An excerpt from the MOLECULES peer review journal.
In this study, the relative toxicity of six FDA-approved artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, neotame, advantame and acesulfame potassium-k (ace-k)) and that of ten sport supplements containing these artificial sweeteners, were tested using genetically modified bioluminescent bacteria from E. coli.
The bioluminescent bacteria, which luminesce when they detect toxicants, act as a sensing model representative of the complex microbial system. Both induced luminescent signals and bacterial growth were measured. Toxic effects were found when the bacteria were exposed to certain concentrations of the artificial sweeteners.
An interesting article which will probably be attacked by the diet drinks industry.
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I read that article and await the howls of protest from the drinks industry. They are caught between a rock and a hard place as they need to tackle the role of sugar in national obesity.
Artificial sweeteners are dreadful substances, particularly for AFfers and the timing of this article couldn’t have been better.
Hi Finvola. As a matter of interest do you not consume any drinks that contain artificial sweetners & if not do you just drink tap water? I was wondering about squash
Hi TamlaMotown - I have avoided everything artificial since diagnosis 5 years ago - sweeteners, colouring and flavouring. It means checking labels but as I don’t eat processed food either, it is relatively easy.
I drink bottled water as our house supply comes from a borehole and is quite hard. (We sterilise it via ultra-violet filters.). In the evenings I enjoy elderflower cordial - think it’s called Bottle Green from Tesco - only a very small amount mixed with sparkling water and a slice of lime. It has no artificial additives but does have sugar. Hence the small amount - working out at about one teasp sugar with a pint of water. I drink it out of a fancy wine glass and pretend!!
I searched through squashes and found that they are high in sugar - and/or sweeteners and it is a time-consuming search.
I mostly drink water now to stay hydrated & tap water is a bit boring but I have been wondering about it maybe not being good to add some squash for flavour. Maybe someone out there can suggest a healthier option...
I don't know whether it will be to your taste (too tart perhaps?) but you might try adding a little fresh lemon or lime juice to your tap water. I quite often have that in hot water and like it. I don't drink cold drinks much apart from water, but herbal teas like lemon and ginger are just as nice when allowed to go cold as they are hot, I find.
Aspartame is the devils spawn as far as I am concerned. It might even have caused my AF which first occurred around that time ( although not so diagnosed) when I was trying to give up sugar (and failing) in the early nineties, My wife read an article about how evil it was and around that time there were stories about US FDA taking action. Character changes, mood swings and lots of other problems were discussed. I never drink any "diet" drinks which contain any of these artificial sweeteners and do wonder if they may be responsible for some of the increase in mental health problems in young people who love these drinks. Only me wondering mind. Touched a nerve there.
I think marijuana is more responsible for mental health problems in younger people.....
I suppose like everything else if you consume gallons of these diet drinks etc then you can expect unfavourable reactions. I occasionally have sugar free squash and very rarely coke type drinks. I don't avoid everything which has aspartame listed .....perhaps I should??! It has not been proved a dangerous substance in UK.
I use sucralose, in my tea, if does not seem to give me issues.
I did use canderell which I think is aspartame one holiday when I forgot the sucralose and I went I to AF when I was on my way home and it lasted 8 days. I only used it for a week and only once or twice a day.
I'm convinced artificial sweeteners were the cause of my AF. Like Bob I thought I was being healthy cutting out sugar from my diet. To name just a few things, I had artificial sweeteners in my tea, cold drinks, yogurts and chewing gum. I now avoid any food and drink items with artificial additives of any kind.
I occasionally buy Belvoir Ginger Cordial which you add to water. Yes, it contains sugar, but I'd rather have that than those dreaded sweeteners.
I cannot understand why anyone would consume foods, drinks, or anything just using this stuff or as a tea and coffee sweetener. Raw Sugar Cane is the only true natural form of sweetening if you can get hold of the stuff and you have a press to extract the natural sweet juice that pours out. As a type 1 diabetic for over 43yrs, I avoid anything that contains this poisonous sweetener of any form of bleached and processed sugar. And things taste so much better without the need or having to sweeten things up anyway; thus reducing so many issues and illnesses conected to this poison.
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Sucrolose
Good article on gut health in today's Guardian
Urine infection treatments for AF sufferers
