgers. I do get a little overboard with the olive oils, I admit, and I try to limit my avocados to twice a week, at least. But if I'm getting my fats from good sources like avos, cold pressed olive oils, and seeds and nuts (and eat them sparingly, with maybe one meal a day) then I don't think I'm doing too much harm to myself at this early stage, since I needs some fats in my diet for all the reasons we human beings need bright eyes and shiny coats (and a cold nose, which due to the weather I've had all damn day). Next I need to start bringing almond milk to work for my coffee, and phase out my addiction to parmesan cheese on my pasta. That's about all the dairy I ever have these days, and I feel just ducky. I said DUCKY, bitches!!

So again, my friends, steer clear of the Splenda. And the Equal, and all artificial sweeteners. As bad as refined sugar is for you, a little real sugar here and there is far better for you than the goop they put in diet sodas and pink/blue/yellow packets. Take good care of yo'selves, mah peeps!