READER FEEDBACK

[YEA]  01/19/2008: Barbara from Wooster, OH writes: "need feedback on others having side effects from artificial sweetners. I am very concerned about side effects from splenda ect. I have fibromyalgia and I do suffer with migraines  I am greatly concerned about my latest and most terrifying symptom.  I choke very easy and sometimes on my own saliva.  My throat goes into spasms and I can not breathe.  Last week I was having dinner with my family and had to stop eating because I could no longer swallow.  It was as if the message wasn't getting from my brain to my throat.  My heart started pounding and I started shaking.  I am almost afraid to eat anymore.  Has anyone else experienced this problem?"

[YEA]  01/16/2008: Jennifer from Kent, OH writes: "My brother has a severe reaction to Aspartame as it acts like MSG once digested. He gets migraines and diarrhea."

[YEA]  01/15/2008: Martine from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA writes: "I quit smoking and started using breath mints with the artificial sweetener sorbitol in it. I thought the sorbitol was an all natural sweetener.  Anyway, I began to notice that a half hour after taking one of these mints I would bloat up like a balloon, my stomach would get so huge you could just see it...it was wierd.  I wasn't sure if the mints were the problem but since I keep them in the car and pop them into my mouth when I'm going somewhere, I always notice on my ride home I have to unbutton my pants because of the bloatation...don't know if it's the chemicals combined with the sweetener or not but i'm not eating them again."

[YEA]  01/12/2008: Eva from New York, NY writes: "I would like to share my experience about artificial sweetners. For several years I would use 1 Equal tablet in my coffee twice a day. I was always concerned about these sweetners so after quitting smoking cold turkey (yes almost 14 years ago-everyone can do it) I decided to stop using all artificial sweetners as well. Last year I decided to join a home food delivery program mirrored after the Zone diet. This company offered desserts for some of their snacks. The first time I had their dessert I instantly got diarrea and had the shakes. I quickly called them up and asked them if they used artificial sweetners and they confirmed that they did. I knew at that point that the artificial sweetners did not agree with me anymore. My body rejected them. I had several desserts after that and got the same reaction. Furthermore I get the same reaction with Splenda which they claim is all natural. It is not . The first time I tried Splenda I can't tell you how badly bloated I became. My stomach ached and of course I had diarrea again. My head felt heavy and I was so queasy. I was so completely out of whack it was frightening. I drank tons of water to flush out my system and after a few days I felt back to normal. Artificial sweetners are chemicals and no one should be consuming them. A little natural sugar goes a long way."

[YEA]  01/09/2008: Judy from Bonney Lake, Washington writes: "I am writing about becoming very scatterbrained and forgetful when I was using lots of splenda for baking, in my oatmeal, in drinks, etc. I have been "off splenda" for 3 months and have my mental abilities back again. Anyone else had similar problems?"

[YEA]  01/06/2008: Vivek (vivek_9200@indiatimes.com) from New Delhi, India writes: "I am a person who has carefully observed the side effects of Aspatame. To cut down sugar intake every I started taking it in tea about twice a day and within 2 weeks of usage I developed constant terrible headaches. First I took some analagesices like Nimsulide to treat, but the headaches kept on coming back. Also I developed sinsitis like symptoms. I in meantime referred to some online articles and stopped using Sugarefree and no wonder all symptoms ceased to exist within 4-5 days. I tried to pick up Aspartame again but then suffred same symptoms. So that was it I have totally stopped its consumption, and feel better."

[YEA]  01/03/2008: G. Michael (ptlmike@yahoo.com) from Reading, Pennsylvania writes: "A co-worker of mine has been using aspartame and lots of it for a long time. She was constantly complaining that she had a lot of muscle pain.  A year and half ago she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  A month ago I bumped into her and I told her that aspartame can mimic fibromyalgia and I told her that she needed to completely stop using it. A month after completely removing aspartame from her diet she no longer has fibromyalgia.  Praise The Lord!"

[YEA]  12/30/2007: Jan from Bellingham, WA writes: "Hi, it is very possible that sucralose is not the same as splenda...could you look into this?? Splenda is most certainly a terrible thing in ingest, and does contain sucralose. However, my understanding is that it is sucralose itself in small amounts is harmless, and passes right through the body in a very short time.  The company Univera uses sucralose in its formula 'Ageless Extra', and claims the above about sucralose.  I have been taking it for a long time and its a wonderful formula.  They did develop an alternative as so many people are concerned about the sucralose.... Thank you!"

[YEA]  12/25/2007: jg from los angeles, ca writes: "my sister who is a doctor of internal medicine, showed me a transcript of a conference a few years ago on the subject of aspartame. the general consensus was that it is addictive, and that it can cause fatigue, depression, and other nasty things. the most chilling paragraph discussed how improper storage of aspartame and products containing it, causes it to morph into a formaldehyde-related chemical. apparently, it has been linked to Desert Storm Syndrome, with its attendant miseries - the palettes of diet coke, etc., were left on airport runways is  120 degree heat before being delivered to the troops who drank little else. how the government and soft drink industries have managed to keep this quiet is mind-boggling.  as a disproportionate number of americans are addicted to diet soft drinks, they really need to know that they are literally poisoning themselves. pass it on!"

[YEA]  12/23/2007: Ed from Lower Burrell, PA writes: "I had been using 3-6 Equal packets in morning coffee for at a year. At one point I noticed my left arm had a numbing sensation that would not go away. It stayed for weeks. Sometime my arm muscle would twitch as well. It would be months before I finally stopped using the Equal and realized it was the Aspartame poisoning my nervous system."

[YEA]  12/04/2007: Heny (ridicdog@yahoo.com) from Bridgeport, CT writes: "Like others, I was lead to believe that Splenda was the answer to sugar substitute. I then started on Equal(which was just as bad) then decided to go back to sugar. I later read somewhere on this site that "Stevia" is a better substitute for sugar--nothing added(google the name and read) I just went to the vitamin shoppe and purchased a box. This stuff is real good. One packet equals to two tsp of sugar."

[YEA]  12/03/2007: Ronald F from Orland Park, Illinois writes: "I am re-posting. I bought SPLENDA 8 months ago and have been using in daily coffee and a few recipes.  This caused severe itching and swelling/hemorroidal symptoms.  I read in the paper that this sweetener can cause itchy lesions anywhere on the body."

[YEA]  12/02/2007: Dorothea Enlow from Killeen, Texas writes: "Splenda had me fooled. I just heard the news that Splenda is not totally just from sugar without the calories. I knew that sucrolose gives me Insomnia but I just didn't want to believe that Splenda does too, so I brushed it off. Well now I know that the cause of my intermittend insomina is also Splenda. This company fooled us good.I will from now on use sugar again, but only half the amount what the recipe calls for."

[YEA]  10/10/2007: Joyce from Joelton, Tn writes: "On headaches, remove the cause, instead of looking for a cure. Aspartame (Nutrisweet) is well known for causing headaches. So is Monosodiumglutamate. If you want to find some other things they can cause, type in Excitotoxins, and hit search. For those who think MSG is only found in stir-fried (Chinese foods), make a list of the names MSG is hidden under in the ingredients list, then go into your kitchen and see how many of your foods have one or more of them listed in the ingredients. Classic example is the 15% chicken broth that may be contained in a well-known brand of raw chicken that you must take home and cook...The MSG isn't mentioned because they didn't add MSG - they added chicken broth which contained the MSG.....Learn to protect yourself and your loved ones by learning these legal loop-holes. Oh, yes, you will also learn that that they are named excitotoxins because they excite the neural cells (Brain & Central nervous system) to death. If you also research meta-bolic syndrome X (now called insulin resistance) by orthodox medicine) you will also find that excitotoxins are the same things that cause insulin resistance which ends up as full fledged Diabetes Mellitus,Type 2 which used to be called DM, adult onset, but was renamed to DM type 1 for juvenile onset and type 2 for adult onset, because children (even toddlers, are now developing type 2. So be your own health defender by learning all the names the excitotoxins are hidden under, stop buying these products, and write the supplier telling them why you aren't buying their product. You will only have to make one list because the excitotoxins are the same ones that makes us kick out excess insulin, proceed through insulin resistance, then to full fledged DM, type 2 and all of its complications."

[YEA]  10/06/2007: Nancy from Austin, Texas writes: "I tried the Atkins diet a few years back and would eat 1-2 "snacks" a day sweetened with splenda. My skin on my face got very blotchy, patchy and dry.  When I made the connection, I stopped eating the snacks and in a week it cleared up again. I've also noticed that sweetening anything with splenda will give me a headache.  Also, whatever sweetener that is in Diet Pepsi makes me stupid.  I can't put together sentences or think of the word I want to use after drinking it for a couple of days.  I figured this out when I visited my sister and that's what she had to drink around the house.  Within a couple of days, I couldn't converse very well and the only difference was the Diet Pepsi.  I never use artificial sweeteners anymore."

[YEA]  10/06/2007: Lisa (Lady-bug-girl@hotmail.com) from Amarillo, TX, USA writes: "does anyone know ANYTHING that cures msg + aspartame headaches?!? Every time I accidentally get some aspartame or msg, I get the worst migraine headaches! of course aspartame is the worst because I cannot think properly because of my brain misfirering messages for about 24 hours after having the least bit of it:-( while I try to stay away from both substances I sometimes manage to get some and I am sorry for pretty much 2 days. PLEASE HELP ME!!"

[YEA]  10/05/2007: Sherrie from Oakland, Nebraska writes: "Hi. I believe I am experiencing withdrawals from Splenda. My symptoms are similar to that of hypoglycemia with lightheadedness, headache,weakness, and a "shaky" feeling. This happened after 3 weeks of heavy Splenda using and abrupt stopping when I had no tea to use it in. Just thought I'd let you know that there definitely are withdrawals if one stops using Splenda. Thanks."

[YEA]  10/03/2007: Pat from OFallon, Mo writes: "I've been using alot of splenda over the lase few years and having different things to happen to me. I have sores on my arms and neck, Depressed, and RLS. I haven't tried to stop but I have been reading about others who had the same trouble. Do you think this is my problem?"

[YEA]  10/01/2007: tina erwin (erwinscotty@yahoo.com) from whitney, texas writes: "I have a question maybe someone can help I have been drinking diet soda for the last three years and lately I have been feeling realy tired and sick to my stomach and achy bones and joints heart palputaions and on ocassion dizzy I have been to my doctor he checked me for arthritus and that came back clear and so have several other test we cant figure out what is wrong could it be the diet soda I drink about 3 to 6 a day   has anyone else had all of these same symptoms and quite drinking the diet soda and there symptoms go away let me know what you think thank you"

[YEA]  09/28/2007: Kel from St. louis, Missouri writes: "I have suffered from heart palpitations for years and just recently discovered they are triggered by artificail sweetners."

[YEA]  09/25/2007: Fia from Cartagena, Columbia writes: "Equal caused severe headaches. What is your thought on Stevia?  I use it in place of artificial sugars and appear to have no problems.  It comes in liquid or powder form and is about 20 times sweeter than sugar.  It is also a natural product made from leaves and used extensively in South America."

[YEA]  09/11/2007: Colleena from Nanticoke, USA writes: "I just recently found a correlation between eating sugar-free ice cream sweetened with splenda and breaking out into hives around and in my mouth."

[YEA]  09/11/2007: Larry from Chula Vista, CA writes: "A while back, I decided I needed to cut back on sugar and tried to switch to Equal (aspartame). Within a few days I noticed that my nipples (I am a male) became very sore to the touch.  Just a slight bump or rubbing against my shirt was really beginning to hurt.  After a few weeks, I went to see my doctor, who, being stumped after the ointment didn't work, sent me to an internist.  In the course of his diagnosis he asked a lot of questions; one of which was have you changed anything in your diet recently.  I told him about the Equal.  He asked how much sugar I had been using.  When he told me that calories in a tsp. were just 16, he suggested I quit the aspartame and see what happens.  Within a week or so, the pain was gone.  I thought it was possible that it was coincidental and not really the aspartame to blame, so I started taking it again.  The pain returned almost immediately.  I quit it again, the pain went away.  I waited for several weeks and tried it again (gluton for punishment); the pain returned.  Without a shadow of a doubt I can associate that pain in my nipples with the use of aspartame.  I don't know what it was doing to me, but it wasn't worth it.  I've never gone back.  I have been using Splenda (sucralose) for the last several weeks without any ill effects that I've noticed.  I especially like that fact that there is no after-taste associated with the Splenda either.  I logged onto this site to see if there was anything to worry about with this stuff, but so far, I haven't found anything wrong with it personally."

[YEA]  09/11/2007: Linda from Harrisburg, PA writes: "I recently stopped taking Aspartame, and have gone through horrible withdrawal- mood swing, nausea, headaches. I read that increasing your vitamin intake can help to offset the symptoms. I found Fuse drinks, which are labeled as natural, no preservatives, etc.  And, they have vitamins in them.  Unfortunately, they also have sucralose, which I now know means Splenda. I thought I was having another withdrawl symptom, but after reading here and other places, I know my wheezing/hacking/hard to breath feeling was from the Splenda.  Looking back, I realized that it occured shortly after drinking the Fuse drinks.  I was beginning to wonder if I hadn't developed asthma. I can't believe that they allow these products into our food, and even out toothpaste!"