Cassi Creek:
The search for sugar substitutes is an endless road for
those people rendered unable to consume sugar because of disease or metabolic
defect.
Stops along
that road are plentiful but not necessarily safe for all who may visit.
Saccharine is
an old substitute that leaves behind a bitter aftertaste. Cyclamates were discovered to cause
malignancies in mice when they were fed high doses.
Aspartame,
the widely used in everything product that hides in plain sight, is for me, and
many others, capable of instant incapacitation.
The slightest contact with this nasty little compound brings on an
instant headache that lasts for hours. PKU
deficiency is much more common than once believed. Aspartame is also known to cause behavioral
changes in adolescents. We let them
self-medicate with gallons of aspartame and caffeine, and then diagnose them as
having attention deficit disorders. Take
away their aspartame/caffeine daily overdose and they become better able to
focus.
There are
other alternative compounds in use to fill in for sugar. Among the more problematic are the alcohol
sugars. Lycasin is the primary sweetener
in the Haribo sugar-free gummy bears.
This warning about side effects should be observed. Haribo provides this warning on the package: “Safety Warning: Consumption of some sugar-free
candies may cause stomach discomfort and/or a laxative effect. Individual
tolerance will vary. If this is the first time you’ve tried these candies, we
recommend beginning with one-fourth of a serving size or less.”
Further
warnings include- From Wikipedia: Lycasin is a trade name given by Roquette for
hydrogenated glucose syrup (hydrolysed starch).[1] One
of the major components of Lycasin is maltitol,
derived from the hydrogenation of maltose.
Depending on the dextrose
equivalent (DE) of the
syrup used in the hydrolysis, a variety of products can be made, with the name
"lycasin" normally being reserved for lycasin 80/55 (80 referring to
the dry content and 55 to the dextrose equivalent). The other grades (e.g.
75/60 and 80/33) are referred to as Polysorb.[2]
Lycasin's
known side effects in adults include bloating, intestinal gurgling or rumbling (borborygmi), and flatulence. Some cases of
severe intestinal distress have resulted from consuming excessive quantities of
foods containing Lycasin. One well-known product containing Lycasin are the
Sugarless Haribo Gummy Candies [3]. Prolonged or acute diarrhea may be a sign of
Lycasin poisoning and individuals should seek immediate medical help if they
experience these symptoms.”
The end result of overdosing on lycasin can be dangerous as
well as painful and embarrassing. The
reviews for this product on Amazon.com tell a tale of pain and acute GI
distress of monumental nature. Although
I have had such explosive diarrhea secondary to anti-malarial drugs , and the
odd intestinal bacterial and protozoan infection or infestation; and recall all
too clearly the fear that my GI tract was going to hang me, I find it
impossible to avoid finding these reviews overwhelmingly funny. Humor, after all, is mostly about some form
of pain or distress happening to other people.
Even more
amusing is the list of serial consumers who chose to ignore the warnings of
those who had gone before. Read the
reviews, but put away all beverages and foodstuffs before doing so.
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