Splenda

[VydorScope]

There seemed to be come confusion here about Splenda based onmy reading of old threads, so I contacted them a while ago to get an answer. Before they replied it was cleared up here already, but now that I got thier reply, I figure I should share it...

Dear Vincent,

Thank you for visiting the SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener website.  We hope you became more familiar with SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener during your visit to the site.

There is no gluten in SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener.  Sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener is made from sugar.  There are no wheat-derived ingredients or proteins in SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener.

The maltodextrin in SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener is derived from corn and is known to be well tolerated by Celiac patients.

We value hearing from our consumers. Please feel free to call us with any additional comments or questions on our toll-free number 1-800-7-SPLENDA (1-800-777-5363), Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Eastern Time.  You may also access our website at www.splenda.com for recipes, cooking and baking tips, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Tracey Ely

SPLENDA Consumer Relationship Center

[skbird]

Splenda seems to affect me poorly, despite being gluten free. If I use it for a few days, even small amounts and even the kind without maltodextrin, I will start having major fatigue, inability to think clearly, and mild depression. If anyone starts feeling this way and they use Splenda, please try to go without it and see if your symptoms improve.

There have not been a lot of tests on Splenda/sucralose, and while the company adamantly claims it's safe, it's still prudent to take caution and listen to your body.

Stephanie

[VydorScope]

Splenda seems to affect me poorly, despite being gluten free. If I use it for a few days, even small amounts and even the kind without maltodextrin, I will start having major fatigue, inability to think clearly, and mild depression. If anyone starts feeling this way and they use Splenda, please try to go without it and see if your symptoms improve.

There have not been a lot of tests on Splenda/sucralose, and while the company adamantly claims it's safe, it's still prudent to take caution and listen to your body.

Stephanie

Splenda is safe to thebest of my knowledge... but the fillers they add to what they are allowed to sell to the public are well known to bug some ppl, just like all the sugar alchols do. Last I looked pure splenda was not advailbie in America, only Canada.

They dont bug me, or most ppl that I know.. but htey do bug some.

[KaitiUSA]

Even though Splenda is gluten free I have not trusted the sugar substitutes. Some people may not have a problem with the sugar substitutes but I have never liked them and even though sugar is bad for you, in my opinion the substitutes are worse unless it's a natural sort of thing.

[VydorScope]

Even though Splenda is gluten free I have not trusted the sugar substitutes. Some people may not have a problem with the sugar substitutes but I have never liked them and even though sugar is bad for you, in my opinion the substitutes are worse unless it's a natural sort of thing.

Yea, my sister agress with you, she wont touch spendla cause its not "natural". Its the closest of the fake sugars to the real thing out there, and I will prbly use Splenda till Stevi a (or other 0 cal natural sweetner) plays out more.

[UIDancer]

Anything with aspartame or any of its derivatives have a negative effect on me. I'll go without and be fine, then I'll think "hm... must have been something else." So I start drinking diet this and that again and start to get sick. I get headaches and tummy aches even after only having one or two diet drinks a day. This is really terrible stuff and even though the higher powers say it's fine, I have read studies about how aspartame, etc. causes terrible terrible things in people and rats. Just say no!

Devon

Chicago, IL

[KaitiUSA]

Yea, my sister agress with you, she wont touch spendla cause its not "natural". Its the closest of the fake sugars to the real thing out there, and I will prbly use Splenda till Stevi a (or other 0 cal natural sweetner) plays out more.

Yea I use liquid stevia for my drinks and I usually use either regular sugar or half sugar half xylitol for baking.

I have to admit that Splenda is probably the best choice if you want a sugar substitute(other than something natural)

[VydorScope]

Anything with aspartame or any of its derivatives have a negative effect on me. I'll go without and be fine, then I'll think "hm... must have been something else." So I start drinking diet this and that again and start to get sick. I get headaches and tummy aches even after only having one or two diet drinks a day. This is really terrible stuff and even though the higher powers say it's fine, I have read studies about how aspartame, etc. causes terrible terrible things in people and rats. Just say no!

Devon

Chicago, IL

Just ot prevent confusion aspartame has nothing to do with pure splenda.

BAH starting to sound like I work for Splenda, I need to contact them about getting a paycheck LOL!

[VydorScope]

Yea I use liquid stevia for my drinks and I usually use either regular sugar or half sugar half xylitol for baking.

I have to admit that Splenda is probably the best choice if you want a sugar substitute(other than something natural)

Stevia is the only turly natural 0 cal/etc sweetner I know of in USA. Given time I think it will take off as long as we dont find out its deadly or somthing.

When ever theres a choice between 100% natural and artifical, in most cases I perfer the natural, but I perfer Splenda over sugar for most uses. When I do use sugar I use raw cane sugar (or honey) not htat highly proccesed and bleached white junk they they pass off as sugar.

[jenvan]

I try not to eat any artificial sweetners either. First off, I just can't get used to the taste and second, they give me issues too... Get my stomach all gurgly...

[jenvan]

Kaiti-- I haven't tried Stevia yet--you really like the way it tastes? And does it work well in baked goods etc?

[UIDancer]

I'm confused. I thought Splenda had aspartame in it. What is the key artificial ingredient in Splenda?

[KaitiUSA]

Kaiti-- I haven't tried Stevia yet--you really like the way it tastes? And does it work well in baked goods etc?

I think stevia tastes fine...with certain things you may need to add more or less to get the taste you want.

I use liquid stevia for drinks.

For things such as lasagna I will use the powder stevia and that also works well for me

I have not used stevia for baking. I have used Xylitol(similar to stevia) and sugar mixed for baking though.

I hate anything with aspartame in it...I don't know that Splenda has that or not...I do know some artificial sweeteners have aspartame though.

[jenvan]

Kaiti--

What made you decide to stop using plain sugar in recipes? Taste, calories, health ??

[celiac3270]

Splenda is definitely gluten-free, but will give some people gastrointestinal symptoms similar to celiac, whether they are celiac or not...it could happen to anybody. In that case you're better off not using it so you feel better, but it's not gluten.

[VydorScope]

I think stevia tastes fine...with certain things you may need to add more or less to get the taste you want.

I use liquid stevia for drinks.

For things such as lasagna I will use the powder stevia and that also works well for me

I have not used stevia for baking. I have used Xylitol(similar to stevia) and sugar mixed for baking though.

I hate anything with aspartame in it...I don't know that Splenda has that or not...I do know some artificial sweeteners have aspartame though.

2 quetsion... one where do you buy your Stevie? Its more then 3 times the cost of Splenda at my locl Kroger, making it out of my reach.

Seoncd... as far as I know Xylitol is a man derived sugar alchol and not natural herb like stevia, so what do you mean its like "stevia" which as I understand is a natural plnat product?

[VydorScope]

I'm confused. I thought Splenda had aspartame in it. What is the key artificial ingredient in Splenda?

Splenda is a sweetner derived directly from real sugar, theres nothing else in pure splenda. The bags and packets have some filler so that they will measure like sugar, those fillers are dextrose and/or maltodextrin. Stuff you buy pre-packaged with Splenda as a sweetner (liek DIte Rite,) use pure splenda with out the fillers.

Splenda is a brand name, the actual substance is called sucralose jsut FYI.

It is not digested, and passes out as solid waste, thats why it has no calories.

[KaitiUSA]

2 quetsion... one where do you buy your Stevie? Its more then 3 times the cost of Splenda at my locl Kroger, making it out of my reach.

Seoncd... as far as I know Xylitol is a man derived sugar alchol and not natural herb like stevia, so what do you mean its like "stevia" which as I understand is a natural plnat product?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener. We get it at our local health food store along with stevia.

This is what my bag of XyloSweet(made from Xylitol) says:

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is the commercial name for a naturally occuring sugar called xylose commonly derived from corncobs and birch trees.

Xylitol and Stevia are both supposed to be ok for hypoglycemics and diabetics because it does not mess with blood sugar and so forth.

[skbird]

I have gotten sick from anything with Splenda in it. Diet Rite sodas, for example, diet Hansons, etc. Also from any ice cream that uses splenda - any candy. I can have the tiniest amount and after a few servings (over a couple of weeks) I start getting such deep fatigue and body aches it's crazy. I have gotten laughed off of low carb message boards for explaining this so I don't expect die-hard splenda fans to believe me.

Aspartame is even worse for me and at first I was really excited about splenda/sucralose. But it also affects me poorly.

I don't use white sugars but I do use some organic ones, also agave nectar and xylitol. Xylitol is man-extracted but not man-made. It is extracted from birch bark. All sugar alcohols exist in nature but are not concentrated that way. All fruit has sugar alcohol in it along with fructose. Xylitol is not only natural in it's origin but it also kills bacteria in your mouth, preventing cavities, and some bacteria in your gut. I have read articles about xylitol helping to kill off h. pylori. Here is a good article: Open Original Shared Link

According to this article, it also helps with osteoperosis. Here is a clip explaining what xylitol is:

In the September 2001 issue of Vitamin Research News, we featured an article about Xylitol. (1) Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar that has a number of unique properties. In addition to being a delicious, low calorie sugar substitute (40% fewer calories than an equivalent amount of table sugar [sucrose]), Xylitol does not cause significant changes in blood glucose or insulin (making it not only safe for diabetics and those trying to lose weight, but also a desirable sweetener for those who understand the importance of maintaining low levels of glucose and insulin as an anti-aging regimen. (2)

Among its other known benefits to health, regular Xylitol consumption results in fewer cavities (Figures 1 and 2), improved periodontal (gum) health, and reduction in nasal, sinus and oropharyngeal infections. Xylitol also is effective against H. pylori, the microorganism implicated in periodontal disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and even stomach cancer (Table 1). (3) It now appears that another highly significant effect can be attributed to Xylitol.

Even if it is man-derrived from nature, it is still in my opinion better than Splenda which is manufactured, not just derived. Also, it has many associated health benefits. Nearly everyone uses it to some degree every day - it's in most toothpastes. It's good stuff.

I also use stevia. If you get the concentrated version it lasts a long time. It's pricey stuff but a little goes a long way. I also like the drops. 10 drops from the eyedropper is more than enough to sweeten an entire smoothy (one without fruit, for example plain yogurt, cocoa powder, tbsp peanut butter, and protein powder).

I use these because I am hypoglycemic and cannot tolerate most sugars, unless they are limited and have a lot of fiber with them.

Stephanie

[KaitiUSA]

Kaiti--

What made you decide to stop using plain sugar in recipes?  Taste, calories, health ??

I still use regular sugar when baking but I usually will split it in half with the natural sugar.

It was the health thing for me. My mom actually started using it in certain things and it tasted fine so I thought hey if its a bit healthier for me why not. I have not quit using regular sugar though, I have significantly lessened the amount I have though.

When I make something for a party or something I will use all regular sugar because of the expense.

Also, some recipes taste better with the regular sugar so in some cases I will just use that. When I can I try to split in half though.

[UIDancer]

I react the same way to Splenda. Can you buy Xylitol directly at the supermarket? I'd like to see how I react to this.

Thanks,

Devon

[skbird]

I buy it from my health food store. It's pricier than sugar but I don't use it all the time so it works out ok. I have seen it both in the food and the supplement sections of my health food store, also my grocery store (Raley's) has it in the health food/low carb section. The brand I see the most is in a yellow can with a plastic lid on the top. You may find it cheaper online.

Finally, it is not quite as sweet as sugar (that's why I add a little stevia, to sweeten it up a little) and it has a slightly cool flavor, almost like mint. I have found that when I use it in brownies, for example, a little vanilla extract helps cover the cool flavor. It's very good other than that.

Stephanie

[KaitiUSA]

I react the same way to Splenda. Can you buy Xylitol directly at the supermarket? I'd like to see how I react to this.

Thanks,

Devon

Haven't seen it in a regular supermarket but they are at health food stores. It it a bit more expensive but in my opinion worth it.

[ianm]

Sucralose or Splenda is real sugar that is modified using chlorine as a catalyst.

I have not had any reaction to Splenda but aspartame sometimes gets my stomach churning.