Artificial sweeteners

[BriontePip]

Hi . I was wondering if there are artificial sweeteners I should be avoiding ? I have had AF for about 13 months . Mostly controlled with bisoprolol. Thanks

[Finvola]

Yes, avoid them - we are advised to avoid all artificial additives such as sweeteners, colourings and flavourings. I check the labels of everything for sweeteners, now that sugar has such a bad name and firms are pushing 'sugar free' foods which are laden with aspartame and such stuff.

[jeanjeannie50]

I totally agree with all Finvola has said.

Artificial additives and sweeteners were a sure trigger for my AF.

Jean

[CDreamer]

Avoid them all - as both Finvola and Jean suggest. You are far better having a small amount of sugar, if you really need it.

There are 2 sweetners I very occasionally use - there is one granular sugar which is 50/50 sugar/Stevia. I only keep it for visitors so 1lb pack so far has lasted about 5 years 🙈.

Another natural product is used in Scandinavia a lot but not seen too much over here but I read a study by Scandinavian dentists on children’s dental health as this product was used in gum and toothpaste - XYLITOL.

Those are the only 2 I would ever consider as all the others are purely chemicals and our body’s do not recognise them as foods.

[Paulbounce]

Regarding my morning coffee and cuppa tea in the day I like and used to add a couple of sweetners to both.

However (it was on Jeans's advice) I've cut it down / out. It takes a couple of weeks but you won't notice the difference then.

I guess what I'm saying is aviod them completely. Give it a few weeks and your taste bud's will adjust. It's like smoking - after time you don't want or need them.

Paul

[BobD Volunteer]

Aspartame is the devils spawn and MUST be avoided as should all artifical sweetners. I'm tretty sure it is what started my AF thirty years ago.

[BriontePip in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob - and to everyone else- for the helpful advice

[Frances123]

I only ever use xylitol and steer clear of all others especially aspartame. That seems to be in so many things. I can’t remember the name of it but there is another one that is just another name for aspartame. @BobD might know. I’ll try and check it out for you, but yes, I would only ever use sugar, xylitol or stevia. x

[BriontePip in reply to Frances123]

Thank you. Like you say the sweeteners are everywhere . I need to change my shopping list !

[LindaDaisy]

I’m ok with sucralose and stevia, but don’t risk the others. Totally agree with Bob D, aspartame is the devils spawn.

[Hidden]

Yes definitely. All of them and sugar. I mean to be healthy no specifically gonna atop afib or anything but if you want to be generally healthy don't go near most of them... I don't use any alcohols like xyltol as they arebt good either. Stevia I have honestly never tried it might be good. I use muscovado sugar ..it still has the whole sugar with vitimisn minerals ...some brown sugar is just coloured brown ....and I've learned to make a lot of things with very little ...you get used to it very quickly...after about five days no sweetness you will bit into a raw carrot and think ooh that's sweet...so the less sweet crap you eat the more you can taste the sweetness that's there in lots of healthy things.

[needlestone]

Aspartame and sucralose will start my heart going crazy. Even chewing a piece of gum with aspartame messes with my heart rhythm. I use stevia and have no trouble with it.

[KMRobbo]

Apartame is poison in my personal view. I believe Candarell is aspartame. It is in a lot of diet drinks. I cannot say if aspartame has ever triggered my AF as I avoid it previously but unfortunately was talking Candarell as a sweetener the week before I went into an 8 day high afib episode, but I have no definite triggers so cannot blame it, as my AF was getting more frequent and more difficult to terminate at the time previous to the aspartame.if I had realised it was aspartame I would not have taken it.I did take sucralose for a long time with no effect but stopped taking it as I read a report where it was blamed for gut problems ( not confirconfirmed but that's just me being safe - I had no issues and it's the closest to sugar taste. I now use Stevia as its made from sugar, but (bizzarely) it tastes a bit bitter to me, but i am persevering with it, with sometimes a treat with spoon full of real sugar!

I could not find any bad report on Steviea, but I think that is partly own g to a lack of research into it.

I do not like un sweetened tea or coffee. I have tried but yak!

[BriontePip in reply to KMRobbo]

Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful reply. I don’t need sugar in drinks but like a soft drink or mixer. Most either have caffeine or sweetener in . I will have to experiment but the kindness of all those who have shared their experience is really appreciated.