The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners (found in many low fat/low sugar food and drink)

[BellyBelly]

Also here is a summary of aspartame research: Recent Independent Aspartame Research Results (1998 - 2007)

[Jellybean29]

reminds me of a Paris Hilton quote "only fat people drink diet soda"

[ladybird11]

I will admit I was drinking a pepsi max can each day, but I decided to stop last week after some research belfie shared with us in the weight loss thread.

I've always known it was bad, but I was trying to remain ignorant of some of the ramifications of consuming it.

I'm now one week clean, kicked the habit and feel happy with myself for having done so!

[skybie]

i dont have a choice really. i dont drink a hell of alot of soft drink but being a type 1 diabetic, its either sugar free or run really high

[misty]

It is a cost / benefit decision. I consume artifical sweeteners, because the risks and dangers associated with being morbidly obese are even greater then those risk which exist in consuming these sweeteners (which I agree exist, but which studies are still quite inconclusive on as to what these risks actually are, and how big a risk they may pose). The sweeteners allow me to be flexible in my lifestyle and maintain my hard earned weightloss - without their aid I would struggle one hell of a lot more in sticking to a (mostly) healthy diet and lifstyle. I do try to limit in some fashion the amounts of artifical sweeteners I consume, and when adding sweetener to things myself will choose a healthier natural alternative (like Stevia). But like I said, it is a cost / benefit decision. At this point in time, with the limited research available and my own health experiences, the benefit in consuming foods with sweetener far outway the possible costs with may exist.

[Mel_B1981]

The only softdrink I drink is coke zero.....but I only ever drink it when drinking scotch....so which is worse? The artifical sweetener....or the scotch??

[BellyBelly]

Misty, there are many safe alternatives out there. The recent rave thing is coconut sugar.

Coconut Sugar is a great tasting, mineral rich low GI (35) cane sugar alternative, produced from coconut palm blossoms. Coconut Sugar has a rich toffee like flavour.

There is also stevia.

Artificial Sweeteners Once Again Linked to Weight Gain
Artificial Sweeteners Don't Fool Your Brain
Diet Sodas Now Linked to Heart Disease

[Tinks]

Kelly, I'd love to read these articles but don't really want to subscribe to the site. Do you have any articles that don't require a subscription to read?

[misty]

I did mention that I do use Stevia and other natural product when I can. However, the problem is that most of the artifical sweetener I consume are already in the products I buy - ice cream, yogurt, diet softdrink, diet cordial etc. I try not to consume to many of these foods, but when I do want a treat they are often a better, lower kj choice for me to consume then the sugar filled version.