The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has downgraded Splenda from its former “safe” category to one of “caution” following an unpublished study that found Splenda may cause leukemia in mice.
Splenda is anything but a “natural” sweetening alternative to sugar. It is an artificial sweetener that has been found to reduce the amount of good bacteria in your Gut by 50 percent. No one knows what happens when humans consume this substance for long periods of time the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Splenda in 1998 based on more than 110 safety studies. However, only two of these were actually conducted on humansand the two studies only consisted of a combined total of 36 people, of which only 23 people actually ate sucralose. This is not a very large or statistically significant sample size for a large scale, widely available food product.
Johnson and Johnson make Splenda from a five-step patented process, adding three chlorine molecules one sucrose (sugar) molecule. Chlorine in high doses helps to kills bacteria, hence it is used in treating drinking water and swimming pools. The way it is bound chemically means it will not break a part and become changed or detoxified as with natural occuring chilorine/chloride molecules. This can do harm because it is so bio-active in the gut.
Other examples of this type of chlorine bond in synthetic chemicals are:
- DDT, (a banned poison)
- PCBs, -Plasticisers in paints and cements, Fire Retardant fabric treatments, PVC electrical insulation and adhesives
- Agent Orange, a defoliant used during war to clear ground and burn up the ememy.
In my opinion, not the best company to keep chemically anyway.
I would advise to stick to more natural sweeteners such as: Raw sugar, stevia, agave nectar and honey if you need to sweeten-up your tea.
Yours in health,