Does anyone know of a safe sugar substitute?

Question

I've heard aspartame, like Equal, and even Splenda are harmful. I'm desperate to find something that will sweeten my tea, for example. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Stevia is your best sugar substitute because it comes from a plant that is naturally sweet without affecting your blood sugar. The other garbage on the market like Equal, Splenda, and anything with aspartame in it is terrible for you. The country of Japan consumes more Stevia than any other country in the world and accounts for over 40% of all of Japan's sweetners. Interestingly enough, Japan ranks #1 in the world for longevity and American now ranks 24th!

The controversy over aspartame is because the FDA wants manufacturers to be able to use it and the even though the evidence against it, is overwhelming. The problem is that the FDA is not the consumer's friend, but the manufacturer's friend. That's where FDA gets it's money, not from consumers.

If FDA says it's O.K., I would get a second and third opinion before taking the FDA's word for it. Look at all the drug recalls, deaths, and issues of drugs that the FDA has approved and then recalled. The list is staggering. Does Thalidamide (caused many birth defects), Phen fen (caused deaths, etc.), Permax and Dostinex (drugs used for restless leg syndrom & Parkinson's disease causes heart valve damage), Zelnorm (for irritable bowel syndrome recalled because it caused "cardiovascular adverse events" (what's an "event!," and look at the Antacid drugs being used that the FDA approves that are shortening people's lives, destroying the person's ability to digest food properly causing huge health problems, Zolair (causes anaphyaxis shock, even in people who have not been allergic to this drug prior -- up to 24 hours after the drug is administered and patients have been told how to self prescribe to counter the drug's life threatening so called "side effect," just to help control their Asthma! These are only a very few examples of what our FDA is doing for us.

The head of the FDA is an ex-monsanto executive. Well, is it any wonder that the Monsanto genetically engineered products are getting listed as SAFE so they don't have to label ANY genetically engineered products being put into our foods! Over 40% of all American foods are now GMO and all with no labels. Do you still trust the FDA's statement that Aspartame is O.K.? Did you know that the diet garbage being put in our foods causes Formaldehyde to form as the end product of this garbage in your body and then your liver has to deal with this highly toxic substance? It's true.

There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption. It seems surreal, but true. How can one chemical create such chaos? Aspartame dissolves into solution and can therefore travel throughout the body and deposit within any tissue. The multitude of aspartame side effects are indicative to your genetic individuality and physical weaknesses. It is important to put two and two together, nonetheless, and identify which side effects aspartame is creating within you.

Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:
Eye ----------
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes
Ear -------------
tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment
Neurologic -------------
epileptic seizures
headaches, migraines and some severe
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors
Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias
Chest --------------
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure
Gastrointestinal -------------
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing
Skin and Allergies -------------
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma
Endocrine and Metabolic ----------
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS
Other ---------------
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection
Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
death --------------
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies
Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

These are not allergies or sensitivities, but diseases and disease syndromes. Aspartame poisoning is commonly misdiagnosed because aspartame symptoms mock textbook ‘disease’ symptoms, such as Grave’s Disease. Aspartame changes the ratio of amino acids in the blood, blocking or lowering the levels of serotonin, tyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Therefore, it is typical that aspartame symptoms cannot be detected in lab tests and on x-rays. Textbook disorders and diseases may actually be a toxic load as a result of aspartame poisoning.
Ever gone to the doctor with real, physical symptoms, but he/she can’t find the cause? Well, it’s probably your diet, your environment, or both.

Interestingly enough, Stevia, was rejected by the FDA and other organizations due to "political reasons," and they tried for years to justify the rejection based on bogus studies, etc. The incredible thing is that Stevia has been used by many cultures, countries for decades (over 75 years) with no adverse affects to people.

Answer 2

I like Stevia too. It can be a bit bitter though, especially in coffee. You can usually get it at health food stores as a supplement because at least up until recently it could not be marketed as a sweetener due to the strong sugar/artificial sweeterns lobby. It comes in packets, a shaker or even in tincture form. A little really goes a long way, but beware that at least at Trader Joe's it is sold both full strength and "cut" with something else to make it less sweet *and make you use more of it). So when you buy it, try to get the full strength stuff and just use a tiny tiny bit. I think it's just a paraguayan leaf that gets crushed and powderized (however they do that). It is really excellent in Yerba Mate the Paraguayan (and Argentinian) stimulant tea that can be found at www.yerbamate.com

Answer 3

Aspartame and Splenda and both perfectly safe. Aspartame is THE most tested sugar substitute on the market, and no evidence has ever been shown to prove it harmful.

Splenda is also perfectly safe. It is made from real sugar, and while people may complain that chlorine is used in the manufacturing process, they seem to forget that chlorine is also used to purify plain old tap water, not to mention your local swimming pool. It is perfectly fine.

Answer 4

The harmfulness of sweeteners is not a very imminent danger. Recent studies have suggested that to have any harmful affects from these sweeteners you would have to consume a bathtub full all at once. They say the since splendor is made from sugar it is not as bad for you as most of the others. I however use equal. I don't like the aftertaste of Splendor.

Answer 5

I dont think there are any "safe" alternatives out there. My doctor told me to stay away from all of them, even Splenda. He said to "use regular sugar, just less of it".
I stick with his suggestion. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

everything and anything does some kind of damage splenda will be the best sugar sub my grandmother uses it and she said its better than equal

Answer 7

Do some research on Stevia. It has it's bad sides just like anything else. You could ask a pharmacist about it. Have you talked to her doctor about it?

Answer 8

Unpasteurised Honey would be my pick. Rapadura which is dehydrated sugar cane juice is not too bad an option and I believe there is a similar sugar made from dehydrated maple syrup. They will still cause health problems if used to excess.
Stevia seems to be a popular choice, but I have seen some stevia products that are just as refined as sugar, and it has a very metallic taste. I don't know of any white powder that is good for you. I haven't tried the dried leaves in a drink.

Aspartame, a neurotoxin, may be a heavily tested product,but according to 60 minutes in 1996, all 74 studies paid for by Searle (Since swallowed up by Monsanto) showed it was safe, while 83 of the 90 independent studies found problems. For 16 years the FDA refused to approve it. When Arthur Hayes finally approved it, it was against the protests of his own board of inquiry. He later took on a consultancy job at $1000 a day for Searle.
Grand jury investigations into Searle's behavior during the approval process were thwarted by more skulduggery. The following is taken from dorway.com

All of the G.D. Searle studies were abysmal as discussed earlier. However, there were two studies where the violations of the law appeared to be especially flagrant. The two studies cited by Merrill were the 52-week toxicity study on infant monkeys performed by Dr. Waisman which G.D.

Searle withheld key information from the FDA and the 46-week toxicity study of hamsters where G.D. Searle had taken blood from healthy animals at the 26th week and claimed that the tests had actually been performed at the 38th week. Many of the animals from which G.D. Searle claimed had blood drawn from were actually dead at the 38th week. See earlier discussion for references.

On January 26, 1977, G.D. Searle's law firm, Sidley & Austin, requested a meeting with U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner before a grand jury is convened (Gordon 1987 page 497 of US Senate 1987, Mullarkey 1994b, page 6-7). One representative of Sidley & Austin at that meeting was Newton Minow who is currently on the Board of Diretors at the Chicago Tribune (Gordon 1987, page 497 of US Senate 1987; Mullarkey 1995).

On March 8, 1977, in a confidential memo to aides, while he was supposed to be pushing for fraud indictments against G.D. Searle, U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner stated that he had begun preliminary employment discussions with G.D. Searle's law firm Sidley & Austin (Gordon 1987, page 497 of US Senate 1987; Mullarkey 1994b, page 7).


On April 13, 1977, a U.S. Justice Department memo urged U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner to proceed with grand jury investigations of G.D. Searle. The memo points out that the Statute of limitations on prosecution would run out shortly (October 10, 1977 for the Waisman monkey study and December 8, 1977 for the hamster study) (Mullarkey 1994b, page 7).

Samual Skinner withdrew from the G.D. Searle case and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Conlon was then assigned to the Grand Jury investigation (Gordon 1987, page 497 of US Senate 1987).

On July 1, 1977, U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner left his job to work for the G.D. Searle law firm Sidley & Austin. Thomas Sullivan was appointed as Samuel Skinner's successor (Gordon 1987, page 497 of US Senate 1987).

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Conlon convened a grand jury, but he let the Statute of Limitations run out on the aspartame charges (Gordon 1987, page 497 of US Senate 1987). Fifteen months later, Conlon accepted a job with the law firm representing G.D. Searle, Sidley & Austin (Gordon 1987, page 497 of US Senate 1987).

A number of recent studies have shown a link between Apartame and cancer, yet these are totaly ignored.

The following links make a lot of claims against this product and it's manufactures.Given Monsanto's perchant for litigation, the owners would have been sued and shut down long ago if untrue.

Answer 9

You've "heard." From where? You should try doing some research into those rumors first. As far as I know, there is no hard evidence (i.e. scientific studies) that shows those substitutes to be harmful. They have been FDA approved, which is feat in itself.

Answer 10

I like Spenda personally, I know equal and sweet n low give me headaches sometimes, but I don't get that with Spenda.