From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Apr 28 2003 - 09:32:54 MDT
Emlyn O'regan wrote:
> In the Atkins diet, you can use artificial sweeteners, except
> for Aspartame (Nutrasweet). I had trouble finding good info
> on it, but it seems it may cause insulin production spikes,
> or somehow interfere with blood sugar levels.
>
> The reason I had problems working out the truth in this regard (and
> am still unsure) is that there seems to be quite a controversy over
> Aspartame; some people say it'll kill you (formaldehyde
> poisoning?), others vehemently deny that it has any problems.
>
> Anyone got info on this, or able to make some headway through the
> datastorm?
Yes I've studied this in detail and debated it the numerous occasions. I
agree with Atkins that one should avoid aspartame (found in NutraSweet). It
is broken down into methanol (a poison), aspartate (a potential excitotoxin)
and the amino acid phenylalanine. Sucralose (found in Splenda) is a much
safer bet. Sucralose is a slight modification of the natural sucrose
molecule. (A couple of chloride atoms are used in place of, if I remember
correctly, carbon atoms, but otherwise the sucralose molecule is identical
to the natural sucrose molecule.)
Unlike sucrose, sucralose passes through the gastrointestinal tract about
90% undigested. As such it can't really do any harm, and one can hardly
argue that the chloride atoms should do harm anyway -- chloride atoms are
half of table salt (NaCl). And because of sucralose's extremly close
molecular similarity to sucrose it fools the taste buds and tastes almost
identical to sugar.
One should also keep in mind that all powdered artificial sweeteners contain
natural sugars as well as articifial sweeteners. Typically they contain
dextrose and/or maltodextrin. The powders work only because the artificial
sweeteners they contain are much sweeter than natural sugar, such that much
less is needed for the same purpose.
-gts
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