Artificial Sweetners and Gas Pain, Bloating Etc.

Updated on March 02, 2011
R.K. asks from Old Greenwich, CT
19 answers

I drink coffee and use artificial sweetners like Splenda, NurtaSweet, Sweet n low for about 20 yrs now. Ihave horrible pain daily and can't give up my coffee and don't want to use real sugar. Anyone have any alternate artificial sweetners that don't have these side effects?

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I.L.

answers from Alexandria on

Please visit www.mercola.com and read about fake sugars.
None of them are safe. If you switched off of them for even just two weeks you will be amazed how much better you feel.

2 moms found this helpful

C.F.

answers from Boston on

Real sugar ! And to help get rid of that Nasty pain and bloating feeling, drink Fennel tea - You'll be amazed how much it helps. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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B..

answers from Dallas on

You need to use sugar!! Your body does NOT know how to digest and deal with artificial sweeteners. You will have side effects on any artificial sweetener. Some you might notice, some you might not....either way...it's well documented the stuff is poison to your body!!

3 moms found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

my personal trainer is also a nutrionist and always said to go with real sugar and natural soda vs diet or artificial sweetners, have you read the warnings on them?

2 moms found this helpful

C.D.

answers from Columbia on

Have you tried agave? Not sure I spelled that correctly, but it is supposed to be really good and not cause some of the side effects of artificial sweeteners.
Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I would use real sugar, but less of it. Artificial sweeteners always make me feel horrible.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Stevia
Splenda
Honey

many people, react that way to artificial sweetners.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have been using only Stevia for a few years and I really like it.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from New York on

I used to be a sweet n low gal. Last year I made the switch to Truvia and I haven't looked back. It tasted no different from sugar. It is extracted from plants and has 0 calories. I use it in my coffee, tea, baking.....

It is not artificial. My nutritionist recommends it and some of my friends who are dietitians also recommend it.

There also seems to always be a coupon for it bi-monthly in the circulars. I have the single packs and I also have the loose packaging which makes measuring for baking easier.

I know those pains you are feeling. I haven't had them since I switched. That aspartame is pretty awful for us all.

I agree with Wendy. Agave Nectar is pretty tasty too, but too sweet for my coffee. I notice no difference with Truvia.

Peace.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.E.

answers from Sacramento on

my son likes stevia, although i find it to licorice tasting. there is supposed to be a brand out now that has removed the licorice aftertaste. I like agave nectar myself. i use about a teaspoon in my coffee and its yum!! brown rice malt syrup is also supposed to be good, but i havent been able to find it. whole foods might carry it. are you making your coffee super strong? that gives me a tummy ache. try making the coffee a little bit weaker and see if that helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.M.

answers from Denver on

I stopped drinking diet Coke and was AMAZED at how much better I feel. Therefore I steer clear of the artificial sweeteners. Try it and see how you feel!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

Truvia-I haven't tried it-it's still fairly new.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.P.

answers from New York on

I agree with nixing all artificial sweeteners, even those that claim to be all natural.
I have also read that since your body is tricked into thinking it's getting sweets when it's not it actually has a counter effect and puts weight on more than if using real sweeteners.
I would recommend honey over sugar, since it has health benefits sugar does not. It's a taste adjustment, but it's worth it.

1 mom found this helpful
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O.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried Truvia?

C.B.

answers from New York on

I don't know about these new, calorie free "natural" sweeteners, haven't tried them because they are so expensive. I just started using more milk in my coffee and no sweetener. I have grown to like it and feel good about getting more milk in my diet. Just an idea.

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

For me it is actually coffee that upsets my stomach. I don't use artificial sweetners but Truvia is made from stevia (a plant). Agave nectar is lower glycemic index from sugar but you may have to adjust to the taste (sort of molasses like). It's good with some things (oatmeal, baking) but I didn't like it with chocolate or in hot chocolate.

C.M.

answers from New York on

Stevia is all natural herbal sweetness. So is agave nectar. Both are great.
Splenda was originally formulated as a pesticide and is good for killing ants.
Sucralose is chlorinated hydrocarbons, which are carcinogenic = toxic.
You'd be better off drinking green tea than coffee, at least until you've eliminated your pain. You may have a lot of inflammation and may benefit from anti-inflammatory herbs.

M.V.

answers from New York on

don't mean to burst your bubble, but nutrasweet and sweet n low and equal have all chemicals that cause cancer in animals. so u should stay away from them. as for splenda, studies have shown that it metabolizes in your body EXACTLY THE SAME as REGULAR SUGAR. so u can stick with the real sugar, just use less.

also check the veggies you eat. brocolli, cabbage, onions all cause tons of gas. i know because i've had intestinal surgery and those bloat me up and the gas pain is horrible. also fried foods do the job as well, so avoid them or eat in moderation. i agree with the other comment below.....nix all sodas! i haven't had soda in about 10 years and i feel great!

good luck!

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I agree to give up the artificial sweeteners and just use real sugar. A teaspoon of real sugar is only about 4 grams of carbohydrates and 15 calories. That's a measured teaspoon, though, not a rounded one, lol. Sugar is NOT the horrendous evil food that we all think it is... it is that it is added to so many foods that we consume boat loads of sweeteners -- like high fructose corn syrup, or other "varieties" that slip under the radar by other names.

But, my question is are you sure that your pain is coming from that morning cup of joe? What else are you eating daily? There are a LOT of low-cal foods on the shelves out there that contain artificial sweeteners that your body cannot digest, even altered forms of sugar. Particularly your low calorie/low carb protein foods that contain things like "xylitol" which is a sugar alcohol. Anything that contains sugar alcohols (which are carb free!) could be the cause of bloating and/or digestion "issues".

So read the labels on the OTHER things you are consuming, before you decide it is your morning beverage. But even so, I'd switch to actual sugar in my coffee. Or, what I did, was cut out the sweet altogether and add half/half. I prefer it that way now, and can't imagine drinking it with a sweet taste anymore.

p.s. Even the sugar free chewing gum has xylitol in it!

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