So I was watching these videos by one of the WLS Surgeons and he isn't pro-sweeterners!

He thinks it can also spike Insulin by your body responding to the sweet taste in the mouth. And can also cause weight gain!

I do have medical knowledge and Insulin is only secreted in response to Glucose molecules attaching to the receptors in your Pancreas, so him extrapolating Insulin release to the taste itself kinda doesn't make sense to me!

May be Slpenda, aspartame etc may not be the best alternatives but natural sweeteners seem safe so far especially how Keto diet is revolves a lot around such natural sweeteners!

Thoughts? Are you a fan? Whether or not sweeteners are safe to be used in your weight loss journey esp cause many of us may not tolerate sugar well for life!

https://youtu.be/DTIK8n0WTBU

Edited May 8, 20215 yr by DaisyAndSunshine

I’m 21 months post VSG. I’ve been having artificial sweeteners through my whole process. I’m down 139!lbs. My blood sugar and A1C levels are normal.

Not sure how I'd do it without artificial sweeteners. I don't eat a ton of sweets, but at the same time, when I do, they usually have artificial sweeteners in them. I've lost over 200 lbs, so...

There are so many myths and old wive’s tales with Bariatrics, I’ve never seen anything like it. The majority of successful weight loss patients eat artificial sweeteners. Unless you have a sensitivity to one (and there are plenty of other options), enjoy in moderation .

Prior to my surgery, I spent years going back and forth between diets recommended to me by medical professionals or people in the fitness industry. I spent 3-6 months at a time not eating any artificial sweeteners because they’re “toxic” and cause “weight gain” according to my chiro, Dr at the time, and a trainer friend. I lost 5lbs on average in those times with high activity levels. Completely not worth it.

4 hours ago, kristieshannon said:

I’m 21 months post VSG. I’ve been having artificial sweeteners through my whole process. I’m down 139!lbs. My blood sugar and A1C levels are normal.

Which artificial sweeteners do you usually opt for?

Edited May 8, 20215 yr by DaisyAndSunshine

2 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

Not sure how I'd do it without artificial sweeteners. I don't eat a ton of sweets, but at the same time, when I do, they usually have artificial sweeteners in them. I've lost over 200 lbs, so...

Okay you're a Bypass candidate - Can you tell me which artificial sweeteners work for you without causing any bloating or other side effects?

33 minutes ago, DaisyAndSunshine said:

Okay you're a Bypass candidate - Can you tell me which artificial sweeteners work for you without causing any bloating or other side effects?

actually not a candidate - I had my RNY six years ago! None of them really bother me. I bloat a lot because I'm very salt sensitive and I also have "redundant colon", so I'm not sure if I'd know for sure if any bloating incident was due to artificial sweeteners or something else.

11 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

actually not a candidate - I had my RNY six years ago! None of them really bother me. I bloat a lot because I'm very salt sensitive and I also have "redundant colon", so I'm not sure if I'd know for sure if any bloating incident was due to artificial sweeteners or something else.

I don't know why I used candidate ??

Should have used Bypass sucess! ?

Gotcha - I guess I would just have to play around with various Sweeteners post surgery to figure out which work the best for me.

I do know Crystal Light is alright to use, which has sucrolose as the sweetner.

Xylitol doesn't work with me now, so I am sure it won't after the surgery either.

5 minutes ago, DaisyAndSunshine said:

I don't know why I used candidate ??

Should have used Bypass sucess! ?

Gotcha - I guess I would just have to play around with various Sweeteners post surgery to figure out which work the best for me.

I do know Crystal Light is alright to use, which has sucrolose as the sweetner.

Xylitol doesn't work with me now, so I am sure it won't after the surgery either.

yes - some people do have problems with certain artificial sweeteners. Sugar alcohols (those with names ending it -itol) are especially intolerable to some people - they get major G/I distress from them. they've never really bothered me, but i know they do a lot of people.

btw...the redundant colon issue I mentioned - it's not related to RNY. I've had it for a long time.

A lot of people are anti-artificial sweeteners because they are "chemicals" and therefore must be "bad". Well, a banana is made up of chemicals. Everything on earth is made up of chemical elements. Also, arsenic is "natural". Doesn't make it good for you.

There were a few small studies at one point that looked like they suggested what Dr. Weiner states in his video (that artificial sweeteners lead to weight gain, by one mechanism or another). However, that does not seem to be the case based on better, newer, larger studies.

I think for some people, eating artificial sugar can make them "crave" real sugar, but I find I have the opposite reaction. I add some artificially sweetened flavor packets to my water (I actually dilute them more than instructed) and that satisfies my sweet tooth. I do find that if I have real sugar (other than fruit) or even bread, I crave sugar.

Personally, I don't like stevia. It doesn't have the sharp, clean sugar taste that other sweeteners have. It just tastes metallic and flat to me, so all those fake ice creams are icky. But any other fake sugar is a-okay in my book. I know some people have tummy troubles from certain ones, so they should definitely not use that one, but I don't seem to have issues.

On 05/08/2021 at 10:40, DaisyAndSunshine said:

Which artificial sweeteners do you usually opt for?

Any of them. If I’m sweetening my coffee or iced tea and have a selection I’d pick stevia or Splenda, but don’t even bother to look what is used in sugar free products.

I’m always on the fence with artificial sweeteners.

There’s no real way to escape them if you are on a low calorie diet. But I do understand the concerns especially since it’s becoming easier to consume larger amounts than recommended because they are unavoidable.

I try to exclusively use Stevia or Erythritol. If I can’t find those then Sucralose in smaller amounts or nothing at all (which is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT)

I have seen plenty of research pop up about this, here’s a few that may support Dr. Weiner’s reasoning (but I’m sure you could also find compelling evidence to the contrary):

* 2014 journal in artificial sweeteners changing gut microbiome

https://www.diabetes.org.br/publico/images/pdf/artificial-sweeteners-induce-glucose-intolerance-by-altering-the-gut-microbiota.pdf

* 2013 journal positing artificial sweeteners interferes with glucose and energy homeostasis causing metabolic derangement

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3772345/?version=meter+at+null&module=meter-Links&pgtype=article&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click

* 2010 Metastudy of Artificial Sweeteners: and metabolic effects in youth which again points to the gastrointestinal changes as a mechanism of weight gain

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951976/

Edited June 3, 20215 yr by GreenTealael

I can not eat anything with Maltitol in it. It makes me bloated, cramps, and diarrhea really bad. I tried Stevia and don't like it at all. I also can't drink Crystal Lite. Whatever is in it makes me feel sick. I was never this way before the bypass. Now I find I am very sensitive to a lot of things.