Artificially Sweet

[AquaEyes11010]

To add a summary, I think that a lot of the "artificial food fear" illustrates the power of the placebo effect. We are convinced our ills are the result of consuming certain things, we then actively eliminate them from the diet, and then we say we feel so much better, and as a means of thanking the source of the advice, we buy their foods, supplements, philosophies, etc.

 

[Bbucko]

I can't eat most of the US chocolate bars because there is so much sugar in them, but I LOVE the salty-sweet combination. Reese's peanut butter cups are delicious!

I favor semi-sweet dark chocolate: can't stand milk chocolate :tongue:

One of my favorite dinners (it's in the oven cooking as we speak) is chicken thighs cooked in teriyaki mixed with bitter orange: it's salty/sweet in a way he would have found just appalling.

One thing I notice when searching the web for "artificial sweetener danger" is that the sites promoting the dangers are often also promoting the sale of something in the "natural living" genre: books, supplements, etc. This seems to me too much like a scare tactic, directing readers to "salvation" through the products/philosophies promoted by these websites. Those that aren't seem to be merely echoing the exact same "studies" consisting primarily of anecdotal evidence.

I see a lot of "headaches" listed as symptoms ascribed to consuming artificial sweeteners, usually in the form of diet soda. I'm wondering if it isn't more the caffeine withdrawal and/or sodium causing this.

As an additional note of irony, many of these "natural living" websites speak of the dangers of artificial sweeteners, despite any scientific studies backing -- and many refuting -- their claims, then go on to list recommended supplements (which, as designated, avoid FDA testing which artificial sweeteners have overwhelmingly passed) with dubious claims based on anecdotal evidence.

I've always said that the plural of "anecdote" is not "data". When I first started getting migraine in my mid-20s, I changed/eliminated lots of things in my diet with no effect whatsoever. It finally got so bad that I was sent to a Neurologist who ordered MRIs be done and that's when they discovered the migraines were caused by a degeneration of the discs in my cervical spine, including several points of impingement, and osteophytes (bone spurs). This could be congenital (my grandmother was hobbled by arthritic hips since her 20s) or it could be one of the ways HIV affects the body's natural aging process (it's not an uncommon complaint among those living with the virus long-term).

Because of the medications I take, I've avoided "supplements" for years now; any possible placebo effect would be countered by potential side-effects which, because of lack of FDA oversight and guarantee of purity and dosing, remain largely unknown.

 

[B_subgirrl]

I favor semi-sweet dark chocolate: can't stand milk chocolate :tongue:

One of my favorite dinners (it's in the oven cooking as we speak) is chicken thighs cooked in teriyaki mixed with bitter orange: it's salty/sweet in a way he would have found just appalling.

Yum!

 

[crescendo69]

Diet drinks don't seem to bother me; I've been type I diabetic since 18. I'm very tired of Diet Coke, though. I still like Diet Mountain Dew, and certain fountain mixes of Diet Pepsi at certain restaurants. I wish I didn't have such a sweet tooth, though. Unsweetened tea and coffee taste too bitter to me. I even add Aspartame to grits and white rice.

 

[Bbucko]

Yum!

Oh dah-ling: you need to be a dinner guest eventually. I serve brilliant wines, too.

 

[Viking_UK]

Speaking from personal experience, I had been suffering from chronic knee and back pain for a number of years when I read an article about the effects of some artificial sweeteners. As a result of that, I cut out foods containing aspartame. I haven't had any pain since about three months after doing so. I can't say that the problem disappearing is due to cutting out aspartame, but it's strange that a problem I've had for a number of years cleared up shortly after. I suppose I could start taking aspartame again to see if the problem returns, but to be honest, I'd rather not. I'm just enjoying being pain-free.

 

[SpeedoMike]

this is one of many urban legends. I've had people tell me someone nearly died from taking [product]. but it's always a friend's friend or some other nebulous being. the person never knew the PERSON first hand.

nearly 40 years ago I gave up my morning hot tea with sugar and a danish from the vending machines. also stopped using sugar and salt in my diet. about fifteen years later I became a type II diabetic, not unexpected since an aunt and grandfather were diabetic.

I've been disabled for 24 years and none of my M.D.s ever suspected sweetner.
I did some research on sweetner some time ago and reached the same conclusions as AquaEyes.

I miss Sugar Twin and still ask for it... even tho it's not sold in packets any longer.

 

[B_subgirrl]

Oh dah-ling: you need to be a dinner guest eventually. I serve brilliant wines, too.

If I ever visit the US, I'll be sure to pop in and visit you so you can make me dinner :smile:

 

[crescendo69]

(deleted post)