Splenda is a calorie-free sugar alternative in those little yellow packets that have been made since the 1990s. Splenda is made from a chemical process that is created from the chlorination of normal sugar. Splenda is a sugar that has been chemically adapted. Splenda has enjoyed a huge rise in popularity, and many dieters and diabetics find that it has less aftertaste than any other artificial sweetener.

Between 2000 and 2004, the number of American households using Splenda increased from 3 percent to 20 percent. Splenda’s sales topped $ 177 million in a recent year during which there were only $ 62 million in sales for the aspartame-based sweetener Equal and $ 52 million in sales for the saccharin-based Sweet ‘N Low.

The company that makes Splenda, McNeil Nutritionals, says that Splenda has withstood some of the most stringent food tests on record for any food additive. McNeil says more than 100 such studies have been done on Splenda. Most of these studies have involved animals, which calls into question the human safety report.

What is at stake in the concern for the safety of Splenda is its possible toxicity to the body. Today, our foods are loaded with artificial ingredients and chemical enhancers. Toxicity in the body leads to disease, illness, premature aging, weight gain, malnutrition, and even mental health problems. Splenda is, in fact, an artificial product. The extent to which it acts as a toxin or poison in the body has not yet been determined. The likely truth is that it produces a certain amount of toxicity, the severity of which will vary from person to person. The accumulation of toxins in the body is a very real part of life on planet Earth in the 21st century. Most people would benefit from learning what is and what is not toxic to the body and making an effort to reduce or eliminate their exposure to toxins and regularly go through a body cleansing detox program.

Is Splenda REALLY sugar?

The chemical name for the Splenda molecule is sucralose. While sucralose starts out as a sugar molecule, it is the process by which it is produced that is of concern. Sucralose is a purely synthetic chemical that is produced in a proprietary five-step process. During this process, three chlorine molecules are added to a simple sugar molecule. The initial natural sugar molecule is a disaccharide made up of two linked individual sugars; fructose and glucose.

The chemical process to produce sucralose modifies the chemical composition of sugar so much that it becomes a molecule that does not normally occur in nature. Because this man-made molecule does not occur naturally, the body does not know how to process it. According to the makers of Splenda, this is why Splenda is calorie neutral – it is not metabolized or digested in the body. Splenda simply works its way through the digestive tract without depositing calories.

However, this is misleading as Splenda’s zero calorie status would only apply if the body had the ability to metabolize it. More concerning, the fact that Splenda is a man-made ingredient raises questions about its safety, especially if used in ruthless amounts over a long period of time. There is the additional problem of the insulin reaction. While research reports are not yet conclusive, the medical community widely speculates that Splenda triggers an increase in insulin levels, which regardless of whether calories are present or not will signal the body to retain fat stores or even store more fat.

A research finding overturns the notion that the body does not absorb Splenda. In this study (conducted in humans), one in eight participants did not clear sucralose after three days of ingesting Splenda. Another study (conducted on animals) found that 15% of ingested sucralose is absorbed from the digestive system and then stored in the body.

Splenda under the microscope

Medical and nutritional researchers have studied Splenda and made these observations:

  • Splenda is a chlorocarbon, which has a history of producing organ damage, genetic mutations, and reproductive problems.
  • Splenda can damage the thymus gland, which plays an essential role in healthy immune system function.
  • Splenda can create inflammation of the liver and kidney stones or calcification of the kidneys.
  • Studies promoted by the manufacturers of Splenda only report carefully selected results and do not show an accurate picture of the true impact of Splenda on health.
  • Chlorine used in the Splenda production process is a carcinogen, according to OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Manual.
  • Sucralose is not as dangerous as aspartame. If you had to choose between the two, choose Splenda. Saccharin is the only artificial sweetener that is acceptable in any way. But it is better to use a natural form of sweetener.
  • The added sweetness of sucralose (Splenda is rumored to be 600 times sweeter than sugar) only creates a further addiction to the taste of sweetness.
  • Unless digestion is hampered, any food or substance you eat will be absorbed. If we feed the body with a totally indigestible material (like margarine), it will travel through the body without being digested, if it is not trapped in the gallbladder. If Splenda is truly indigestible, that’s a bigger problem than the assimilation issue.
  • The only benefit of using Splenda is the profit the manufacturer makes.

Splenda reaction symptoms

  • Welts, blisters, or other skin irritation
  • Eruption
  • Allergic response
  • Itching
  • Swelling
  • Swelling
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Tremors
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Depression
  • I forget
  • Humor changes
  • Anxiety
  • Lack of concentration
  • Daze
  • Feelings of panic

How to detect if Splenda is hurting you

The best way to determine if sucralose is affecting your health is to take this simple test. First, eliminate sucralose completely from your diet for a period of two weeks (this applies to all other artificial sweeteners). After two weeks, eat three to five servings of Splenda for up to three days. Do not take any other variety of artificial sweetener during this time. Watch closely how your body responds. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, there is reason to believe that you have a sucralose intolerance. If you have strong reactions, especially on the first day, this is a very strong sign that Splenda has an adverse effect on your body. You will do well to avoid Splenda altogether and benefit from a body detox program. This self-test can be done with any of the artificial sweeteners.

Regardless of any Splenda reactions you may experience, it is a good idea to sweeten your food with healthy, natural sweeteners. There are many healthy sweeteners to choose from, some of which you may never have heard of and most of which will not give you digestive toxicity or side effects.