Artificial sweeteners

[Dora the Explorer]

I watched "Trust me, I'm a doctor" the other night and they did some experiments which showed that artificial sweeteners, like Sweetex, can cause the blood sugar to spike in non diabetics and can increase weight gain. Sweetener made from stevia, like Truvia, didn't have any effect. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I have been buying sugar-free drinks, thinking I was doing the right thing, but perhaps I've been doing the wrong thing. Don't use fresh fruit juice because of the sugar, so is it just water from now on? Don't know how bad sparkling flavoured water is. There is some sweetener in there, but don't know how much.

 

[Mark Parrott]

I try to avoid artificial sweeteners that contain Aspartame or Saccharin. It's not always possible, but do my best. I use Truvia or Stevia when I need to sweeten stuff myself. Sainsbury's sell diet fizzy drinks & squash that do not contain Aspartame or Saccharin.

 

[Caroline]

I avoid artificial sweeteners in tea and coffee, I'd rather go without than have them.

My mother used to use saccharine, but it always gave her a headache. The doctor advised that she tasted the sweetness when she had a drink and the body expected a hit of sugar, when the sugar hit didn't happen my mum got a bad headache. My lovely sister in law has all kinds of problems with artificial sweeteners in general so always has to read labels when she shops. Both are non diabetics.

 

[robert@fm]

I used to get headaches from using a lot of saccharin, but I have no problems from aspartame or cyclamate. However, I have to avoid sucralose because it leaves me a nasty aftertaste.

 

[Amberzak]

I drink Diet Coke and I'm fine. Drink Coke Zero and I get a headache. No idea why

 

[AlisonM]

I use Stevia for what little sweetener I require. A tiny dab in my tea is about the sum of it. I prefer the 'Zeros/Maxes' to diet drinks, partly because there's less of an after taste and partly because the diet versions seem horribly sweet to me.

 

[trophywench]

Pepsi Max (supposed to be everything-free) hikes my BG to the max, the only thing I've ever thought it could be is just maybe there's ectra caffeine in it? OTOH I live on virtually intravenous instant Nescafe NP. Diet Coke is fine.

I don't think any of us is going to either eat or drink THAT amount of any artificial sweetener that it's going to cause us any damage whatever, unless you know you are actually allergic to it or you've noted it causes whatever. It really doesn't for most people. They were feeding all those people on TV the maximum daily dose of it every day for a week - they must have had to consume SHEDLOADS of it to get that.

 

[KookyCat]

I think the answer is probably moderation. It wouldn't be good for you to drink 2 litres of Diet Coke a day, and it isn't good to drink 2 litre of full sugar Coke either. I think as always the danger comes when people think that because it's diet they can guzzle it to their hearts content. I generally avoid artificial sweetener because I don't like the taste (some of us have a gene that makes it taste like battery acid, very very sweet battery acid 😱), but I have the occasional sugar free polo, or the odd Diet Coke with lots of ice to numb my taste buds. If it does increase blood sugar then obviously it's best avoided, but I suspect in small amounts it's perfectly OK, and definitely better for those of us with a challenged pancreas than sugar. If you're worried maybe replace some flavoured water or cordial with water and see how you go?

 

[Amberzak]

I think the answer is probably moderation. It wouldn't be good for you to drink 2 litres of Diet Coke a day.

What? You mean I shouldn't drink 10 cans of it a day? Joking of course. But in all seriousness, before diagnosis, I would drink normal Coke (the water at work from the tap was gross, so we always bought from fending machine). Didn't know why I was thirsty all the time and just assumed it was because it was the summer. I got through easily 5 cans a day. And of course that was normal Coke so was making the problem worse.

 

[Annette]

I've just realised, reading Amberzak's reply, that I use a can of Diet Coke as a treat these days...Whereas other people in my office might go off to the vending machine for a chocolate bar when they need a break out from a difficult job/a reward for getting something done, I go and get a can of Diet Coke...(which I very rarely do, so I guess my brain does actually see it as a reward of some kind.)

 

[Dora the Explorer]

Thanks for all the comments. We didn't overdose on saccharin, but did have a Sweetex in each cup of coffee and did tend to have one can of sugar-free drink a day. Sometimes made up a sugar-free jelly. Have cut out sweeteners in the coffee and been drinking mostly water, which is what we did anyway. Will. Check out the Sainsburys drinks though. Thanks.