Artificial Sweeteners - ARGH!

[willowtreewren]

I feel like such a doofus!

I have been working at bringing my creatinine clearance up for the past few months so I could be retested. Haven't taken any allergy medicine and no ibuprofen. Drink plenty of liquids....

And tonight it occurred to me that I should check artificial sweeteners (my supply of Splenda for coffee is about gone...)

OMG! They degrade the kidneys, too. And I have been nearly bathing in Crystal Lite.        

How could I have been so stupid? I feel like I have set this process back by months. And I have nobody to blame but myself. But in all the research I did about improving CC, I found NOTHING about artificial sweeteners (and the whole array of them are bad!)

Sometimes it feels like there is a huge hurdle for everyone to be able to find out what they need to know to be as healthy as they can be. Just look at all the folks who come to this forum to ask questions because they can't find the answers anywhere else. ARGH!

 

Thanks for the chance to vent. Back to the "project" to be able to donate to my husband.

(I like the idea posted elsewhere about looking at self-improvement as a project .... less intimidating  )

Aleta

[Chris]

I forgot where I read about all the artificial sweetners from the past to the current offerings. It did not mention anything about CC either. I may have read it from a link from the American Diabetes Association, but have to look or old emails if I kept it.
I have been using Sweet N Low and Equal for years alon with Sugar Twin at times over the years, I'm sure something will or has happened from it since it is an artificial sweetner.

[Jean]

Oh CRAP!!!!! I practically bathe in Crystal Light also. Did any one think to change their deodorant also? I did do that, could not believe all but one of them said, " harmful to kidney patients"

[Chris]

Nope, but the print is so small on the package, I can't read it. Thought it was an urban legend also.

[MandaMe1986]

I have learned just about everything is bad for kidney patients
 

[monsterman]

I have learned just about everything is bad for kidney patients
 

Seriously is there anything that is good anymore for us? I am still new to all of this but almost every time I turn around something is BAD 

[MandaMe1986]

I just take it for granted that it is bad for me, that way when it isn't its like a little treat.

[Chris]

Back in the 80's, they changed what diabetics should and should not eat almost on a yearly basis. At one point they said juice was bad to drink

I don't really care anymore unless there is sound reasoning or proof, however anything from Taco Bell is a risk!

[MandaMe1986]

Thats okay cause Del Taco is better anyway 

[Chris]

We don't have Del Taco here, just Taco Bell and independent mexican fast food joints in various towns.

By the way, I'm happy Mc Donalds no longer uses Splenda and has gone back to Equal. I couldn't stand Splenda, it tool a lot of those packets to make my coffee taste the same as compared to using 3 packets in a large coffee. Just seems newly diagnosed diabetics like it better compared to many who were brought up using the old stuff.

[jbeany]

I'm diabetic, and I've found it's easier to use real sugar and just count the carbs.  The artificial stuff makes me queasy, or just tastes funny to me.

Water with ice is my drink of choice - I know i don't have to worry about whats in it that way.

Keep at it, willow - it stinks that you didn't find out sooner, but at least you know now!

[bevvy5]

That's interesting.  We asked my husband's dietician about sweeteners, particularly Splenda and she said it was fine.

[MandaMe1986]

We don't have Del Taco here, just Taco Bell and independent mexican fast food joints in various towns.

By the way, I'm happy Mc Donalds no longer uses Splenda and has gone back to Equal. I couldn't stand Splenda, it tool a lot of those packets to make my coffee taste the same as compared to using 3 packets in a large coffee. Just seems newly diagnosed diabetics like it better compared to many who were brought up using the old stuff.

Your missing out if you don't have a Del Taco, much better.  And come on Splenda is so much better then Equal. Both are better then sweet N low. 

[kitkatz]

Del Taco french fries-MMMMMMMMM!

[kellyt]

If you go deep into the Splenda website you will find that it is not good for the kidneys.  However, when I asked about it I was told you would have to consume an extremely large amount of Splenda and for a long period of time!

I was told post transplant that Crystal Lite was absolutely fine.  As a matter of fact, she said she preferred I drink that over everything else other than good ole water.

Don't beat yourself up.  For the first three months post transplant I lived on Pink Lemonade Crystal Lite.  I've had to take a break since because I burned myself out.  ha ha  But I have a large amount in my pantry. 

[Chris]

Your missing out if you don't have a Del Taco, much better.  And come on Splenda is so much better then Equal. Both are better then sweet N low.

I started in the 70's with the pink stuff, then Sugar Twin, and then Equal/Nutrasweet. I just can't switch to Splenda, it doesn't taste right to me and have tried several times because it was the only option. Glad Diet Pepsi doesn't use it and stuck with Aspartme.

[MIbarra]

I am a splenda girl. I can't get myself to drink water. But I guess I need to make more of an effort.

Okay, maybe a stupid question, but... Really, deoderant? Not a good thing? Or is that a joke? If it isn't which deoderant is okay?

[Zach]

Really, deodorant? Not a good thing? Or is that a joke? If it isn't which deoderant is okay?

The issue is mostly with antiperspirants not deodorants --I believe because many antiperspirants use a mixture containing aluminum to stop wetness.

[Chris]

This was also said about shampoos too containing aluminum.

[Jean]

Correct, it is the aluminum. The only one I found was Arm and Hammer. It's pretty good too. Doesn't work as well as an antiperspirant so stay away from using jackhammers and such. You know, manual labor.

[willowtreewren]

Since I'm trying to improve my creatinine clearance in order to give my beloved husband a kidney, I'm taking ALL measures to help those guys.

My favorite Crystal Lite is pomegranate lemonade. I'm just going to bring my supply to school and let the rest of the staff enjoy it. It's back to water with lime juice for me!

Aleta

[rookiegirl]

I'm having a dumb moment here.  So I apologize if I didn't get this right.  So artificial sweeteners are bad for the kidneys, right?  I'm concern because I use Splenda all the time.

[jbeany]

I'm having a dumb moment here.  So I apologize if I didn't get this right.  So artificial sweeteners are bad for the kidneys, right?  I'm concern because I use Splenda all the time.

I think if I was still pre-dialysis and trying to conserve as much kidney function as possible, I would avoid as much artificial stuff as I could.  Once you've started dialysis, I doubt reasonable amounts would make much difference  - you've already lost most of your function to other things by then.  Large amounts of anything artificial are bad for anyone - healthy kidneys or not.  All things in moderation. 

Willow is going as far as she can to be cautious, for the best of incentives.

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Rookiegirl.
I agree with Jbeany. None of the artificial sweeteners are "good" for you, but you have to weigh the options and make personal choices based on individual situations. My creatinine clearance was slightly below the cut off for our transplant center. I am desperate to be able to give my husband a kidney. We don't really have the option to go to a different center where I would fall within their parameters. We run our own business and it would collapse if we were both gone for any extended period of time. That would not be a good scenario.

So, I am going the extra mile in every way I can. Depending on the sources, Splenda is or isn't considered bad for kidneys. I tend NOT to trust the manufacturer, since they have a conflict of interest. AND, if one practices moderation, it shouldn't be a concern.

My real frustration is that ALL my health care providers AND my husband's neph know what I'm trying to do and I have asked advice of EVERYBODY (even my cousin who is a kidney transplant nurse at Hopkins). No one even mentioned artificial sweeteners. I had to find out on my own through personal research. That's where the ARGH came from.

Aleta

[kellyt]

I think it's great that you're doing whatever you can to possibly give your husband a kidney.  True love.  Nothing but the best of luck to you and your husband.