Wellness

[lavendar]

What about Agave?

[VioletEyes]

On 10/2/2014 sfnative said:

On 10/1/2014 violann said:

On 9/29/2014 SoftRaindrops said: Truvia has a sugar alcohol as its main ingredient that can cause GI symptoms.

Erythritol is "naturally derived, unlike some other sugar alcohols and is less likely to cause rumbles unless ingested in large amounts. It works fine for me. I do have to worry about small amounts of cane sugar though.

My naturopath would not have asked me to use this product, if it was going to cause GI symptoms, because I have chronic diarrhea(!) And, in fact, the Stevia has NOT increased my GI symptoms.

What IS likely to cause GI "anything" is the ingestion of SUGAR, as it stimulates the smooth muscle of the intestines.

I was talking about Truvia which is not the same thing as Stevia.

[winamac1]

On 9/27/2014 Carmie said: I have been using artificial sweeteners since I have been 15. That's a lot of Sweet n Low since I am now 60. I use every brand and type,except Equal. I have zero health issues and take no medications. So I will continue to use them. I do not drink soda of any kind. I do drink a lot of iced tea.

I have been using sweet and low and splenda for years myself. I drink a lot of iced tea too. I do drink w.c. diet pepsi. That's the only food vice I have. I am overall healthy too. I would like to give up diet sodas, but I don't think that's happening anytime soon.

I only like one kind of Stevia, and I think it's Pure something (via)?

[str8talk]

I don't touch art sweetners. I like the monk fruit they sell at walmart.

[emmysmom]

On 9/27/2014 Q4u said:

This is my story .....

I started sodas as a teen with TAB, sweetened with Sweet 'n Low years ago. Drank a ton of sodas and I eventually got to the point that was all I drank, diet sodas. They eventually came out with aspertame sweetened candies. I jumped on that bandwagon too, only realizing that horrific gastric horror would ensue. Did not stop me. I continued for years with artificial sweeteners, tea, colas, candies, etc. as well as eating sweets with sugar. It was a horrible ride.

Years and years later, after struggling with weight issues and gastric issues, I developed Type 2 diabetes, coming in with an A1C OF 12! Scared spitless because my blood sugar was averaging 500 and I was told I was in the realm of going into a coma, I cut out ALL sugar. I cut out all white carbs and faithfully stuck to multi-gram carbs, about 30 grams a day. My A1C dropped to 6.3 in three months. I've successfully kept it in the 6's for nearly 7 years now.

I understood that I couldn't have sugar, but I knew that I could still have my diet sodas, tea and sweeteners (including Stevia). More years go by and my gastric problems are getting more and more severe and intense. (Not nice) but barely controllable Diarrhea at times. BTW, I always used to eat Yogurt (love it and love the probiotics). This stopped for years until a sweetener version came out, so I began eating that too.

Then the grocery stores in my area stopped carrying the artificially sweetened yogurt! And the probiotics stopped.

What has been determined by virtue of elimination and my history, is a slowly developed and chronic hyper-sensitivity to artificial sweeteners.

So I stopped ALL artificial sweeteners. I drink water and have nothing that artificially sweetens. Of course, this is conjecture, but my doctor thinks that all the sweeteners might have contributed to developing the Diabetes as well as sensitizing my system to them. There is no Diabetes in my family. No predisposition. Again, this is conjecture and we realize that.

I stopped all artificial sweeteners at once. I added a good probiotic I get at the pharmacy and my gastric issues have stopped cold turkey!! (Again, not nice but part of the story)... what I thought was a colon issue or Crohn's disease because it had gotten so bad has disappeared. No bloating, no gas, no diarrehea, no stomach pain or cramping. AND no more feelings of depression or panic attacks.... I feel NORMAL....

All I can say is that what developed (from my first TAB) to the results of banning sugar AND sugar substitutes is actually feeling normal in my stomach for the first time in my adult life.... this is more THAN CO-INCIDENCE TO ME! That if I can inform at least one person that there may be a correlation between physical issues (including mental btw, depression, headaches, bi-polar and panic attacks), then sharing the horrible physical ordeal I've gone through is worth it.

BTW, I had three panic attacks starting last November for the first time in my life~!! I've never been afraid of much, I was a second degree Black Belt and fought in competitions. Suddenly the idea of being trapped in a car on a country road nearly blew me over. Or the idea of going to the dentist, having them start on my teeth and my being trapped there would start the "fight or flight" aspect of the attack. Truly horrible.

That aspect of this journey seems to have subsided to the point that I no longer have those horrible panic feelings.... I think that part is thankfully over.

I hope this helps even one person at least research these additives.

I won't go so far as to say they are a "poison" as many do in the articles I've read, but I will say that I believe (based on my very rapid recovery) is that they were a slow poison for me.

All I want (as I'm sure you do) is to feel GOOD and I will do whatever it takes to get there.

Thanks for posting! They are poison to me too, I also have diabetes 2. I use stevia and have for years, its ok for me. I also limit my carbs..My A1C was 12 when I was diagnosed 2 years ago, it was 5.4 last May. I use insulin. Glad you're doing well! Artificial sweeteners are banned in Europe, wish they were here, it could save many from the complications you endured!

[emmysmom]

On 10/2/2014 lavendar said:

What about Agave?

Agave is great, to many carbs if you are a diabetic though.

[emmysmom]

On 10/1/2014 violann said:

On 9/29/2014 SoftRaindrops said: Truvia has a sugar alcohol as its main ingredient that can cause GI symptoms.

Erythritol is "naturally derived, unlike some other sugar alcohols and is less likely to cause rumbles unless ingested in large amounts. It works fine for me. I do have to worry about small amounts of cane sugar though.

Yes, violann, I can use a small amount of the erythritol..now I know why! I can't do sugar alcohols..it takes a while to figure all this out!