Yeah, exactly. There's plenty of natural stuff out there that is bad for you. People get nasty reactions from herbal supplements and remedies all the time.

Bunny,

I do miss sugar. I know I need to try sugar or honey again, one or the other. I am unsure about baking or cooking with stevia. I really use it mostly in drinks and it's fine.

I had trouble with the IP products. But, I honestly could not tell you if it was the Splenda or the soy. I had to cut out IP bars for a while because I had a reaction to them. Soy is a great source of protein but it is also a major allergen like eggs, nuts and milk.

There is another product I just heard about called Just like Sugar. I am trying to learn a bit about it to see if it is a possibility. I can't always take my dropper bottle with me wherever I go.

I think I might try "Just Like Sugar" too. Apparently it's made from the chicory root, which seems to have some medicinal properties (just Google the words "Just Like Sugar reviews" and a ton of stuff comes up). Just like all of these sugar substitutes, the jury seems to be out on this one too. Some say it has no taste at all, others love it. Oh well, figured it worth the $5 to give it a try. Have also heard good/bad about Truvia, but found out it contains Erythritol, which can wreak havoc with the body as well. (Are we TOTALLY confused yet?? I am!!:dizzy:)

Yes, confused as sugar alcohols are tricky for some. I still don't get what they are. I don't know where to find Just like Sugar in the stores but may order it one day. Yes, Stevia is sweeter than sugar and this appears to be less sweet so it becomes costly over time. But, I can get it in packets and it is supposed to be sugar like. People bake with it. Stevia is a sweetener but not sugar like. I believe the Simply Bars that I ordered are sweetened with chicory root. And I used to use something with beet juice or something. Now that I liked.

One of the problems with aspartame and sucralose is that the body can taste the sweet and releases insulin in anticipation of the sweet calories which never come. This drops our blood sugar and is why some of us have cravings when using splenda products. I know I have more of a challenge staying OP when I consume more sucralose. The aspartame gives me terrible headaches so I haven't used that in years. I am more sensitive to chemicals in general, so for me Stevia is a much better choice. It doesn't cause the same cravings or headaches. Since not everyone is as sensitive, it is good to have healthy discussions so everyone has a chance to see a different point of view, do research and decide what might work best for themselves.

When in ketosis I had trouble with MIO which is sweetened with Splenda. Interestingly, it is much less of an issue now. My cravings, especially around TOM were out of control back then. Less of an issue now.

I think as we go through this diet we clear out a lot of the gunk and our bodies become more more sensitive. Foods we used to enjoy are no longer enjoyable and can actually make us feel bad.

I agree. I think that is really true with high fat and over processed things.

I can't help but point out the irony of someone on the IP diet program being worried about artificial sweeteners and highly processed things. Have you looked at the ingredient list on those IP packets? Just sayin'.

Wurdnerd, I agree with you totally about the ingredients on those IP packets! Fortunately since I just started I was able to exchange the packets I didn't like for ones I did, so I took back ALL of the sweet stuff (puddings, drinks, etc.) and exchanged them for the soups and the omelettes, which appear to have no sucralose in them at all. I also gave away all my Walden Farms dressings to my sister who has no problem with artificial sweeteners (and loves the stuff - yuck!), so right now I'm just using Stevia in my coffee, that's it. No side effects whatsoever and I feel great. I think they should really warn people about the possible side effects of sucralose... maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I think a great majority of the population has problems with artificial sweeteners. Also found out that sucralose was originally designed to be an INSECTICIDE... whaaat??? Change a molecule or two and now we go from an insecticide to a sweetener. Gross!

Also, no offense to the hardcore IP users in this forum... but I also go to a local farm and get fresh eggs, and have started making my own egg white omelettes as well. (I'll still use the packets until they run out, but thought I would give this a go as well). I guess this is the fodder for a whole 'nother discussion forum: the ingredients of IP products -- are they wholesome? Hmmmm?:?:

You should eat the yolks too. The fat and nutrients in the yolk are important for good health!

Thanks, Momto2cs! I do hear the yolks aren't all that bad for you, especially on farm-fresh eggs. They are the best on the planet too! I always worried about the cholesterol issue, tho. I think there is research that goes both ways on that issue. Regardless, I say if nature made it, it's gotta be good, right?

When I first started IP I was very nervous about what was in the packets, so I just shut a blind eye. I can tell you this that once I went into phase 3 I felt great. My body was so happy. It was missing something.

I think though, there are almost no health products out there without allergens. I remember looking into some product last fall. And part of the way they were pitching it was to list all the ingredients they do not have. I thought okay. Part of the problem with removing nearly every single allergen is taste and consistency. I would love to find a food version of IP but that was not going to happen and over time I grew dependent packets to the point where for some reason I am having difficulty weaning myself off. I needed IP to retrain my body to eat healthier and that was not going to happen cold turkey one day. In my head I knew what I was supposed to be eating. But, in actuality I could do it no more than a few days.

Here are some of the tricky ones.
Whey
Soy
Sucralose
Those other sugars with sugar alcohols

Whey and soy are some great sources of protein but many are allergic or sensitive to soy. And I don't remember if you can tolerate whey if you are dairy sensitive. But, there is a certain kind of whey that is fine. Something about the casein or something. Too confusing for me.

Coming up with products without artificial sweeteners, and soy and whey are challenging. Now, I have seen pea protein but who puts that in a bar.

These items also have to have a shelf life and be able to travel.

It gets crazy.

We also have immune systems that are supposed to do some of the heavy lifting.

I believe all research shows cholesterol is not bad for you. There a no longer dietary guidelines for cholesterol in Canada. Check out a blog called the war on insulin. He is excellent.

I addressed this very issue earlier in the thread:

"My need to reduce my weight, outweighed the risk from the use of artificial sweeteners while on IP. I choose to use stevia if I need additional sweetness in things, and do not plan to be on IP longer than necessary. This is MY choice based on the research I have done and my beliefs. As I said, each person must decide what is right for them."

Because my weight was over 200 pounds, my blood pressure was high, my A1C was 10.9, my cholesterol was high (so high they could not calculate the LDL) and my normal blood sugar ran between 350 and 425, I was literally at death's door. After 3 months on IP, my bloodwork came back normal in every way. A1C went to 5.4, blood sugar 87, triglycerides went from 522 to 97. For me, this was the best choice.