New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects

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New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful

Effects

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/10/New-Study-of-Splen\

da-Reveals-Shocking-Information-About-Potential-Harmful-Effects.aspx

 

 

James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for

Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from

scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda

(sucralose).

 

In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria

in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines,

contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp)

levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.

 

The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment

and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines,

rather than being absorbed by the body.

 

According to Turner, " 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 ... confirms that the chemicals in the little

yellow package should carry a big red warning label. "

 

Sources:

 

  Globe Newswire September 28, 2008

 

  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 2008;71(21):1415-29

 

 

 

  Dr. Mercola's Comments:

 

 

Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in

products such as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy

desserts, fruit juices, and gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a

general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.

 

The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal

and human safety studies, but as you’ll soon find out, out of these 110 studies,

only two were human studies, and the longest one was conducted for four days!

 

There’s overwhelming evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely

wreak havoc on your body. Previous news has centered mainly around artificial

sweeteners’ ability to impair your appetite regulation and leading to weight

gain.

For example, it’s been discovered that diet soda increases your risk of

metabolic syndromeand, ultimately, heart disease.

 

However, the study mentioned above, published in the Journal of Toxicology and

Environmental Health, found even further disturbing news besides weight gain.

Splenda:

* reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent

* increases the pH level in your intestines, and

* affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects,

particularly if you’re on certain medications

They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary

to previous claims.

It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy

intestinal bacteria, as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance

of friendly versus unfriendly micro-organisms, and support your general health.

Many people are already deficient in healthy bacteria due to choosing highly

processed foods. This is why a high quality probioticis one of the very few

supplements I highly recommend for nearly everyone.

 

The Diet Fallacy

 

The belief that consuming artificially sweetened foods and drinks will help you

to lose or maintain weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are

still opting for diet choices for this reason, please understand that you have

been sorely misled.

 

In reality, these diet foods and drinks can cause serious distortions in your

biochemistry and ruin your body's ability to control calories. As a matter of

fact, it’s been shown that diet soft drinks can double your risk of obesity!

 

Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners

can:

* Stimulate your appetite

* Increase carbohydrate cravings

* Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United

States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable

alternative to sugar.  

Now, I am definitely not a fan of sugar, but if I had to choose between sugar

and any artificial sweetener, I would choose sugar, hands down, without

question. I strongly believe artificial sweeteners are even more dangerous to

your health than an excess of sugar. 

 

The Health Dangers of Splenda

 

According to James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group

Citizens for Health:

 

" 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. "

 

The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.comlists a variety of consumer complaints

from Splenda consumption, such as:

* Gastrointestinal problems

* Migraines

* Seizures

* Dizziness

* Blurred vision

* Allergic reactions

* Blood sugar increases

* Weight gain

My site also contains a long list of personal testimonialsfrom readers who have

suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site

that have reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in

the research submitted for FDA approval!

The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following

are common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following

consumption of Splenda products:

* Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash,

eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic

symptoms that people have.

* Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath.

* Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and

migraines (severe headaches).

* Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing.

* Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery.

* Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody

diarrhea.

* Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering.

* Joints -- Joint pains or aches.

* Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression.

Beware – You Could be Consuming Splenda Without Your Knowledge

 

You also need to be aware of the fact that although the bulk of Splenda is sold

to processed food manufacturersand soft drink bottlers, it could turn up in your

medicine as well, as nearly 10 percent of all sucralose is sold to drug

companies. 

 

Many times sucralose (Splenda) will not be listed in the drug information, so

there simply is no way you would know you are consuming a potentially dangerous

artificial sweetener. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above even

though you’re avoiding Splenda and other artificial sweeteners, then it may be

worth investigating the ingredients of any medications you’re taking as well.

 

Splenda Has NEVER Been Proven Safe for Human Consumption

 

As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda. Of these six

trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA

approved sucralose for human consumption, and the two published trials had a

grand total of 36 total human subjects.

36 people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse: only 23 total

were actually given sucralose for testing, and here is the real kicker -- The

longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in

relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance.

Even more shocking, the absorption of Splenda into the human body was studied on

a grand total of six men! Based on that one human study, the FDA allowed the

findings to be generalized as being representative of the entire human

population. Including women, children, the elderly, and those with any chronic

illness -- none of whom were ever examined.

 

The FDA claims they reviewed over 100 studies conducted on Splenda. What they

don't tell you is that most of the studies were on animals. And, those animal

studies reveal plenty of problems, such as: 

* Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500

mg/kg/day

* Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality,

as well as brain lesions at higher doses

* Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly

absorbed substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule

agreed that these are findings that are common in aged female rats and are not

significant.)

* Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose,

compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the control group 

* A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the

control group 

Chemically, Splenda is More Similar to DDT Than Sugar 

 

Yes. Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar.

Sucralose is in fact a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a

laboratory. It does start off as a sugar molecule. Then, in a five-step patented

process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose

(sugar) molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical

composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a

fructo-galactose molecule.

 

This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature, and therefore your body

does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this

" unique " biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda

is not digested or metabolized by the body, hence it has zero calories.

 

But, if you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated form animal

studies) you will see that in fact an average of 15 percent of sucralose IS

absorbed into your digestive system, and according to this latest study, it is

also absorbed into your fat cells.

Unfortunately, if you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may

be at HIGHER risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines!

 

Your Healthiest Alternatives 

 

If you have a craving for sweets, rather than trying to find " healthier " ways to

continue indulging in them, it is in your best interest to learn ways to relieve

your cravings.  

 

The obvious one would be to stop eating any of the products to begin with. But

sweets are powerfully addictive– sugar has even been shown to be more addictive

than cocaine. Steviais a preferable natural substitute, which can be used in

making most dishes and drinks. 

However, complete avoidance of sweets is often necessary to break your addictive

cycle, as your hormones insulinand leptin likely play an important role in your

cravings.

 

If you are unable to achieve abstinence from sweets, your emotional connection

to cravings might be an important factor for you. One of the most profound

methods I know of for diminishing the effects of food cravings is the Emotional

Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT is the psychological acupressure

technique routinely used in my practice to help people reduce their cravings.

 There is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners

to fill an entire book -- which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception. If you

or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will

explain how you've been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners

like aspartame and sucralose -- for greed, for profits ... and at the expense of

your own health.It’s very important to realize that Splenda (sucralose) is

actually NOT sugar, despite its marketing slogan “Made from sugar, so it tastes

like sugar”. Rather it’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with

aspartame and saccharin, and with detrimental health effects to match.