Artificial Sweetners, Good or Bad???

**Mr. Trenton** · 03-09-2004, 10:25 PM

I was just wondering if artificial sweetner are ok to use cause I hear alot of pros using them all the time and so do I. Like for instance, I use about 3 or 4 packs of Equal in my plain oatmeal depending on how much coffee is I have which is always black I use like 5 or 6 or sometimes more if its a large one from Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, WaWa, etc... I've always been curious if they were bad or if they ever equaled sugar if you used alot of them at once. The guy who was my nutritionist while competing and former National level NPC competitor told me they are fine and you can use them upto a couple days out or the day before a show. Anyway, just wanted to get some of you peoples advice. Thanks.

**usualsuspect** · 03-09-2004, 11:00 PM

There fine but keep in mind each packet equals 1 gram of sugar. So 10 packets a day can can quitely add 10 grams of sugar in your diet. Not good unless its pwo.

**rambo** · 03-09-2004, 11:55 PM

Use Splenda instead of sweet and Low. Splenda is indigestible, and does not count as sugar at all.

**bigsd67** · 03-10-2004, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by rambo

Use Splenda instead of sweet and Low. Splenda is indigestible, and does not count as sugar at all.

that must be the granulated form.....the splenda packets still contain dextrose and maltodexrin as well as sucralose so i would imagine they still have that gram of sugar.

on a second note i use a good amount of artificial sweeteners and i still make good results.

**SwoleCat** · 03-10-2004, 07:45 AM

Each packet of Splenda has about 0.9 grams of carbs, so it's almost 1 gram per packet, yup........Funny how they can list it as "0" and not have to round up as usually is the case.

That's called "pull w/the FDA"............

I'd never use aspartame products or any sweet N low / equal crap......splenda is the only sugar sub I'll ever use. Lord only knows what that other crap does to you.

~SC~

**bigsd67** · 03-10-2004, 08:07 AM

yea i just wish that splenda wasnt so dam expensive.....it's like double the price compared to a generic brand of equal.

**SwoleCat** · 03-10-2004, 08:17 AM

Yeah, true, and it's the reason most soda companies and other food preparation companies won't use it in their products, it costs too **** much for them to use.

However, u can see the trend of Splenda products picking up as companies realize that people are willing to pay more for products w/Splenda in them as opposed to those other fake (__!__) sweeteners. Only a matter of time before sucralose (Splenda) is the kingpin of all sweeteners. Any product that uses aspartame based sweeteners is going to suffer in the next year or so, just my projection.

~SC~

**daman1** · 03-10-2004, 10:16 AM

What about stevia? I've been using that for a long, long time.

**usualsuspect** · 03-10-2004, 10:39 AM

[QUOTE=bigsd67]yea i just wish that splenda wasnt so dam expensive.....it's like double the price compared to a generic brand of equal.[/QUOTE

They sell the box of packets at some dollar stores. Check your local one.

**Mr. Trenton** · 03-10-2004, 01:00 PM

thanks for the replys. ****, i bought a box of splenda before i just bought the equal and the only reason i stopped using it was that it tasted funny, i guess i was just using more packets than i needed and it came out too sweet, but on the subject of each equal packet having 1 gram of sugar, i think i'll go back to the splenda. Oh, and i agree with you guys about the sweet and low ****, it makes everything you put it in or on taste terrible. SwoleCat, do you think that its ok to use splenda during pre-contest dieting and if so, how long into the diet before you have to cut it out if at all.

**SwoleCat** · 03-10-2004, 01:30 PM

I see no reason why it would hurt you pre-contest if you are already in shape and ready to go.

I'd take all that out in the final week preperation however, as the foods/supps you utilize wouldn't have any need for sweeteners.

~SC~

**Mr. Trenton** · 03-10-2004, 08:57 PM

Thanks Swolecat.

**bigsd67** · 03-10-2004, 09:21 PM

hopefully there will be a generic version of splenda with the same ingredients...that have one for equal out now that's like 50% cheaper...i think it's only a matter of time before another company realizes that formula isnt hard to duplicate.

**big daddy k de** · 03-11-2004, 09:36 AM

one time this girl was trying to diet and she was eatting all this fake chocolet like allot! but what she didnt know is that the candy bag saide in larg amouts it acts like terbo lax lol she had a long bus ride home lol

**beenie** · 03-13-2004, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by rambo

Use Splenda instead of sweet and Low. Splenda is indigestible, and does not count as sugar at all.

And besides, it tastes better.

**beenie** · 03-13-2004, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by SwoleCat

Each packet of Splenda has about 0.9 grams of carbs, so it's almost 1 gram per packet, yup........Funny how they can list it as "0" and not have to round up as usually is the case.

That's called "pull w/the FDA"............

I'd never use aspartame products or any sweet N low / equal crap......splenda is the only sugar sub I'll ever use. Lord only knows what that other crap does to you.

~SC~

The part I am not sure about is whether its a digestable carb or not.

A couple years ago, I found a liquid form of sucraolse that was sold under the Splenda name in South America. It listed at 0 grams carb. I am not sure whether it is still around, but I have not seen it in a while if it is.

**beenie** · 03-13-2004, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by daman1

What about stevia? I've been using that for a long, long time.

Stevia is also great. It all natural and low in carb, and wow a little goes a long way. I personally stick with Splenda because it tastes exactly like sugar to me and because it is so much less expensive than stevia. For the most part, I stay away from sweeteners, cause they just get my mind on food.

For me its a matter of self restraint, so if the food satisfies my hunger, and is bland its perfect. Steak, eggs fish, chicken - hold the special sauce cause it will make me over eat. Alas, I digress.

**Kim2884** · 03-13-2004, 12:32 PM

Unless you use 10-20 packets of splenda all at once, the <1 g carbs per packet isn't gonna kill you. There have been studies showing that injestion of sucralose does not cause a rise in blood glucose or an insulin response. According to the company's website, it is not even recognized by the body as a carbohydrate. And even if the amount of sugar you consume during the day adds up to 10g or so, the negative effects of sugar aren't there. Sugar in and of itself is not bad. It is the insulin response it causes (although this can be affected by many other factors) , the subsequent cravings, the empty calories, etc. I know many people will disagree with me, but IMO a couple grams of sugar in an otherwise healthful meal is not going to make a difference (unless you're on a keto diet).