Thread: Sugar Substitues

Originally Posted by sweatshopchamp

Doesnt consuming a lot of sugar substitutes worry you guys about your health? I've heard and read that they are not great for you. My motto is if it comes in the form of "diet" or "sugar free" then you shouldnt be consuming it in the first place (this isnt true for all things but for many)

I tend to 'err on the side of caution' when it comes to things such as artificial sweeteners and flavourings. Stevia is probably an exception to this in that it is natural (from a plant).

Although I do allow myself to eat these products (I will have diet jello, jam and drinks occasionally) I try not to eat too much. Even though there is no conclussive evidence (as of yet) to say they are especially harmful (well - unless you start eating multiples of your own bodyweight). But I am just not convinced that they are all that good for you....

So I limit my intake.

I'm not under the illusion that my diet cherry pepsi provides me with anything to improve my health but I've got so few vices left --this one seems to be the lesser of many evils.

i will just say that once upon a time (not very long ago ), i binged on a bunch of sugar free chocolates, cookies, and assorted sweets, all in the span of an hour or so. Obscene amounts of these things. You could say i tested the limits of what the human body can tolerate in terms of sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol, and all those other -ol's).

My poor body got BLOATED to where I looked like (and I'm reaching far into the 80s for this one) Audrey in National Lampoon's European Vacation, where she dreams that she is pigging out and she keeps "expanding" and her shirt inflates like a balloon. I kid you not, this is what my belly looked like. It was not only NASTY looking, it was painful and I could barely breathe. And not that I WANT to get graphic here, but I was on the toilet all night, with a trash bin in front of me, and crap coming out both ends.


Anyway... just wanted to share.

It was bad.

Has anyone else done somethign this stupid?

Since then, I've decided to cut back on artificial sweeteners. I know this was an extreme case, but I became traumatized hahahaha. I use stevia almost exclusively now, and also use splenda/sucralose sparingly (in my coffee if I didn't bring packets of stevia from home, or if it comes in a protein bar or shake or something).

I don't consume any sugar subsititues, I just use less of the real stuff.

I found them more addicting than real sugar.. you have a cereal or protein bar with sugar-free alc. and opens my appetite to junk food

But when I just have a "normal" protein bar with regular sugar, It seems to be ok with me