Splenda/Stevia Question
 

Is there a limit to how many Splenda/Stevia packs we can have per day?

my nutritionist/doctor/coach all say to keep it to a minimum. on the list it says to only have it in the morning with coffee if needed, but i sometimes use it in special dishes that i make, and i also use it in sugar free syrup form to add to my shakes or coffee. i'd say to stay under 2 packets a day.

I'm not using a limit currently (I need my tea to be sweetened) and I don't think I could cut that out until I absolutely have too (when there is a stall).

I was told to limit Splenda because there really is sugar/carbs in it. The FDA allows them to state 0 because there is less than one, but there is like .99 (this is what I was told, but I have not verified). So I was told use Stevia as much as I want, but Splenda as little as possible, and aspartame and sacharin not at all.

Ack! I guess I'm moving over to Stevia lol - thanks for the info - I'm doing my own research now. ;)

Thanks for your input! I have been using the Stevia in the Raw packets. I like it in my tea too - some days I have used 6. It just occurred to me yesterday because because it was only on my sheet that once in morning too and I don't see my coach until next Wednesday. Thanks again.....

Actually, it's more like 0.5 per packet/teaspoon.

Ok, so I tried the Stevia...ummm...yuk! Like bitter bitter yuk, I'm not sure I could replace splenda with it. I may have to go black in my coffee and just limit the splenda. :/

I didn't like the taste of stevia either, so I split the difference - half splenda and half stevia. Then I found truvia and I like it much better - it's still made from the stevia plant, but uses a different part of it. I find there is little to no aftertaste with truvia.

I also really like truvia

I've never heard of truvia (I'm going hunting for this one, this weekend!), this place is a WEALTH of knowledge! :) I'll probably try to get used to the stevia or try your idea Laura and split the difference until it's all gone. Hate to waste such an expensive little package.

I bought my truvia at walmart so you should be able to get it about anywhere. I just have it in the little sugar style packets. I find it even a bit sweeter than sugar so... I usually only use half a packet in my cup of tea.

I'm not really sure I understand. If you don't feel Splenda should be avoided due to the chemicals why would you worry that it has 1 calorie or a gram of carbs per packet?

A gram of carbs isn't going to cause any problems. If it did, you would have to avoid all vegtables. I'm not an IP food expert but I'm guessing plenty of IP foods are not totally devoid of carbs either.

I'm of the opinion you shouldn't make dieting more difficult than it needs to be and the less stress and worry in your life - the better.

The number of carbs one needs to consume to exit ketosis is variable on the individual but the range is 50-100 grams of carbs per day. Thus - a couple splenda packets are not a big deal.

John, you are correct in the assumptin that IP foods aren't devoid of carbs. They range from 1 to 18 carbs depending on the item being eaten.

For a person in Phase 1 they should be getting a value of carbs somewhere in the low 20's with another 15 or 20 carbs coming from seasoning/spices, alloted milk portion, and vegetables. Some people will be fairly liberal with their portions by eyeballing instead of measuring and, others will use items that have hidden carbs very freely. The guidelines about things like gum and splenda really aren't that the one carb can do anything to move you from ketosis IF you are doing everything as directed. The problem is too many people don't use 1 packet, they use 3 per glass of tea and have 4 or 5 glasses of tea in a day. That plus other liberal uses of hidden carbs can add up and, in the case of a person who does fall out of ketosis at 50g of total carbs can cause a fluctuation in and out of ketosis.

Granted it would be a fluctuation and, provided the person doesn't begin to crave or seriously over eat carbs, should barely be felt but, if it persists like that the person is then not on a ketogenic diet burning their fat but, is on a calorie restricted diet and, they will potentially burn muscle before burning fat. Not the healthiest of places to be.

Showgilaz you clearly understand the psychology. Allow me to help you out with the physiology.

Carbs are protein sparing. Assuming someone doesn't decrease their protein intake, increasing carbs only makes it less likely muscle will be catabolized. Ketosis is not an on or off switch.

Personally - while I'm not big on the idea that splenda is dangerous in moderation at a certain point it isn't doing your body any favors. Rat studies showed adverse digestion effects at only 1.1 g per kg.

Thus if someone is consuming 5+ splenda packets a day + the splenda in IP packets + the splenda in IP foods ... well it seems to me this is a bigger problem than the extra 2.5 carbs in the 5 splenda packets.

I use a lot of splenda, but I also switch it up with stevia (I bought PYoure? from whole foods - good, no bitterness!). My 2nd WI tomorrow so we will see if it matters!

Curious if there are any more thoughts on this. I have increased my splenda use in the last few days because I wanted something different to drink (I added splenda to decaf tea and had that (a lot) and I had a couple diet sodas sweetened with splenda. So, between that and my liberal use of hte veggies, I estimate that excluding the ideal protein foods themselves I am at around 35g carbs. Will I never hit ketosis at this rate if hte IP foods add another 20? I am trying to make this work but need it to be a livable solution . . .

I've been using stevia as my sweetener for many years now. At first it wasn't even approved by the FDA as a sweetener, it had to be sold as a 'nutritional supplement'. (it would have been too much competition for aspartame, a product that had been initially rejected by the FDA, but turned later into a money-making wonder capable of manipulating the FDA's will, apparently).
Anyway, so stevia does have a bitter aftertaste, to which i'm completely used to by now. When I signed up for this program I asked the physician who did my consultation if stevia consumption was ok, and she said that it was allowed as long as it was the kind of stevia that contains zero carbohydrates. Apparently there are some brands that, like splenda, contain >1 g carb. So, all of this just to say that make sure you check the label of the stevia packet if you decide to buy one. Also, it might be worth it to give it a shot and try to get used to the bitter after taste, as it is a natural product, as opposed to a synthetic chemical compound (sucralose), which we are consuming plenty of through the IP packets already.

John,
Thanks for the great input and analogy:D

Things that make you go hmmm
 

Hmmmm, guess I should try to switch to Stevia. Which do you use? I was told both were ok on IP but I am sure they didn't think I would use 3-4 packets a day :/ Anyway, when at the store I was a bit confused by the Stevia options (stevia in the raw, truvia, a few other "via's") and I wasn't sure which one of those was the approved stevia so I stuck with Splenda. Now I am reconsidering.

Another question . . . does anyone know how to determine when you fall out of ketosis? This is day 5 for me, and I believe I should be in ketosis but I really have no idea. I have been too liberal with my veggies and had a few too many splenda packets, but otherwise have been good. I would like to assume I am in it, but after reading these threads last night and plugging in my nutritional data I am between 50-60 by my best estimate. This, according to the post above, could put me out of ketosis. Any way for me to know?

I use "Sweet Leaf". I find it at the local grocery store, but not where the other stevia brands are (truvia, etc), it's in the health foods isle.

As far as ketosis, I have no clue. I have wondered about it myself. I read many of the posts in here about it, and some people rely on the ketostix to test for it, while others seem to think that they are not reliable. So I ended up buying them just a few days ago. Out of all the times I've used them one time it showed I was NOT in ketosis, and the rest showed "trace". But I couldn't tell from how I felt. I'm starting a journal today to document things like that.. as I think that it probably differs from person to person. I, for one, don't have ketone breath, while others do.

Truvia is actually made with sugar and technically the worst out of all the sweetners (barring aspartame of course). Splenda in the packet has sugar in it as well/a carb whereas splenda in the bulk bags do not contain these ingredients.

Just an FYI from a bio-chemist....

My mom drinks a lot of coffee and she tried putting the WF carmel syrup in her coffee and she did not even have to put her normal splenda in it. She said it was sweet enough with just the syrup...just a suggestion try it and let us know how you like it!

I have been using splenda in my coffee and also in my ice tea. I probably use about 4 or 5 tsp a day. I'm still in ketosis as per the test strip last night, so as long as those strips are pink, I'll keep using the splenda.

So now what ???? Cause if splenda is not supposed to be consumed to more than two packets a day and you have say.....an arizona iced tea stix drink mix...which contains splenda..then how much do you have for the day????? do you cut it out or what??