Wow! I'm sorry! This sounds! Like a conspirasy theory! I've no doubt! That Splenda is bad! But this is unneeded!

Dear Anonymous,

I'm not sure why you think this sounds like "a conspiracy theory." We received the above email from a reader who gave us permission to post it. If you read more of splendaexposed.com, you will see other stories describing issues surrounding Splenda and blood sugar levels. This is especially interesting considering the manufacturers tell consumers it is safe for diabetics. Please review the comments under Sugar-free With Diabetes and Splenda Case History - BL's story for some examples.)

I, too, had a bad experience with Splenda which will be included in an upcoming issue of a national women's magazine. We will post more information on this closer to the publication date.

E.X. and I are not alone. Dr. Hull receives emails daily telling similar stories involving the chemical sweetener, Splenda.

We ask readers to decide for themselves.

Lucy Watkins

I have been having problems with my bowels for some time now. I have a distended stomach (never had before) and I just seem to get diarrhea without a moments notice. My husband has had the same problems. We thought it was possibley our pre-washed packages of lettuce. But now am wondering if it is the Splenda. We have been drinking our iced tea with it for the last two months. Would appreciate any input for this problem.
Thank you.

can the use of any kind of sweetner have a bad reaction to someone with diabetes?

Dear Barbara,

The symptoms you describe are classic symptoms of chlorine toxicity, even though the manufacturers of Splenda in the US insist none of the chlorine in Splenda breaks free and digests.

Interestingly, as I wrote in "Splenda: Is It Safe Or Not?",according to the japanese food council, as much as 40% of sucralose is absorbed; according to the inventors of sucralose 15% is absorbed; according to the FDA 11-27% is absorbed.

So you could be absorbing up to 40% of the chlorine.

Dr. Janet Hull

I have been using splenda for awhile..but have been experiencing alot of bloating, gas and stomach pains. also become very flushed in the face. could this be a reaction from splenda. I have not used any artificial sweetners for 4 days now. how long does it take to get this out of your body?
Thanks

Carmen,

You can check that for yourself by testing your blood sugar and noting the consumption of artificial sweeteners and natural sweeteners.

We've met many people with diabetes who find they can't control their blood sugar levels when they consume artificial sweeteners, but the find a return to balance when they stop.

We always tell people to stick to natural, unprocessed sweeteners. The natural sweetness of food is wonderful if given a chance to shine through.

Lucy

Dear Robin,

Yours is a common complaint from people using Splenda. Personally, I experienced a similar reaction with some other symptoms which were much more intense and painful.

How long it will take to see improvement will depend on 1) if Splenda is the cause of your problems, 2) how long and how much you've consumed, 3) how healthy the rest of your diet is.

Let us know how it goes! I'm betting you'll feel much better, very soon as long as you don't consume any other artificial sweeteners.

Hello,

I've been doing a little self experimentation in the beverage department. Now I know that sodas aren't good for you whatever the case, but I have to have at least one in the morning! I'm just not a coffee drinker. Anyway, I find that the diet coke sweetened with splenda makes me gain weight, and the aspartame doesn't. Can you explain this? I also find that if I just have a half glass of regular sugar coke, I feel more alert. Is it the sugar and not just the caffeine? My mother is a splenda addict. She even bakes with it. I know that any splenda is too much splenda, but could this be seriously damaging to her health if she uses it so frequently?

We just recently began trying a few things having Splenda in them. For years, I have been using Sweet N Low without problems. We really don't use much else. The Centrum Senior Chewables have aspartame in them. That concerns me, but I cannot swallow large pills anymore due to having scar tissue in my esophagus, so I thought I'd try these chewables. It is a shame that so many "substitutes" have so many side effects when all we want is to make some foods palatable.

Dear Genny,

I do not know why you may be experiencing weight gain with Splenda and not aspartame. There have been many complaints about thyroid issues with aspartame use and we are beginning to receive more and more complaints about thyroid issues with Splenda use.

It is possible the sugar in real coke is part of the reason you are feeling more alert when you use it.

If you notice on the Splenda packages, there is a daily recommended allowance. That number is what is considered safe for daily consumption. While we do not recommend using sodas as your primary source of hydration, Dr. Hull suggests sipping on the occassional "real" soda if you feel a need to consume them. She says this is okay and safer than consuming those filled with artificial sweeteners.

The best and safest way to lose weight or maintain current weight is to eat a natural, whole foods diet full of real foods. The chemical concoctions that are sodas have no nutritional value and don't do your body justice, health wise.

We believe and have seen regular use of Splenda causing serious health issues for consumers. Whether or not that damage is permanent is yet to be seen. Remember, however, when consuming Splenda, you are consuming chlorine. If you look around for the effects of chlorine toxicity (generally the info available online is about chlorine gas inhalatio), you will find it has abrasive effects on the body.

I'm willing to bet, as people continue to consume more and more Splenda, we will see an increase in diverticulitous as the chlorine wears away the intenstinal walls of its users. Painful bowel movements, diarrhea, gas pain and joint pain are common complaints from users. All of which seem to go away when they stop using Splenda.

Suggest to your mother that she stop using Splenda and see what happens.

Good luck to you.

Lucy

Dear Theresa,

We agree. It is ashame that so many products contain these toxins. What's most infuriating to us is how many children's products contain aspartame.

Keep reading those labels. Artificial sweeteners are in products including over-the-counter meds, prescription drugs, toothpaste, mints, food products and even gum. It is scary indeed.

Lucy

I have no doubt that all sweeteners, other that sugar, are not good for you. I don't use them because, thank God, they leave a bitter taste in my mouth and send me to the bathroom on an hourly basis. My next test is of low calorie sweeteners will be stevia rebaudiana. Or I'll just quit drinking tea and coffee and stick with water.

Berenice,

You are on the right track!! I use agave nectar to sweeten tea...I use it in everything calling for honey. You can get it at Whole Foods and other natural markets. Also, you can get it online.

More often than not, I don't sweeten anything other than my morning coffee...when I decide to drink it.

One of the great things about recognizing the problems surrounding artificial sweeteners is you end up defaulting to the natural sweetness of foods. In my home, I only use agave, raw sugar or succanat and fruit sauces.

My children are growing up with the knowledge that real food has its own sweetness. They eat lots of steamed sweet potato (no butter or sweetener), baked acorn and butternut squash (no butter or sweetener). We use agave nectar in raw cashew butter for dipping apples or as our own version of PB and J. They love fresh, homemade carrot juice and sweet potato juice, smoothies (no sweeteners added) and spinach salads with orange juice for dressing.

It can be done for children AND adults.

Lucy

I am like many of the above but my journey started before sucralose even came on the market. It's just my latest discovery. Sucralose bothers me, I have found, because it's processing includes chlorination. After drinking splenda I have cramps and then severe diaherra for 48 hours. Fours years ago I was also sick. I would get cramps and sick within 30 minites and for 2 days everytime I ate fast food. After much time I realized it was after eating salads. I interviewed McDonalds and they said they use "Fresh Express" Bagged lettuce. I called Fresh Express. They said my symptoms were unusual but it was probably because they wash there lettuce in chlorine water to keep the bacteria count down. They were good enough to tell me that Subway, McDonalds and Burger King all have contracts with Fresh Express. Wendy's does not and all of their salads are made fresh. Once I eliminated these salads out of my diet my health improved. I also have severe reactions to instant tea and instant coffee. I called their corporation and they would not share anything about their processing. So therefore I have no proof as to whether their processing includes Chlorination. What I can say is that Splenda is not the ONLY Chlorinated food product out there. What I need is a list of food products that are processed with, or cleaned with, chlorine. Is there such a thing. I am desparate. I am tired of being sick and would love to know what to avoid.

This really does sound like a conspiracy theory. Splenda includes chlorine just as table salt does. Of course some people are going to have problems eating Splenda. Just like some people are allergic to certain fruits or vegetables. But because some people can not ingest a fruit or vegetable without having symptoms from it doesnt mean everyone else in the known universe is going to experience these problems and should thus quit consuming that specific food. So why should everyone beware of Splenda just because some people report having reactions from it? Maybe its just the way your body is.

I have been using Splenda for over 3 years - oh I have some issues indeed!

First, I have been experiencing major Gall Bladder problems. My Internal Medicine doctor switched me from sodas to water and made me cut coffee consumption to 2 cups a day from 2 pots. The common ingredient in all that was cut is Splenda.

Second, I do not remember having a "normal" bowel movement in over 2 years.

Third, my joints ache - especially first thing in the morning. It is as if my joints need greased to be able to move freely. It usually takes 1 hour to get all of the pain out.

Fourth, my kidneys constantly ache as well. Sometimes there is a very malodorous aroma to my urine too!

Needless to say, as of 6:00AM this morning, I am Splenda free! My wife tossed out all of the packets we had in the house. I had my 2 cupd of coffee this morning with sugar and it tasted pretty good!

I guess I will have to brush my teeth 3 times a day instead of 2, but I would rather have that to do than deal with the side effects of Splenda!

I am glad that I am not alone in recognizing the trouble with this stuff!!

Ray

I have been using splenda now for about four years. I am not sure what is causing some of the health problems i have but many of the symptoms are mentioned in the posts of other readers of this article. My weight has been constantly on the increase. My blood pressure is up slightly (could be because of the weight issue). I wake up with a lot of joint and back pain and my libido died completely about six months ago. Certainly i will be refraining from artificial sweeteners to see if there are any improvements

I have IBS and one of the triggers is sugar. I used Splenda for awhile, not long enough to develop ill affects though. It helped me over sugar though. However, reading all this and wondering about the sucralose and such; I haven't used it for a long time. I just try and eat vegan related products and am going to try rice syrup which is natural. Fortunately, there are other alternatives.

Wow! I have been drinking flavored water for about 6 months now as part of a weight loss regimen as I need flavor in water in order to drink it regularly. Over the past two months, I have had gall bladder issues, aches and pains throughout my back, sides and chest, and some serious bowel issues. I sent a request to the makers of Fruit2O (Kraft Foods) to tell me the information they have on side effects to Splenda as their bottles used to have the Splenda name on the front of the bottle, but now do not. I asked my doctor TODAY about drug interactions with Splenda, but she found none. I am stopping my Splenda intake immediatley! Hopefully, my medical issues are not permanent.

Just tonight, I had a healthy dinner of fish and vegetables. For the past few days I had been cutting carbs (no refined sugars) just wheat toast and some potato. After dinner tonight, I chewed on 4 candies that are made with sucralose (mentos) within about 10 minutes my blood sugar began dropping, I tested my BS and it was 66 then as I was gulping down orange juice it was 52, finally 10 min. later I have my BS back up. Do I think it was the sucralose. Yes, definitely.

I have been on all kinds of sweetners since i was 18 now i'm 51 ive always wondered why was I always sick. my ex even said your to sick , anyways my now hubby and I use spenda and nutrasweet sweetn low and we feel 90** aches** colitis** Ibs **diverticulitics,**headahes,** diabetes, **low sugar** weight gain** and the pain clinic doc put me on morphine for the pain fron the severe aches and also a bad back from a car accident, but my husband especially suffers ibs , headaches, colitis ,gas and **we drink **coffee once a day with 2 splendas so if this product has** chorine** in it this is a very serious matter! . this will break down our immune system and eat silently at our bones,{WHAT DOES CHORINE } do? *think about it* it is a silent killer == thank you more investigation on these sweetners =please FOR THE SAKE OF CONNED* CONSUMERS*

I have been useing splenda for well over a year maybe closer to two. Lately I have noticed some health issues that I am hopeing that may be caused from the splenda and not something more serious like fibromyalgia, extream tiredness, body aches , headaches, brainfog, it goes on and on, I stopped useing splenda today, my hopes are that I will feel better soon, and be able to get my life back, loseing a few pounds is not worth all of these horriable side effects.

I am so glad I found this site. I have been feeling so sick for so long. I was diagnosed with thyroid problems about 2 years ago. I just heard from a friend about the side effects of using splenda. One of them being thyroid problems. The other side effects I have were aches in my joints and neck in the morning, brain fog, insomnia, being hot then cold, loss of hair, bloating the list could go on and on. Well I am happy to report after a week and half off splenda, my symptoms have gone away, how strange. My thyroid gland is also shrinking. I am furious that I have suffered for so long. We need to get the word out, do not use Splenda.

This is the last time I try Splenda...it has caused such stomach pains and diareah...it has been awful...This happened about 2 months ago when using Splenda so now I know for sure thats what it is.

I started having bladder problems Fall of 2005. I thought it was because I was overweight! Now I have lost 35 pounds. Urinating every 15 minutes waking at night etc.. I'm only 36 yrs old. I take Vesicare which helps some. I cut out diet decaf sodas and decaf tea w/Splenda and my urinating improved alot. Now the last two weeks my problem is back Why? Well I have been eating Dannon lite n fit yogurt and Edy's low fat ice cream they have Splenda. Another diet motification under way!

I tried Splenda for the first time this month in Dannon Yoghurt. I have always been one not to use "fake" sugars but thought it might be a good idea to switch from my ice cream to diet yoghurt to get those last five pounds off. Changing from sodas to water or tea removed the first 20 pounds. I put the two together - Splenda and my recent Migraines - on my own and today decided to check on the internet for similar stories. After reading all these posting and with my experience I believe I'll go back to my ice cream (the yoghurt will go into the garbage).

stumbled on to this by accident,was wondering about the chest pains I've had lately, and your right about the brian fog, it's like a mild form of being stoned, been drinking the soda with splenda in it and some baking too. I think I'll chill out on the stuff for a while and see if the symtoms go away.Thanks for all the personal accounts, let you all know if the fog lifts.

I cannot believe what I have just read! We have been using Splenda in our tea for about two-four months. I have noticed that in the past three months I have expierenced extreme fatigue! I am an elementary school teacher, therefore I just figured I was expierencing end of the year tiredness. However, along with the ALWAYS BEING TIRED, I am expierencing episodes of extreme sleepiness- even in the morning or the middle of the day. My head will feel heavy, and I become so groggy and sleepy. I'm learning there's a name for this...BRAIN FOG. Before we started using Splenda, I had always used Nutra-sweet in my coffee, and I never was a big diet soda fan- until about a year ago. I have also just recently been fighting migranes [AGAIN] and neck pain [AGAIN]. As for my other family members- they have all been expierencing stomach cramps and irregular bowel movements. So as of tomorrow I am throwing out the Splenda and the diet drinks!!!! This has to be why I have felt so tired, so sick, so overwhelmed for so long. I am also going to tell every person I know about this.

Here is my story....about a year ago I took a new job as a flight attendant. As part of the new me I went on a popular diet where they send you the pre-packaged meals. The program says it is ok to drink diet drinks and use artifical sweeteners. Although I had never been a big fan I decided to try the "yellow stuff" since it was supposed to be healthy for you. It isn't available on the airplane so I would go to the extreme to take it to work with me. I did lose about 25 pounds, but even though this diet is based on the glycemic index I mysteriously found myself with low blood sugar. I also experienced fatigue, abdominal pain, bowel problems and was unable to be feel hydrated. I thought at the time that these were physiological aspects associated with my new job or my new diet. Wrong! It was the Splenda! I have currently been out of work for a few months due to an unrelated sports injury and because I haven't been able to work out, I started with the Splenda again. I went about a month sweetening coffee, tea, protein shakes, and other bland foods. I also purchased Diet Rite cola and yogurt containing this poision. My symptoms are back only this time they include the above mentioned again as well as kidney and bladder pain and burning, frequent urination, and the feeling like I always "have to go," My doc found NOTHING in a urine test! I have NO libido. I have also had a touch of depression for years only now it is a step "lower" if you will, I'm not really depressed anymore because I don't even care that I am depressed.....too much brain fog to care. Luckily I didn't seep too far into the fog as to what the catalyst to all of this could be. No more Splenda in my house! I have been off of it about 3 days and have experienced some improvement. Isn't sad that something in your cabinet is more toxic than the air on an airplane?

I have read some things the past few days about splenda that I can relate to myself. The more I use of the product, the more I want to use and my pain from arthritis seems to be getiing worse. I have a rash on my back that has been treated topically, changed to free and clear laundry soap, frangence free everyhting. Nothing has changed. How long did it take for people to feel a positive change. Any new side effects when just stopping the use of splenda ?

Thank you to everyone for your comments. When consumers pay attention to their diets and how it affects their health, it puts us all one step closer to affecting positive changes in the Standard American Diet.

As we can all see, there are consistent stories about symptoms associated with Splenda. While the industry often calls these stories "anectdotal", we believe it is most important to listen to people rather than corporations.

Thank you again for all your comments. By posting your stories, you are helping many other people who are looking for resolutions to their health issues. We recieve hundreds of emails every day asking for help and thanking us for allowing comments on this site. Each and every one of you has helped somebody else get closer to health just by sharing your stories with them.

Thank you!

Lucy

I can't believe what I have just read. I have been using Splenda for a while and am stopping this instant. My joints ache something terrible. I went to Ortho Dr. and he said Arthritis was setting in. But now I wonder! I also am having problems with my low blood sugar. But mostly I am completely wiped out by afternoon. I have been falling asleep at the wheel driving home from work. (i have to pull over and regroup myself)I get home and just colaspe, no energy,depressed with no desire or physical will to do much of anything. These comments have scared me and I will get back with this site when I see if my physical well being changes.

I have been using Splenda for over a year at least and I was constantly distended and gassy. I thought that maybe I was just not watching my diet enough so I was basically at the point of almost starving myself. I was skinny but I still had a "pregnant belly". I went on vacation to Cuba where they do not have artificial sweetner. I lost my belly in the first 2 days even though I was eating sugary desserts and drinking sugary cocktails. I thought maybe it went away because I was less stressed. When I returned, I went back to Splenda. Within days I had my belly back. I removed the stressful situation in my life and thought that would be the end of it. No dice! I was perplexed! Then I read an article in a woman's mag about the dangers of Splenda. I immediatly switched to honey and my belly shrank! I am having a slight constipation issue now because my body has to re-adjust itself, but, I hope that will clear up soon. Speaking of clearing up, I also have terrible acne and I am seeing some improvrement there too. I was also having libido issues and I am hoping that will improve also. I wonder if anyone else has used Splenda for that long and if so, how long did it take to re-boot? (so to speak)

Dear Jennifer,

Yours is another common complaint from Splenda users. If you read the Splenda article in First Magazine, that was my story. I can tell you all my symptoms were gone within about 30 days.

Additionally, I accidentally started consuming it again in flavored coffee creamer just a couple weeks ago. The print on the back of the bottle was so small but it listed sucralose as the last ingredient.

Of course, I used it for a week before realizing what was in it. Ironic, isn't it?

Anyway, I began having abdominal cramps AGAIN! I blamed a stressful summer, diet, life, etc. Then, I realized the symptoms were much like the earliest symptoms I experienced last year. It seemed to come on in the mornings. So, I read the back of the Nestle creamer and there is was...sucralose.

The recent symptoms disappeared within 24 hours and are still gone. Again, I just quit using the creamer.

Lucy

I have been using Splenda for over a year. I am experiencing extreme fatigue and knee pain. I have been to a regular doctor and a specialist and am being treated for arthritis. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? If so, did eliminating Splenda fix the problem? And if it did how long does it take to feel normal once again?
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I have been on the low carb diet for about 4 yrs now. Boy did I use the splenda. I mean it was in everything I bought and if it wasn't I added it. We would sprinkle it on strawberries, even my young children would do this. I want to cry thinking about this. I feel like I alone kept splenda in business. The symptoms started slowly, headaches, funny vision, major brain fog, heart palpatations, chest pains, stomache pains, colon pains, sinus problems, getting sick all the time, seriously tender breast around menstral time, painful menstral cycles, bad breath, numbness in limbs, anxiety, depression, mood swings, around my breasts and underarms really hurt (like my lyphnodes or something), knee pain, acne, spasms and cramps in my stomach and other muscles, and a burning pain in my left shoulder blade...need I go on???? Boy I sound atractive now huh! After urinalysis, CBC's, GYNO visits, bloodwork to check my thyroids, liver, and kidneys, and now my doc wants a EKG, ECHO, and chest x-ray, I have stopped the splenda. Guess what...I'm 26 yrs old. I feel 130 yrs old. I really hope that my symptoms will stop so I can feel normal and not like I am dying. I wonder how long this stuff will take to get out of my system. I read labels very carefully now. Anything light or diet has some kind of man made sweetner in it, trust me. STAY AWAY!!!!! Wish me luck getting back to my old self.

I have a question. I've posted on here before about the symtoms I've encountered from splenda use. Well two years ago when I went to the doctor for anxiety he did a urinalysis on me and said he found puss in my urine. So I went to the gyno and he did a pap and felt my ovary and checked my breast and said everything was fine. Also my underarms hurt aswell. Just about a month ago I went for another check up where they did cbc, urinalysis and normal checkup stuff and they said everything looked good. So I stopped splenda and all seemed to go away. Now after being off splenda for about 3 weeks it is back. I have a discharge of white and clear that comes out when I am on the toilet, and pain in my right lower pelvic, and kidney pain. Plus I just feel yuck. My boobs and arm pits hurt, not too bad but annoyingly. Can this be my body ridding itself of all the chemicals? I used splenda for over 3 years. I just want to feel normal again.