Dangers of Splenda Revealed
Is Splenda bad for you?
Find out if there is research that shows any danger of Splenda.

First, let me congratulate you. You're very smart to investigate whether there are any dangers of Splenda® before you ingest this sweetener.

Is Splenda® bad for you?

Some sources say that Splenda® (sucralose) contains chlorine, which is a proven carcinogen. Others say that it contains as much chlorine as common table salt. Even with the jury being out on this issue, I'm suspicious. Plus, before sucralose was formally approved, research showed that it caused shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage) and enlarged liver and kidneys.

Research conducted since then documents numbness of male rats' hind legs, as well as negative effects on the livers, spleens and kidneys of laboratory animals.

Additional research has shown that artificial sweeteners may actually stimulate appetite. That's a real blow to anyone trying to lose weight by using these sugar substitutes!

There has been no independent (i.e. without any tie to the manufacturer), long-term research on sucralose conducted on humans. So it's essentially an experimental product that somehow made it through the FDA approval process.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, many of his patients have noticed the following symptoms within 24-hours of eating Splenda® products:

o Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). This is the most common allergic symptom that people have.
o Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath.
o Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches).
o Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing.
o Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery.
o Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.
o Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering.
o Joints -- Joint pains or aches.
o Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression.

Dr. Mercola has many pages of testimonials from his readers who feel that there are dangers of Splenda®, and that they have been harmed by this sweetener.

Yet many of my readers who are long-term users of Splenda® report no ill effects (see their comments below...be sure to include your own experiences, too).

While Splenda® may be safer than aspartame (Nutrasweet®, Equal®)--which is linked to leukemia and lymphoma--there still has not been enough convincing evidence to prove Splenda®'s safety.

I'll let you decide for yourself if you want to ingest this substance. Here's a natural alternative, and my personal favorite sweetener. Tip: Use the code LEN208 to get $5 off your order.

I've also written an article about this natural sweetener alternative, stevia.
And many people want to know how to bake with Splenda, and are looking for recipes. But now that you know the dangers of Splenda, I hope you're willing to try a healthier alternative! I've developed many recipes using the natural sweetener alternative, stevia. For starters, here's a great Splenda cake recipe alternative. It uses a safe, natural sweetener, but still tastes delicious. Enjoy!

Have a Personal Experience with Splenda That You'd Like to Share?

If you've had a bad (or good) experience with Splenda, share it with others so they can learn from your experience.

What Other Visitors Have Said About Splenda

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