Why is This Artificial Sweetener in Your Drinking Water?

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Posted By Dr. Mercola | September 20 2011 | 181,976views |

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By Dr. Mercola
For those of you who are aware of the health dangers posed by
artificial sweeteners and dutifully avoid them, the featured study
findings may come as a shocking surprise...

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Researchers have found that the artificial sweetener sucralose

(Splenda) is a widespread contaminant in waste water, surface
water, and ground water. In a recent test, water samples from 19
U.S. drinking water treatment plants serving more than 28 million
people were analyzed for sucralose. The sweetener was found to
be present in:

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The source water of 15 out of 19 of drinking water treatment

plants tested

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The finished water of 13 out of 17 plants, and

In 8 out of 12 water distribution systems
The average amounts of sucralose in source water and finished
water was 440 ng/L and 350 ng/L respectively.
According to the study:
"Further, in the subset of [drinking water treatment plants]
with distribution system water sampled, the compound was
found to persist regardless of the presence of residual
chlorine or chloramines ... The results of this study confirm
that sucralose [is] an indicator compound ... for the presence
of other recalcitrant compounds in finished drinking water".
Recalcitrant compounds are organic or synthetic compounds that
resist being broken down by chemical processes, such as those
employed by water treatment facilities. This is troublesome,
particularly as sucralose can be quite detrimental to human health,
and the contamination appears to be very widespread in US water
supplies.

Sucralose Destroys Healthy Bacteria

Three years ago, an animal study published in the Journal of
Toxicology and Environmental Health reported that sucralose:

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Story at-a-glance

Aging

In recent tests, water samples

from US water treatment plants
discovered that the artificial
sweetener sucralose (Splenda) is
a widespread contaminant in both
source water and treated water

Allergies

Sucralose is a persistent
contaminant as it is not broken
down by the chemical water
treatment process

Aspartame

Alzheimer's
Arthritis
Artificial Sweeteners

Asthma
Autism

Previous research has shown

that sucralose can destroy up to
50 percent of beneficial intestinal
bacteria (probiotics), which are
essential for general health and a
strong immune system

Back Pain

TRANSLATE THIS PAGE:

Sucralose is chemically closer to

DDT and Agent Orange than it is
to sugar
Splenda is known to cause a
multitude of detrimental side
effects in certain people,
including allergic reactions and
neurological dysfunction

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Reduced the amount of good bacteria in the animals' intestines by 50 percent

Increased the pH level in the intestines
Contributed to increases in body weight, and
Affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be
rejected. In terms of human health, this P-gp effect could result in medications used in
chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into
your intestines, rather than being absorbed

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Is absorbed by fat cells (contrary to previous claims)

The fact that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria is truly
disturbing as these help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly microorganisms, and support your overall immunity and general health. Many people are already
deficient in healthy bacteria due to choosing highly processed foods, which is why a high-quality probiotic is one of the very few

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/20/why-are-millions-of-american... 9/25/2011

Why is This Artificial Sweetener in Your Drinking Water?

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supplements I recommend for nearly everyone. And now we discover that this artificial sweetener also contaminates a majority of
US municipal water supplies as well...

Splenda has NEVER Been Proven Safe for Human Consumption

Did you know that only two human trials on sucralose were completed and published prior to the FDA approving Splenda for
human consumption? And these two trials included a total of 36 human subjects. Worse yet, the longest running trial lasted only
four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance. As for determining the absorption of Splenda
into the human body, a mere eight men were studied. Based on that singular human study, the FDA allowed the findings to be
generalized as being representative of and regarded as "safe" for the entire human population!
This is a potentially devastating mistake, as some groups are far more susceptible to adverse effects than others, such as infants,
the elderly, and the chronically ill.
You've probably heard the claims that the FDA has reviewed over 100 studies on Splenda and are satisfied that it's a safe product,
but what you don't hear is that most of those studies were on animals, and that they actually revealed plenty of problems! For
example, some of these studies revealed:
Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day
Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain lesions at higher doses
Enlarged and calcified kidneys
Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the
control group
A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a six percent death rate in the control group

It May be Made from Sugar, But it's Nothing Like it...

Don't let the name fool you. Sucralose is NOT some magical calorie-free sugar, despite Splenda's famous slogan, "Made from
sugar, so it tastes like sugar." It is in fact a chlorinated artificial sweetener cooked up in a factory, and scores of consumers have
testified to its devastating effects. It does start off as a sugar moleculeto which three chlorine molecules are added. At the end of
the patented process, the chemical composition of the sugar has been altered to the point that it's actually closer to DDT and Agent
Orange than sugar.
This type of "sugar" molecule does not occur anywhere in nature, and therefore your body cannot properly metabolize it. This is
why Splenda is advertised as having "zero calories"because your body cannot digest or metabolize it. Essentially, it passes right
through you. Or at least that's the claim. However, according to the available research, between 11-27 percent of sucralose is in
fact absorbed into your digestive system, and according to the study mentioned above, it is also absorbed into your fat cells.
The question then becomes, just what kind of impact might a DDT- or Agent Orange-like molecule have on your health?
Furthermore, few people realize that only about one percent of that packet of Splenda is actually sucralose. The remaining 99
percent is maltodextrina type of sugar! Each packet actually has four calories, but because the amount of sugar is less than one
gram, they get away with saying it has "no calories" due to a loophole in the labeling law.

Common Side Effects of Sucralose

Just like other artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame), sucralose can wreak havoc on your health. The personal testimonials on
my site alone, submitted by people who have suffered adverse reactions to Splenda, surpass the number of people that were
formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval. The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.com also lists consumer
complaints from Splenda consumption.
Some of the most common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products, include:
Gastrointestinal
problems: bloating, gas,
pain, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, or bloody
diarrhea

Seizures

Blurred vision

Blood sugar
increases

Headaches and
migraines

Dizziness

Allergic reactions,
including swelling of
the face, eyelids,
lips, tongue, or
throat

Weight gain

Allergic skin reactions:

Redness, itching,

Breathing problems:
wheezing,

Stuffy nose, runny

nose (clear, thin

Heart palpitations or
fluttering

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/20/why-are-millions-of-american... 9/25/2011

Why is This Artificial Sweetener in Your Drinking Water?

swelling, blistering,
weeping, crusting, rash,
eruptions, or hives

tightness, cough, or
shortness of breath

discharge),
sneezing

Joint pains and aches

Bloodshot, itchy,
swollen, or watery
eyes

Anxiety or sensation
of being "spacedout"

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Depression

How is Splenda Ending up in Drinking Water?

Well, its presence in water supplies may very well be a sign of just how prevalent its use is, because as revealed in that one
absorption study, sucralose is expelled in urine and feces pretty much unaltered... I'm not sure which is more concerning, the
thought that so many people use and excrete Splenda that it's becoming a drinking water contamination hazard, or that sucralose
is so persistentso difficult to break down that it can pass right through your body, and go through chemical water treatment, and
STILL be present to have another go through the system of another unsuspecting person having a drink of water!
The other issue to remember is that many researchers believe sucralose has an element of fat solubility so you wind up storing
some of it in your fat; certainly more if you are drinking ever increasing concentrations in your tap water. Remember this chemical
is in the same class as DDT and Agent Orange, and we have NO long term toxicity studies done on this as they were not required.
Avoiding sugar is a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle, but, instead of consuming a naturally low-sugar diet based on whole
foods, some people are still trying to have their cake and eat it too. Unfortunately, the belief that artificial sweeteners can allow you
to have the best of both worlds is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you're still consuming artificially sweetened foods,
snacks and beverages because you think it'll help you manage your weight, please understand that you've been sorely misled.
In reality, "diet" foods and drinks destroy your body's ability to count calories and actually promote weight gain. For example,
drinking diet sodas has been found to double your risk of obesity! Complicating matters further, artificial sweeteners also appear to
be highly addictive. It's important to understand that sugar cravings is typically a sign that your body needs fuel. Using artificial
sweeteners will NOT trick your body into thinking it has had its fill. Instead, artificial sweeteners can increase sweet cravings
because your body didn't get the energy boost it was expecting from that sweet taste.
If you're determined to sweeten your foods and beverages, I urge you to consider using stevia extracta safe and natural sweet
herb. Avoid stevia-based sweeteners like Truvia and PureVia however, as these do not contain the whole stevia plant, which may
compromise its safety.

How to Remove Splenda From Your Drinking Water

Remember that Splenda is not the only contaminant in your water supply. There are loads of drugs in your water that wind up there
the same way Splenda does. A reverse osmosis system will not only remove Splenda but nearly every other drug and contaminant
from your water. A carbon filter will also work to remove Splenda and other contaminants but it is not quite as effective and will
require you to reduce the rate of flow through the filter media. The more carbon you have that contacts the water, the more
effective it will be.

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Source: Environmental Science and Technology August 31, 2011

Source: Green Med Info

Related Links:
The Caloric Mistake that DOUBLES Your Risk of Gaining Pounds
The Potential Dangers of Sucralose (Reader Testimonials)
New Report Shows How You Get Addicted to Diet Soda

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/20/why-are-millions-of-american... 9/25/2011