Splenda: Healthy or Toxic?
71Splenda
Many people have embraced Splenda as a new miracle sugar. What some people may not realize, however, is that Splenda can cause rashes and other negative reactions in a small percentage of people. It is a very difficult thing to diagnose, but once it has been, it is easy to track .
Splenda is a no calorie sweetener that can be used much like sugar. It is actually a modified sugar that is called sucralose. The process selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with chlorine atoms. This changes the sucrose to sucralose, which is supposedly inert. It passes through the body without it being recognized as a carbohydrate.
Although they label it as being safe, it is known to cause negative reactions in a small subset of the population.
My Story
In November 2006 I bought a pumpkin pie and did not realize it was made with Splenda until I got it home. Even then, I did not really mind since it would supposedly be healthier than one made with normal sugar. Each day we had a piece of pie after dinner until it was gone. I had severe intestinal discomfort and gas very soon after eating the pie. By the end of the week, I had a horrible rash on my right ear and could not sleep because of the itch. It was very swollen, red and painful. Finally, I went to the doctor and they said it was an allergic reaction to something. They asked if I had been into anything new. I thought back and decided the only thing to change was the Splenda. When I returned home, I looked it up online and found many websites to confirm my suspicion. I have some links on this page.
Some Possible Symptoms
Some symptoms include rash, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, gas, difficulty breathing, swollen eyes, red face, cramps, bladder pain, numbness in arms and legs and depression. Others probably exist.
My Purpose
I am not attempting to tell anyone not to buy Splenda. I merely want to let people know that this happened to me and it has happened to others. If you get a rash or other symptom, please consider if Splenda or sucralose has been ingested in the near past. It is easy to treat, just stop eating or drinking it and you will improve. In severe cases hydrocortisone cream worked for me, but others had to visit the emergency room to get medical care.
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I knew there had to be a reason why I have this strange uneasy feeling about Splenda. I won't touch the stuff, to me it seems too processed and unnatural to be digested properally. Interesting hub.
I can't believe they have Splenda commercials showing kids spooning it on their cereal. It bothers me that so much of the population believes it's heathlier than sugar. Sugar is natural. Most people probably need to cut back on sugar, not replace it with a chemical substitute! Good read!
I have been using Splenda -- 2 packets a day-- and have developed numbness on my face, lips and tonge. It took drinking a can of Diet Rite with immediate numbness to help me see the connection. I've also developed slight memory/concentration issues since starting Splenda. Thanks for your website's information. I'm throwing all my Splenda away today.
I started using Splenda two months ago while on a vacation. One of our friends bought it to have on the boat. When I got back home I seemed to be having bladder discomfort. I attributed it to the travel. Since then I have had several bouts of stomach pain, bloating and bladder discomfort. I had a URI test yesterday and it came up negative. I am so frustrated. Last night I had a frozen diet chocolate bar and felt terrible all night. Then this morning I had my coffee with one packet of Splenda and feel terrible again. I finally looked up the side effects of Splenda and wow, I think I have figured it out. This stuff is dangerous and I will warn everyone I know and never will I use it again.
I drank a "light" fruit drink and have had a red swollen face since. it's been five days already!
thanks or the heads up.;(
Let me preface my comments with the fact that I majored in Microbiology and Chemistry in college and understand scientific process and the use of controls in determining causation. I also have a paralegal degree. I am a 53 year-old female. Please excuse my longwinded saga but it is necessary for proper reference and documentation. With that established let me begin my tale of the horror of Splenda.
In Feb. of 2007 we embarked on a ski trip to Park City ,Utah. Along with another couple we skied 36 of the possible 42 hours we could be on the slopes (They are Blue-Black skiers. I only recently achieved this level). I experienced some minor discomfort I chalked up to less than optimal physical shape. I am overweight, which is why I was using Splenda. Our friends asked us to accompany them to Whistler B.C. Canada the following month. We gladly accepted. On the first day out I experienced horrific leg cramps after 11 /2 hours. That continued for the whole week. Upon returning home I contacted my physician and made an appointment still experiencing pain and weakness in my legs. She did a thorough exam and because she had had personal experience with blood clots and was concerned, ordered a D-dimer test. The test determines clot evidence in the blood. She ran the test stat and called me back immediately with the results and told me to go directly to the emergency room. The test results indicated I had experienced blood clots. The test numbers were over 800 and she was very concerned. I went and had an ultrasound looking for DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) on both legs. The ER Dr. said while the test was indicative DVT is not usually bilateral. I returned home quit my HRT therapy (.0375 Vivelle Dot and 100 mg prometrium bio-identical HRT) because of possible clotting risks, thinking that could be the cause, and relegated myself to a life that said pain was the norm at my age. At that time it was determined that I had a Vitamin D deficiency which we addressed immediately with 1200 mg daily, raised to 2000 and the numbers were within normal range by August 2007. But the symptoms and pain were still there including burning hip pain that made getting dressed and turning over in bed painful.
In the course of the following year I developed bursitis of the elbow and hip, and had in the past while using Splenda as part of a diet, had both knees injected for inflammation. I was tested for heavy metal poisoning, MS, Vitamin deficiency, and other possible conditions related to my symptoms. In October my orthopedic Dr. was ready to inject my hip, as I was explaining my symptoms he was concerned and checked for Lupus also. I passed on the hip injection as I was traveling to see Grand Nieces and Nephews and did not know what to expect. I did get some relief from topical Ketoprophen. The hip pain continued and we passed on any major ski trips, as I knew I would not be able to participate.
The Holidays approached and my sister and family visited. My husband is a member of National Ski Patrol so we took our nephews out to the local Ski resort where he patrols to play. Again, I couldn’t ski for more than 2 hours. My mom also visited and in the course of a conversation about my brother, who is diabetic, she mentioned that he had a friend who was having back and leg problems and the friend, also diabetic, quit using Splenda and was doing great. Not believing Splenda could be a cause and assuming other related diabetic conditions could be, I dismissed it as a cause. I am not diabetic, but I was also experiencing erratic blood pressure on the higher side for me.
So the year passed. In Jan. 2008 my husband and I decided to plan a weekend ski trip to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan where we reside. We had never been up to the resorts there. I was still in pain but as he dearly loves to ski, said I would accompany him and if I couldn’t ski I’d bring a book, go to the lodge, have a drink etc. so at least he could ski. That was Super Bowl weekend.
On Thursday before Super Bowl weekend and our trip to the U.P.to ski, I remembered my conversation with my mom about the Splenda. I decided on that Thurs. night to quit using Splenda because something was causing my problems and after test after test and adjusting accordingly nothing had changed. We drove up on Saturday and I told my husband I’d suit up on Sunday and just see what happened.
I suited up on Sunday and skied for 6 hours- black runs. My husband kept asking if I was OK over and over again and I WAS!!!!! 48 hours after stopping the Splenda I could move again. We skied for three days, mostly black runs. My legs did not hurt, they were not heavy, (at one point I had to put my pants on the floor and step in to put them on) I could turn over in bed, it was astonishing. I didn’t even need Advil at the end of the day, sometimes a necessity before this development. And while it may sound extreme, my Physician who was gracious and patient enough to listen to me has documented this. The bursitis of the elbow and the hip pain are GONE. My D-dimer test was normal; although it had dropped in Nov. it was still elevated (600+-here a sign of inflammation because of Splenda). My blood pressure dropped to normal 116/70. At the end of Feb., I raced NASTAR for the first time ever (slalom skiing) and placed first in silver division for my age- 18th in the State. (This is documented on their web site)
So many of these horrific symptoms were so non-specific that I am concerned that there are many others suffering unnecessarily because of something touted as safe, as Slpenda has been. My real true fear is most of these symptoms seem to be autoimmune related, and I have no way of knowing what permanent damage Splenda has caused.
Thank you for reading this. I want to tell as many people as possible because prior to making this discovery and experiencing debilitating pain, I also experienced shortness of breath, had an irregular EKG, and stress tests, all Normal but disconcerting, and all possibly related to Splenda. The above mentioned symptoms were definitely caused by Splenda, and documented by my physician who is revising her general health questionnaire to include “Do you use Splenda?” !!!!! That speaks volumes.
Sincerely,
Susan Reinders
Wow, what story. I am so glad it was just Splenda. It takes a bit to realize it could be something non-medical. It is worth thinking out-of-the-box. I only hope more people realize this could be the reason for their discomforts and concerns. We should try to find a way to make this more public.
I think Splenda has cause me many problems, and I'm afraid lifelong problems. I'm compelled to tell my story, so maybe those that listen will not make my mistake.
I have always been VERY active. I'm now 37, and will be 38 this month. I have lifted weights and ran for years and have always been concerned about my fitness. However, I got into the habit of drinking sweet tea all too often when I ate lunch. It eventually became habit. At one point, I thought I had a little more body fat than I should since I had given up on running as much. A coworker suggested Splenda as an alernative to sugar. He said, "You know, it is made from sugar." I did not put as much thought into it as I should. I started using it every day in my tea. I'm embarassed to say, but it was several packets per the two large cups I would sometimes drink. All seemed well, but over time, I had some issues that should have been warnings. I had a small rash on my face near my eyebrow and a spot on my stomach. Both went away. I took Splenda with me wherever I went, just in case I needed to "sweeten" a drink without sugar. I was actually proud of myself for being so health conscious. Little did I know the hell I was soon going to go through. The first noticeable (to me) symptoms were almost exactly a year ago-this was after a few months of consuming Splenda almost daily. My mouth began to tingle. I thought it a little weird at first, but did not think much of it. Over the course of a few days, it became worse. I became alarmed, thinking it was gum disease. I began seeing my dentist, periodontist, and even an Endodonist, none of which could find a problem. All the while, I was feeling worse overall. My energy was draining. I began to have heart palpitations, insomnia, tremors, and behavioral changes that I didn't even notice. I'm also ashamed to say that even suicide crossed my mind during the very difficult times. A coworker even came to me one day and asked me what was wrong. I was surprised he noticed that I was not "myself". He said everyone had noticed I wasn't my usual outgoing self. It didn't matter. I became more withdrawn. The pain in my mouth became more intense over time. My only wish was to eliminate the pain, which I thought was a gum infection. I was so focused on gum disease, it never occured to me that it might be something else. After seeing the periodontist for a follow-up, he said I was fine and perhaps I had an allergy. (This was about 3 months after first experiencing the mouth pain and about two months from seeing the periodontist the first time.) On my drive home, it occured to me that my only lifestyle change in a year had been the Splenda. Once home, I searched the internet and found all the alarming information on Splenda. It made me sick to my stomach once I found out how the stuff is actually made and realizing I had been consuming this stuff for months. I immediately quit using Splenda. But, I think the damage has been done. My health seemed to improve some, but nothing miraculous. I don't know if there has been nerve or organ damage or a triggered Autoimmune condition. I now continue to get a rash on my nose and lip. It appears now that I really may have an autoimmune condition of some kind. I know of NO ONE in my family with these problems. I was completely healthy and loving life just over a year ago and now I can barely make it to work. I can't say with 100% certaintly it was Splenda, but the circumstantial evidence is pretty overpowering. Especially when I read of everyone else have the EXACT same issues when they consumed Splenda. I have yet to get a diagnosis for my problems. My last doctor (ENT) seems to agree with me and thinks it is Autoimmune. He has sent me to a Rheumotologist. I plan to see him next week. I haven't seen a doctor that has yet to give me any good reason for my problems. Most just look at the symptoms and suggest one thing or another to alleviate them.
Please realize, I have never been to a doctor much in my life. I have never had any reasons too. This has all occurred since I brought Splenda into my life. I dion't even have a family doctor. In my heart, I know that Splenda is linked or even the total cause to my situation.
The public truly needs to be warned about this substance. I don't know if my life will ever return to normal. I know it will never be what it was before, and it could all be because I decided to use some little yellow packs of artifcial sweetener the FDA claimed was safe.
It will give me a little bit of joy if this substance was banned. I don't want anyone else to suffer because of this poison. We need to scrutinize ourselves what is considered safe for us. I decided to trust the FDA in looking out for my wellbeing. I work for government, I should have known better. The government and big corporations certainly aren't concerned about us.
I had stomach problems and didnt
realize that Splenda could have
led to having to get my gallbladder
removed. I just stopped using
Splenda because of rash on arms
and legs and the rash is gone.
I have spent lots of money on
dr. bills and they could not
determine the issue. Thanks
to peoples post....
use Stevia it's a natural sweetener.
Two years ago I decided to get healthy and come off sugar. Replaced it with Spenda. Within two weeks lots of problems including Optic Neuritis. Stopped using Spenda. Two years later Optic Neuritis again. Diagnosed MS, now after the MRI's and no legions the diagnoses is Possible MS. I believe the O.N. was caused by articial sweetener poisoning giving me some symptoms of MS.
For several days I have had a rash on the top part of my arms and on the top of my chest. I have had no changes in soap or food products, except I use pop with splenda and have lately been shaking the sugar out of instant oatmeal and putting splenda on it. I am going to try not using splenda at all and see what happens.
Patty Inglish, MS Level 7 Commenter 4 years ago
I am allergic to Splenda. There are at least 28 different symptoms and I had 13 of them.
A friend had such a bad reaction, he had to go to the Emergency Room.
Other people find no problems with it. However, the rash, chest pain, migraine, joint pain and other symptoms were horrible for me.