Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Sickeningly Sweet?


A Watchdog Group Says Splenda Is No Longer On the 'Safe' List

At first blush, this headline would give a sucralose junkie like me great cause for alarm. I typically put four or five in my coffee -- several cups a day -- and use it more moderately in iced tea and on oatmeal and other foods. But then when you read the full article, you realize the Center for Science in the Public Interest says you're pretty much doomed by EVERYTHING you eat and drink -- and they even admit that the negative findings against sucralose (sold as Splenda) have not been peer-reviewed, published or replicated in humans. And that they aren't really sure those rats that got cancer "from" saccharin (Sweet 'N Low) and aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) wouldn't have gotten it anyway ... because they're OLD.

The best part is that sucralose has added to the Center for Science in the Public Interest's "caution" list -- along with saccharin, aspartame and acesulfame potassium (Sunett and Sweet One) -- but then they turn around and recommend DIET sodas over sugar-sweetened ones(!) because regular soda "poses the greater and demonstrable risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, gout, tooth decay, and other health problems." They also suggest drinking unsweetened iced tea, but then fail to mention that they put caffeine on the same "caution" list because it "keeps many people from sleeping, causes jitteriness, and affects calcium metabolism."

So once I calmed down from the headline, I reverted to my usual way of thinking about "healthy" eating habits. I'd rather not be fat -- or get diabetes -- and famed vegetarian Linda McCartney died of cancer at 56.

Read HERE.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ummmmmmm. There's no substitute to real sugar. Duh!

Prospero said...

I've changed to stevia in my food, but still prefer Sweet N Low in my coffee.

pav3 said...

For my diabetic customers, I only use Stevia when baking cheesecakes and cookies. Everything else, other than sugar, is man made crap that doesn't hold up well when baking. Stevia is a natural, plant based sweetener, but the FDA cowering to Nutra-sweet, calls it a "food additive".

James Greenlee said...

Most of the health-over-concsious people I've known (avoiding microwave ovens, 158-grain bread, no sugar, no artificial sweetener, low salt, etc.) have been the palest, frailest, sickliest people too. Sure, I want to live a long life, but I want to have a little fun along the way too.

Anonymous said...

how did my grandparents survive into their 90s on sugar, bacon fat, butter, eggs, whole milk, cream, whiskey, and cigars?

i'm not advocating a switch back to saturated fats and sugar, but i think there are other interactions affecting health that haven't been identified.

Yank said...

4 or 5 in your coffee is just plain bananas. Seriously, wean yourself off a bit.