I Are Baboon

I had to put Equal in my coffee this morning because the cafeteria in the office is closed (thus, no sugar available). Is Equal a safe sugar subsitute? The little packet says zero calories, and one packet is equal to two tsp. of sugar. If Equal is safe, maybe I'll switch to that instead of using sugar. Any thoughts?

susiQ

I don't think they know the effects of equal sweetner, supposedly sweet n low is really bad for you, but then again i think it tastes like S@!$. I had to watch out for that when I was pregnant, my personal choice would be equal over sugar, (just not in large amounts)...although I do drink tons of diet soda, oh no! just kidding just use it in moderation like everything else.
Hope my info and opinion were helpful!

Mule

Anything like that gives me headaches.

cleo243

i'm pretty sure equal has nutrasweet in it. the problem with nutrasweet is that it is known to cause cancer if given in large dosages to mice over a long period of time. the media likes to make a big deal over this, but my theory is that lots of things can give you cancer and we're not rats. also the dosage that the researchers were giving to the mice was much larger than any person ever ate in a day. the other problem is that it gives some people headaches. so doctors recommend that if you are prone to migraines or insomnia, not to eat/drink foods with nutrasweet. basically, there really isn't anything to worry about. but if you are worried, i did hear about a natural sweetener. i can't remember the name of it. i'll post it later

crowman

Here's the lowdown:

Sweet&low: contains Saccharin, which has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats, however for you to eat the equivalant dose the labs rats got, you would need like a dump truck full

Equal (Nutrasweet): contains Aspartame, Aspartame breaks down into methanol (wood alcohol). Methanol quickly converts to formadehyde in the body. Formaldehyde causes gradual and eventually severe damage to the neurological system, immune system and causes permanent genetic damage at extremely low doses. Methanol from alcoholic beverages and from fruit and juices does not convert to formaldehyde and cause damage because there are protective chemicals in these traditionally ingested beverages.

Splenda (new): contains sucralose, it is a chlorinated sucrose derivative. Pre-approval research showed that sucralose caused shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage) and enlarged liver and kidneys. But the manufacture agrued that it was an effect caused by the huge amounts the rats were getting fed and it would be different in the small doses humans take in.

IMHO, just have a little sugar. Sure, it's has some calories, but so what.

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-Crowman
MASS ABOVE ALL

I Are Baboon

Thanks, but I think I'll stay away from Equal. I think the Nutra-Sweet might be playing games with my digestive system