Or,
Using anything like aspartame (sp), actually buying it, and using it in coffee/ tea?

I'm understanding, (I know that for myself, that it's absolutely wicked, dastardly stuff). I have arguments with some rsd friends about it.

What do Ya'll think?

If you need stuff THAT sweet, something's wrong, IMHO.
All I need is a little dash of honey in my tea. (can't drink coffee, it's too much caffeine)!
So, I find that lots of my rsd friends, make up for it with artificial sweeteners.
What in the world good is that?
Yet, they won't use something as good for you as 'Smart Balance', which is much better than butter, but they moan that 'it's not real'!

Huh?
I just don't get it?

Can ya'll gimme some insight?

Thanks!

Pete

asb

I drink diet soda because I want the caffeine but not the calories.

Regular soda tastes too sweet to me.

I don't know anyone who uses artificial sweeteners to get things 'that sweet'....it's to get a bit of sweetness without the calories or effect on the blood sugar that natural sugar has.

I don't like the fake sugars or the fake butters or the fake creamers LOL.

All the modified /diet type foods most likely have more chemicals and junk added in - just doesn't healthy to me. IMO

Hey Pete, I agree, I personally drink bottled water. It's great. Because of internal RSD and the heat issues, I like it cold to help cool internal organs down. Take care, loretta

Hi AintSoBad.

I don't have RSD, and I don't partake of anything with artificial sweeteners in them anymore, but was there something in particular you wanted to ask, or talk about, in regards to artificial sweeteners?

Hi All,

I agree with Jo*Mar I don't use or try not to use any artificale anything. I first got this idea 20 years ago when I was pregnet for the first time, my gynogologist would say you can have a glass a wine a day but stay away from all and he meant all artificale sweetners. He would always talk about how dangerous it was. And it's funny since the RSD I can not drink any type of carbonated drinks, which I used to be a hugh soda drinker prior, but it gives me the worst indigestion ever and when I eat again it doesn't digest quickly and I eat very slow. My husband always makes fun of me, when we drive to relatives about 3 1/2 hours away he says, "Your the only person I know who can have the same small coffee 3 hours later and your still drinking it". RSD really does so many other things to your body that we just don' t realize like cooling your body down if you go from cold to hot or hot to cold. Just yesterday I was in the mall with my daughter and I had to leave it was so hot in one store and then freezing in another. I felt like I was going to pass out, which usually I can huff anything out, but yesterday I don't know what happen.I hate when the RSD controlls me it drives me crazy.

Good Luck.

Gabbycakes

I drink lemonaide in the summertime with artificial sweetner and use it in tea if I drink it.

I am not a pop drinker of any kind. If I do it's usually a diet one but maybe once a month if that.

I think like Finz says, it's to stay away from calories. I don't use sugar and I do use smart balance. I just try to stay away from calories.

Are the sweetners bad for you? I believe so. They are all I have ever used and have had tumors taken out of me that I believe was caused by the artificial sweetner.

Now I just pretty much stay away from any of it. I am realizing it's not what you eat, it's how much you eat.

I have been working on breaking habits I started such as French Vanilla creamer, chewing gum, which is bad for the stomach, sweetners. I have noticed that I can break habits pretty easily so I work on the ones that I shouldn't be doing. I've lost 9 lbs by doing this.

What was your question Pete? We all have habits others might not like.

Ada

I have a son with Tourette Syndrome and Crohn's Disease and we learned early on that artificial sweeteners are one of the worst things for neurological stuff, and can also mess with one's gut.

I have contact with a wide range of parents with kids who have neurology probs, and almost all agree that aspartame especially (ie Nutrasweet) but also Splenda (aka sucralose) really seem to have an adverse effect.

My son uses honey or maple syrup as sweetener, but stevia is also a natural alternative to sugar, and now comes in granular form, not just liquid.

My Apologies!
And, Thanks Koala, for mentioning this.
I forgot to put in my first note, that I had just read (what seemed to be) an informative article on the 'net about artificial sweeteners, and what they consist of, and how they're made.
I suppose we could all search this out.
What I got from it, was that almost everyone who uses these 'sweeteners' gain weight. And, it pushes the RSD pain (neurological pain, higher).

I have an RSD friend who not only drinks arti sweetened stuff, but buys a big bag of the sweetener monthly. (I couldn't use that much real sugar, in a year)!

I'm Polish, and my mother was a fine cook, and baker. So, I do have a sweet tooth. She passed, and my father became diabetic. Gone, were the pastries and cakes. And, I was forced to 'really think' about what I was eating.
I remember back then, the fake sugar (saccharin) and especially butter, the butter! Darn, I couldn't get it to melt in the pan, just fer to fry an egg! It would slip right out from under the eggs! Scrambled, every time!

Anyways,
Now, we have 'Smart Balance', recomended by CReports, and, it's real good!
No Hydrogenated stuff!

As for sweeteners, we'er simply not there yet!
We simply need to 'tone down' our senses and enjoy things that aren't so sweet. I have a leg up on that, thanks to Dad, I don't add sugar to anything except 'Tea'. I started with 'Sugar in the Raw', from Hawaii, it's still got the molasses in it, it's not quite brown sugar, but, it's not so highly manufactured to be junk.
Now, I've been spending time and money alot @ Amazon.com
You can get from them, what's NOT local to you.

I got a few large bottles of 'Tupelo Honey', as I remember having it about a decade ago. It's not just a song folks, it's made from the 'Tupelo' flower, down in the swamps of FLA, and LA. The beekeepers will often put their bee hives out on little barges, that float through the swamps. This is the REAL sweetener, but, it is expensive. Don't matter to me, since I lost my sweet tooth. But, it I highly recommend it to anyone, sweet tooth or no, to try it.
You can buy a little bottle, or gallons, by the case!
I bought three bottles, 22 oz. each, gifted one, and the two I have left will last me for six months at least, since it's the only sweetener I use now!
Even in cooking.

Just search
tupelo honey
@ amazon.com
They're great too, because once you hit 25 dollars, shipping is free, it might take five days, but then you get a surprise!


Again, my apologies for not referring to the article I read, ,and tomorrow, I'll try to find it in my browser history, and post it up here.

Thanks for all you opinions.

Bottom line:
Artificial sweeteners, are carcinogenic, and taste terrible. Don't be fooled into thinking that 'chemicals' are good for you.
On the other hand,
'Smart Balance spread' is non hydrogenated, and actually good for you, but all things in moderation!
(Including, Moderation. Hah!)

Good Health and Feelings, to All my dear friends here!


Pete

I'm allergic to honey, get many problems with aspartame, and with Splenda. I haven't read anything that makes me want to use it. If I can use 4 or 5 tsp of sugar a day, that's not even 100 calories. I do use butter, but it takes a while to use the stick because I only use it on my toast at breakfast. I cook with olive oil.

I do use the pink stuff in my iced tea, have for more than 50 years.
stay warm today
pat e