migraine trigger

Splenda is a newer artificial sweetener also known as Altern.  Along with thousands of other food and beverage products, Splenda contains sucralose.  It was approved as a food product in many countries through the 1990s.

Being newer, it hasn’t taken the beating the aspertame has, when it comes to questions about its safety.  And, being newer, that’s part of the problem – there aren’t a lot of long term studies showing just how safe it is.  To get in on the controversy, check out Splenda’s site (pro-Splenda), the discoverers of sucralose (pro-Splenda), website from the Sugar Association (anti-Spenda).

Of course Spenda isn’t just sucralose – it also contains maltodextrin and dextrose.  There’s only a small amount of sucralose per teaspoon of Splenda because sucralose is incredibly sweet, and needs to be "diluted".  Most of the calories in Splenda come from these added ingredients.

A report last September in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain indicated that sucralose may trigger migraine attacks.  What I want to know is, has this been a problem for you?  Do you avoid Splenda?

And is this just about Splenda?  Sucralose is in an increasing number of products – not all are "sugar free", and some even contain sucralose and aspertame.

What contains sucralose?  Thousands of products including Diet RC Cola, Arm & Hammer Dental Gum for Kids, Atkins Diet shakes, Pedialyte Pops and Whitey’s Ice Cream.  Everything from milk products to juices to sauces to baked goods to formed meat chunks – and the number of products is growing.

Do you avoid Splenda?  Why or why not?