The Many Risks Of Using Splenda

The Many Risks Of Using Splenda Photo Via: https://i.ytimg.com Nowadays, it seems as if most foods are bad for you, but what if the health implications don’t just lead to weight gain? What if some of these health concerns lead to more serious illnesses such as, I don’t know, cancer? Well, a recent study shows that that’s exactly what the problem with Splenda, the artificial sweetener, is. While those that use the sweetener are doing so as a healthier alternative to sugar, a recent study shows that this is not actually the case. While it may save a few calories now, it could potentially cause major issues down the road. A new study, recently published in the “International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health,” condemned the previously “safe” sweetener in stating that the potential dangers to a person’s health are too great, formally recommending that everyone avoid the sweetener. How did the study result in this startling outcome? The study followed lab mice that were fed sucralose (present in Splenda) on a daily basis throughout their lives. These mice later developed leukemia and other blood cancers. So for those that use Splenda on a daily basis in their coffee, tea or other drinks and foods, this is an alarming issue. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a group that assesses the safety of food additives, formally recommended consumers stop the use of Splenda, a huge change from their previous position that the additive was “safe.” Of course, there are quite a few factors working against this new study as well. For one thing, the lab behind the study has been criticized in the past, making their studies questionable. However, senior scientist at the CSPI, Lisa Lefferts, says, “for most food additives, the safety studies are conducted by the manufacturers who have financial incentives,” something that makes this study much more reliable as the lab reportedly received funding with no “special interests” in mind. Another issue with the study lies in the amount of sucralose the average consumer consumes. The doses of sucralose given to the mice in the study would be the equivalent of a person drinking a minimum of 10 cans of diet pop per day. Of course, that’s very unrealistic, but when you think about the other foods and drinks you use Splenda in, it adds up quickly, making this a cause for concern. Plus, according to Lefferts, “Even if you consume less, that doesn’t mean there’s no problem. When something causes cancer at high doses, it generally causes cancer at lower doses, the risk is just smaller.” So basically, just because you aren’t drinking 10 cans of pop a day doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t at risk to develop cancerous cells. While it may be difficult to take one, mouse-tested study seriously, it’s also important to know there is an abundance of research out there prompting consumers to avoid sucralose. For one thing, the sweeteners have been linked to weight gain rather than loss, defeating the purpose of using it, and it has also even been linked to blood sugar and insulin level problems, causing spikes and dips in these levels that actually lead to food cravings later on, which in turn, prevents consumers from losing weight. So while it’s very easy to discount one study and continue use of the sweetener, more and more evidence against sucralose is making the potential health problems much more difficult to ignore. The CSPI firmly believes that consumers need to stay away from sucralose, and they’re more than likely correct in their assessment. But before you go back to regular sugar, look into safer, healthier alternatives to both Splenda and sugar. Stevia extracts and other, inventive ways to sweeten drinks and foods are always researchable nowadays, making staying healthy and avoiding a cancerous future a much easier task. The bottom line: avoid Splenda. Your life might depend on it.