SPLENDA is not as wonderful as you think.......

[Guest guest]

(The below article is just another reason why I use Stevia if I

sweeten something like my plain yogurt in the morning, and why I

limit soft drinks to special occasions. Janie)

Splenda Sues the Sugar Association

http://www.mercola.com/2005/feb/23/splena_lawsuit.htm

The makers of Splenda are reaping sweet success, as sales for the no-

calorie artificial sweeter rose to more than $346 million in 2004,

up from $65 million in 2001. Splenda is so coveted among Americans

that it holds over 50 percent of the market share of sugar

substitutes.

Though regardless of high sales and shares, there may be trouble in

paradise for the unit of & responsible for

advertising Splenda -- McNeil Nutritionals. For it seems a full-

fledged battle has begun regarding the marketing campaign for this

artificial sweetener.

McNeil vs. Sugar Association

The battle began in December 2004, when the Sugar Association filed

a lawsuit against McNeil, stating the marketing campaign for

Splenda -- " made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar " -- does not

truthfully reflect the end product, which is created with chlorine

and does not have sugar in it. In fact, Splenda's own Web site

(www.spenda.com) states the artificial sweetener starts with sugar,

but is then converted into a no-calorie noncarbohydrate sweetener;

this process selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on

the original sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms.

Consequently, McNeil struck back with a lawsuit against the Sugar

Association and other groups, claming the accusations were

a " malicious smear campaign " against their product in a ditch

attempt to boost sugar sales. The lawsuit further stated the

defendants are trying to persuade consumers into believing Splenda

is unhealthy and unsafe, and that refined sugar is the better

option.

Yet before the smoke even has a chance to clear from this battle

scene, it seems the soft drink industry has prematurely chosen a

winner:

The Coca-Cola Co. will begin selling Diet Coke sweetened with

Splenda. PepsiCo Inc. has made plans to reformulate its single-

calorie drink, Pepsi One, with the no-calorie sweetener.

Seattle Post Intelligencer February 8, 2005

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Dr. Mercola's Comment:

McNeil can strike back, file lawsuits and defend Splenda until they

are blue in the face, but no matter how hard they fight, it still

won't make their artificial sweetener any more acceptable to

consume. It also won't change my mind on how potentially toxic this

no-calorie artificial sweetener (made from sucralose) is to your

health and body.

Unfortunately, McNeil's rebuttal may convince people who are

uneducated about the negative health effects of Splenda -- people

who will only realize the devastating repercussions of the sweetener

after they experience negative reactions to it. Unfortunately,

deceitful marketing ploys can work and leave some blindly misguided.

So let's look at the facts.

The Bitter Truth About Splenda

Folks, this artificial sweetener is not natural at all (as you have

been led to believe). Though the creation of the product starts with

a sugar molecule, chlorine molecules are then added to it. This is a

similar chemical in many respects to pesticides like DDT, and no one

can even guess the long-term consequences of ingesting this

substance over many years.

Let me assure you that there are absolutely zero long-term studies

on Splenda. The FDA doesn't require it and the company did not

perform any long-term tests. Moreover, research in animals has

provided us with some additional concerns, linking consumption of

the sweetener with severe health problems such as decreased red

blood cell count, diarrhea and enlarged liver and kidneys.

Yet the most revealing and powerful way to learn the treacherous

truth about Splenda is to read someone's personal experience with

it. Nearly every month we receive a report from someone who has had

an adverse reaction to Splenda, and after reading just a few of the

submitted testimonials you won't even want to look at Splenda again.

Resist Your Sugar Urge

Eating too much sugar will also adversely affect your health, as it

will cause your insulin level to rise and this is associated with a

host of health problems.

Therefore, the best option for your health is to radically reduce

the sugar and sweets in your diet. Amazingly, over time your desire

for them will dramatically decrease once you normalize your insulin

levels. Try avoiding sugar for even a week, and then go back and

taste a sugary item you used to love. You'll be amazed at how

overpoweringly sweet it will taste.

Another way to satisfy your sweet tooth naturally, although

appreciating the natural tastes in food without added sweeteners is

always best, is with stevia, a sweet-tasting herb. (I want to

emphasize, however, that if you have insulin issues, I recommend

that you avoid sweeteners all together, including stevia, as they

all can worsen the problem.)