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SPLENDA INTERVIEW
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Splenda: Is It Safe Or Not?

The following interview was conducted with Janet Starr Hull on
the safety of sucralose found in Splenda�.

Q: What exactly is Splenda?

A: In a simple sentence, you would just as soon have a pesticide
in your food as sucralose because sucralose (Splenda) is a
chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have long been known for causing
organ, genetic, and reproductive damage. It should be no surprise,
therefore, that the testing of sucralose reveals that it can
cause up to 40% shrinkage of the thymus: a gland that is the very
foundation of our immune system. Sucralose also causes swelling
of the liver and kidneys, and CALCIFICATION of the kidney.
Note: if you experience kidney pain, cramping, or an irritated
bladder after using sucralose in Splenda, stop use immediately.

Q: So sucralose is not found as a natural compound in nature,
like real sugar?

A: Absolutely not. No sugar molecule is compounded with chlorine
anywhere in nature.

Q: Do you know how it is made in the laboratory?

A: I found this information from a statement from the manufacturer,
actually. 'Sucralose is made from sugar, but is derived from
sucrose (sugar) through a process that selectively substitutes
three atoms of chlorine for three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the
sucrose molecule. No artificial sweetener made in the laboratory
is going to be neither natural to the body nor safer than
unprocessed sugar', they claim.

People need to stop searching for excuses to eat all the junk
food they want without penalty. In the long run, no one benefits
from this product but the corporations.

Q: The corporate researchers claim that the chlorine atoms are so
tightly bound; they create a molecular structure that is
exceptionally stable under extreme pH and temperature conditions.
Do you agree?

A: They are testing these conditions in lab rats, and these types
of corporate studies have forced and 'selective' results, in my
opinion. Aspartame research is the proof of this!

Test these chemicals on a child and see how stable it is - but
that would be cruel. So, why then do we buy it and give it to
our children? I don't buy into manufacturers' claims
when it comes to human beings using ANY man-made chemical. Plus,
I have learned over the past twenty-five years of aspartame
research to value independent research above that which is
funded by corporations.

Q: The corporations say sucralose is safe.

A: They said the same thing about aspartame, and look at the rampant
disease and obesity taking over America since aspartame was put into
the food supply over twenty years ago.

Q: Can sucralose cause cancer?

A: Any animal that eats chlorine (especially on a regular basis)
is at risk of cancer. The Merk Manuel and OSHA 40 SARA 120 Hazardous
Waste Handbook states that chlorine is a carcinogen and emergency
procedures should be taken when exposed via swallowing, inhaling,
or through the skin.

It all depends upon how much you use and how often, your present
and past health status, and the degree of other toxins you are
putting inside your body. Good luck with this one....

Q: Sucralose has been thoroughly tested, they claim. Actually they
have stated that sucralose is the most tested food additive in
history. I quote, "...more than 100 studies on the safety of sucralose
designed to meet the highest scientific standards have been
conducted and evaluated over the course of 20 years. "

A: I don't believe that for a second. They stated verbatim the same
thing about aspartame. We are looking at the same scenario in so
many ways. As with NutraSweet - no human studies, corporate payrolled
researchers, selective result reporting, government involvement and
personal financial interests and controlled media. I will say that
sucralose is not as dangerous as aspartame.

Q: Splenda is approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar. How
can that be?

A: As I stated before, the product is a forced product, not a
natural sugar the body uses for fuel. People forget that sweetness
is a by-product of foods; a bonus so to say. Forced sweetness,
revved-up sweetness, and artificial sweetness - all altered foods
that are a trap for people to get addicted to the sweeter tastes.
People with eating disorders, children who are just learning about
food, and people with illnesses are all being 'sold a bill of
rubbish' in my opinion.

Q: The manufacturer claims sucralose doesn't react with other
substances in the body and is not broken down in the body.

A: They claimed the same thing about saccharin, even though I
feel saccharin is the only artificial sweetener with true merit.
To answer your question, if the body is digesting properly, anything
you put into the body will be assimilated. If it happens to be
rancid, the stomach will throw it out immediately by vomiting or
diarrhea. It is totally out of the realm of biological science to
think the body will not immediately attack a toxic chemical.
Henceforth, migraines from aspartame and diarrhea from Splenda.

Now, to add a note to this: if the body is fed an indigestible
product such as plastic (like in margarine) that it is incapable
of dissolving through normal digestion, it will pass through
undigested (if it doesn't get stuck in the gall bladder, that
is.) So, if sucralose is indigestible due to its laboratory
compounding, then we have yet another serious health problem
to consider, don't you think?

Technology is great, but we sure don't need to be eating it!

Q: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and government food
authority committees and the Health Ministries in countries
such as Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad
& Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil have confirmed the safety of
sucralose. So have the countries of Colombia, Peru, Venezuela,
Uruguay, Romania, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
China, South Africa, and Tanzania. What do you think of all
these countries confirming Splenda's safety?

A: The history of aspartame has unfortunately proven that
individuals within government agencies cannot and should not
be trusted to make such empowering public decisions behind
closed doors.

Now, re-read this list of countries... Mexico, Jamaica, Tajikistan
and Tanzania? These are the countries in which Splenda is
now marketed? (See the final question.) As an international
geographer, I can comfortably say that these countries are
not nations with the same technology and mass marketing
strategies to be compared with the United States. These
countries are more concerned with birth control, food staples,
hostile take-overs, and drought - not diet sweeteners.
Compare apples to apples.

Q: Is sucralose safe for children?

A: The manufacturer actually made this statement for disclosure:
"One should note, however, that foods made with low-calorie
sweeteners are not normally a recommended part of a child's
diet, since calories are important to a growing child's body."

Pay attention....Children should not be encouraged to grow-up on
fake foods. But just like cigarettes and alcohol, do what I say
and not what I do? And we wonder why the younger generation is
angry, ill, and ridden with ADD/ADHD and diabetis?? How many
kids do you see taking a sip of mom or brother's diet cola?

Q: Who manufactures and markets sucralose?

A: McNeil Specialty Products Company (MSPC), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, along with Tate & Lyle PLC,
a world leader in sweeteners and starches, all share responsibility
for developing and manufacturing sucralose for commercial use.
Sucralose is the first product from McNeil Specialty, whose mission
is to develop and market innovative food ingredients that help
consumers control, maintain and improve their health. Internationally,
McNeil Specialty markets sucralose in the United States, Canada,
Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and the
Middle East; Tate & Lyle markets sucralose in Africa, Asia,
Europe and Canada. Internationally, McNeil Specialty markets
sucralose under the name SPLENDA� Brand Sweetener. SPLENDA�
is a registered trademark of McNeil Specialty Products Company.
http://www.sweetpoison.com/newsletter/december-2003.html#splenda

Switching to equal amounts of artifical sweeteners kinda seems like switching to smoking light cigarettes to be more "healthy."

One note on the "sugar creates ADD kids" myth - not true. Many children who have ADD use sugar as self-medication - sugar as a stimulant actually calms down folks with ADD. I know this personally as an ADD lifer who as a child ate phenomenal amounts of sugar, then with the proper ADD medication went down to consuming almost none. Cravings vanished.

Sugar is, for many, an addictive stimulant. High use needs to be addressed in a similar manner as any other addictive behavior.

(All only my subjective opinons, of course!)
peanut

Thanks for your comments!

From age 8 I grew up with several siblings with juvenile onset diabetes, thus the introduction to artificial sweeteners into my diet.

You make several good points.

Xylitol is safe! It is in a crystal form and measures like sugar, and it also comes in mints and chewing gums in various flavors.
Xylitol is the sugar alternative that's found in fibrous vegetables and fruits - looks, feels and tastes like sugar but contains less than 40% of the calories. Already approved in over 35 countries, in studies Xylitol has been shown to REDUCE plague and cavities up to 80% and to reduce the incidence of middle ear infections by 40%. Order from Vitamin Research Products: www.vrp.com

Should I just go back to using plain old sugar?

I do like the taste of Splenda......

Before sugar, things were sweetened with honey and condensed juices, but it's not like sugar is some new discovery. It's just that it used to be much harder to make, for a variety of reasons. So...there wasn't that much in the diet of the average person.

Now use Stevia or Xylitol and I am fine(well except for the Lyme).

Good choices: Stevia, Inulin, food grade Vegetable Glycerine. Now (supplement co.) makes all of these.

Burning muscles
increased floaters
cant see strait
very tired
muscle weakness
achey
increased allergies
Face feels swollen

After I ear Splenda I have the following effects:

I feel fine and a bit more satisfied.

I did not post this to confuse you or add to anyone's stress level...

However, I DO think we have been duped when it comes to our health and our resources for REGAINING our health.

Soda machines in some public schools are being replaced with bottled water machines with guess what added? ASPARTAME...

Anyone drinking those flavored bottled waters? Read the label.

I think the website www.sweetpoisons.com or www.dorway.com are excellent sources for researching this topic.

My personal experience has been that if people know WHY something is healthy or unhealthy they are more prone to comply.

Then the question is WHO TO BELIEVE...as many often point out and THAT is where our own research coupled with our INTUITION (our gut-level instincts) prove to be our best source.

So, please don't stress about this but please DO consider your options!

Sandi offers a GREAT resource for Xylitol... "Order from Vitamin Research Products: www.vrp.com

(Yeah, I thought it was another chemical also, but it seems to be all natural and again we need to do our "homework".)

At the www.vrp.com website there is a lot of info about xylitol and all the ways in which it is used.
www.iHerb.com has a cheaper brand but I do not use Xylitol and cannot offer an opinion about either brand.

Kara mentioned sugar which some people do NOT have a problem with in moderation. One problem IS that most of us who grew up in America grew up "addicted" to sugar and carbs. So, a little sugar makes us crave MORE sugar as Lenny and Guiney (HEY! that rhymes!) are discussing in another thread in Medical.

ShadowHawk mentions water and natural sources of sugar. I am posting another thread about WATER and would appreciate any comments.

DawnE mentions Stevia or Xylitol both non-chemical alternatives.

One lymie told me that Xylitol gum is recommended by their LLMD to help minimize oral candida.

I have used Stevia for years and am going to try the Xylitol which seems to be a little more expensive than Stevia.

I hope others will continue to respond to this thread.

My personal experience with Splenda was when I had detoxed heavily off of Aspartame and radiation and a friend offered me Splenda.

I went on it for two days and became dizzy, weak and foggy and very nauseated. I stopped and the symptoms ceased.

Thanks for all of your responses! Please continue to add your thoughts and experiences.

Your Body's Many Cries for Water
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028428.html

Maggie

P.S.

Also, please check out Lyme Wolf's Diet Soda Challenge at
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028427.html

What you say about sugar is right on. I think what some of us are saying here is that artificial sweeteners are not necessarily better than refined sugar. And, there are some natural options that might work better for us (Lyme/Candida ridden folks). I agree, refined sugar is NG. I don't think anyone is suggesting we go back to that.