Does anyone know why Atkins suggests to avoid aspartame? Does it simply induce cravings or does it have an actual effect on insulin levels/ketosis? Thanks!! Meagan

It triggers sweet cravings in some people.

So if you can control the sweet cravings (or use diet sodas to satisfy them) then you are ok? I've read some say it causes a stall. Is there any other reason for that, or just out of control cravings?

Hmm I wish I had the book with me.. but I think also for some people it causes stalling. And then there's the question whether it causes other health risks -- cancer or something like that?

For myself, I have like 1 bottle of diet pepsi a day with no problem.

It seems to be one of those "Your Miles May Vary" types of thing. I can eat/drink products with aspartame all day long and never have a problem. No cravings, no stalls. The only way to know how it affects you is to try out products that contain it and see what happens. If you start getting cravings or you notice that your weight loss is dramatically slowing down or stopping completely.....

It should also be noted that some don't like aspartame due to the health issues that it has caused in a small amount of people. Do a search for aspartame and you'll come across many debates about the subject.

Many people [myself included] experience Migraines and Stalling when using Aspartame. I personally believe it effects Insulin, because it causes me to stall even when I don't eat any more carbs than usual. It also contains Methanol, which can cause serious health problems [as it is a known toxin.]

Hey Meagan,

I'm no expert, just wanted to say it certainly hasn't stalled my progress. Nor has it given me any cravings. I'd be lost without my Diet Coke. If it does kill you, I am a goner...

Hi Meagan,
I just started 4 days ago but I can tell you, when I went for decaff diet coke after day 2 )I had really craved it) after the first half of the can it tasted yuk, I mean a really weired after taste, now that was massively weird for me, that's just not me, I've been drinking it all my life!!!!!

Keep up the good work!

Poundsoff

P.s. I am also drinking decaf Diet Coke. Forgot to mention that. I do think Caffeine in a no no.

I don't know what everyone else thinks, but the idea that Splenda really is ok for you seems a little twisted to me. There is a big discussion going on now that NutraSweet causes alot of problems with people that have not been attributed. Seems that everytime an artificial sweetener comes out it's ok but then years later.......
As for it making a difference to your cravings, I agree that everyone is different. Whether or not that means physical cravings or just emotional. I KNOW that mine are. When I have soda I feel like I should have alot of other junk food as well

I drink diet pop with aspartame in it. I am doing OK.

Well, If you look at a pack of sugarfree gum that has the nutrasweet logo, there used to be a warning on their that it has been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.


NO THANKS FOR ME!!!!


LOL, I sure think that Splenda is a much better product because it tastes natural and as the label says, Tastes more like sugar because it is made from sugar.


BigggDaddy

Hi BigggDaddy:

I don't think Aspartame has ever had to carry a warning label- I think you are thinking of Saccharin, which the site below said was found in some 1970's studies to cause bladder cancer in rats. The government made the manufacturer put warning labels to that effect on Saccharin products, but these were removed in 2000 after scientists couldn't prove it was harmful to humans.

This site says that the only warning on aspartame is for penylketonurics or people with liver problems who can't metabolize an amino acid found in aspartame.

http://www.youcanbefit.com/sweet.html

I found this article to be very fair to both sides on the sweetener debate.