Aspartame.

[benmaise]

I don't often post anything on here. I often read the messages though. Can anyone tell me what they think about Aspartame. Hope my spelling is correct. I am cutting down on my food to loose a few pounds.. I've been having Hartleys sugar free jelly most days for pudding. Sometime ago I think I read something about aspartame being very unhealthy . Does anyone know ?

[Bongo4]

I've just googled it. It's bad for you if you're fat

I have Stevia sometimes and it tastes so disgusting it puts you off sweetness generally

I hope that helps

[benmaise in reply to Bongo4]

What is Stevia Bongo4 ?

[Bongo4 in reply to benmaise]

It's a natural sweetener sold in supermarkets next to the canderel, sugar etc

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 16kg]

Welcome back benmaise .

Apart from cutting down on food ,may I ask if you are following a plan. May I suggest you read the pinned posts and maybe join the daily diary where we share our food plans.

You will find the link in the pinned posts.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[benmaise in reply to TheTabbyCat]

I'm not following any plan Tabby Cat. I'm just having less bread, potatoes , cereal and chips etc. Its working well , I have lost about 9 1bs. I don't need to loose anymore but its keeping it off . That's the problem. There isn't a diet I haven't tried I don't think. That's why I tried just cutting down and its worked better for me. I have stopped buying biscuits and cake , as I can't stop eating them. Having Coeliac means I just can't eat any biscuit unless it is Gluton free .

[Tgostswimmer]

I've heard bad things about most artificial sweeteners. Put it this way... we don't have sweetened drinks very often, but if we do we have the regular, full sugar version. And just take it for what it is.

If that jelly is your favourite and cannot be replaced in your heart, then just have it. I can't imagine there is too much aspartame in it. If you are eating lots of other artificial sweeteners and are concerned, then maybe swap it out.

I'm not following a plan either. Just cutting back on the stuff I know isn't nutritious. Congrats on your weight loss and for reaching a point you are happy with. You may find that increasing your activity levels gives you the rush of feel good hormones that means you are less inclined to reach for something you know you shouldn't. That's what is motivating me at the moment at least. Wishing you all the best of luck x

[Bee-bop Maintainer 2st 7lbs]

Hi benmaise, I stay away from aspartame but, it seems to be the go to sweetener in jellies so I don't buy them for myself. Holland and Barrett sell a natural jelly that is sweetened with the fruit juice. I also bought some plain jelly Crystal's which you add fruit to yourself.

Stevia is plant based as is inulin which you can buy to sweeten things without the calories and/or sugar spike of normal sugar.

[Hidden]

Benmaise, it is better to drink water instead of sweetened beverages, whether or not those beverages were sweetened with sugar in one of its many forms or artificial sweeteners like Aspartame.

The following report, written by Dr. Gabe Mirkin and published on his website cites several credible studies backing up the view that while it is better to choose an artificially sweetened beverage over a sweetened beverage, plain water is still the safest choice.

From the report:

Evidence Against Artificial Sweeteners

If you want to take sweetened drinks, you are safer with artificially-sweetened beverages, but they also are associated with increased risk for heart attacks and death in women (Circulation, 2019;139:2113–2125), and for obesity, strokes, dementia, diabetes and pre-diabetes.

• Drinking two or more artificially sweetened drinks per day is associated with an increased risk of strokes, heart attacks, and early death, particularly in overweight women over 50 (Stroke, Feb 14, 2019). More than 80,000 healthy post-menopausal women were followed for almost 12 years. Those who consumed two or more 12-ounce artificially sweetened beverages each day were 31 percent more likely to have a clot-based stroke, 29 percent more likely to have heart disease and 16 percent more likely to die from any cause during the study period, compared to women who drank diet beverages less than once a week or not at all. Obese women were twice as likely to suffer clotting strokes, but non-obese women were not at increased risk.

• A review of 56 studies showed that adults and children gain weight on artificial sweeteners and gain even more on sugared drinks (BMJ, Jan 7, 2019).

drmirkin.com/nutrition/all-...