Splenda vs. Equal

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2003
Splenda vs. Equal
10
Fri, 12-05-2003 - 3:16pm
What do you guys think? Which is better? Are there any plusses or minuses of each? I've always used equal in my coffee, but everyone here talks about splenda. What's up?

Hope

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Fri, 12-05-2003 - 5:08pm
Hi Hope, I think it's all personal preference.
MelMel
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Fri, 12-05-2003 - 5:41pm
Hi Hope,

You really have to try them both for yourself. I've never liked the taste of Nutrasweet, and I get headaches from it, too. To me, Splenda has been a God send. :-) I think Splenda is probably a better choice for cooking, too. I've read that Nutrasweet is less chemically stable when heated... I don't know if that means it turns into bad things when it's heated, or if it doesn't taste right, but I just remember that I read that. (I'm a science nerd and tend to retain things like that, LOL)

Jill K.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Fri, 12-05-2003 - 5:53pm
Jill, you are correct. You can't cook with Nutrasweet or Equal. They are made with aspartame, which breaks down in heat. Or with age. If you have ever seen a store set up an outside display of soda in the summer, don't get diet soda from that display. The heat makes the aspartame break down and it will taste terrible! Or if you drink a diet soda past the expiration date, it will taste the same. If you are a regular diet soda drinker, you can tell with just one taste that something's wrong. Blech.

I haven't tried cooking or baking with Splenda yet...but I might for one of my holiday baking treats...if I find one that would be SBD friendly if I substituted the sugar anyway.

Cyndie

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 1:01pm
Guys-

does this mean that nutrasweet and equal are somehow less healthy for you than splenda?

Hope
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 2:11pm
If my memory serves me right Splenda is made from sugar so that is probably why it doesn't break down when heated. It may be a reason why people also prefer it. I haven't tasted it so I have no personal experience - sorry!

Heidi

heidi

Lilypie Baby Days
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 3:01pm
Splenda is pretty good but looks funny, so flakey!
MelMel
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 4:06pm
I like them both Equally... LOL, no pun intended there! We get Splenda because hy dh works for J&J which manufactures Splenda and we get it at a nice price!

Jessica

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 4:09pm
The packets for some reason are not flakey. I thought that was wierd too! It makes coffee kinda frothy though... but I agree, and am not a fan of the flakes so we use the packets.

Jessica

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 6:36pm
I can't from personal experience say that I've used Splenda, so I don't know how it tastes, but I have done some research on aspartame and have found that it can be quite dangerous, causing brain cancer and the like. My sister has a friend that began to have seizures, yet she didn't know why. Her doctor told her to cut all aspartame out of her diet because they suspected that's what it was. I can't confirm any of this information, but that's just what I've read. I personally like to be safe than sorry, so I would stick with Splenda (for myself, anyway).

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: pddaly
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 7:00pm
Splenda!
It's made from sugar, so I just trust it to be healthy.

Susan :)