My question is, Do artificial Sweetners affect a cut cycle negatively? An Example is a Liptons Diet green tea iced tea. They use aspertame, but the nutritional Info says:

0 mg of sugar
0 mg of carbs
0 mg of fat
70 mg of sodium, which works out to like 3% of daily value.

Now water is still my beverage of choice, and i realize occasionally this will not affect me. BUT if a person were to drink these on a regular basis would this not affect a Cut OR does the body process or metabolize these sweetners negatively?

any thoughts?:read:

As far as I know it depends on the person.

I can drink Sugar-Free Kool Aid or Crystal Lite 1-2 times a day, plus add Splenda to grapefruit and oatmeal (2-3 packets, 2-3 times per day) with no bad effects at all. However, when I try to really lean out and get my bodyfat very low I gradually phase out most of the sweeteners except for what is in my protein powders. That means eating oatmeal plain (or adding it to protein shakes, ground up), eating grapefruit plain, and only drinking water and protein shakes and sometimes milk (with a post-training meal).

I've always done this gradual phase-out of artificial sweeteners just out of habit and because I felt it would be best, but I do not know if I could have gotten similar results with the Crystal Lite or S/F Kool Aid and Splenta still present in my diet. I've never really wanted to take the chance I guess.

As for most people, I think it's probably fine to drink that tea a couple times a day with meals.

My question is, Do artificial Sweetners affect a cut cycle negatively? An Example is a Liptons Diet green tea iced tea. They use aspertame, but the nutritional Info says:

0 mg of sugar
0 mg of carbs
0 mg of fat
70 mg of sodium, which works out to like 3% of daily value.

Now water is still my beverage of choice, and i realize occasionally this will not affect me. BUT if a person were to drink these on a regular basis would this not affect a Cut OR does the body process or metabolize these sweetners negatively?

any thoughts?:read:

Artificial sweeteners prevent the body from excreting water. They don't make you hold more water, but simply prevent your body from letting go of any exogenous water it still may be holding.

But I wouldn't worry about moderate usage. Unless you are currently at 6%-7% bodyfat attempting to go to 4%, it wouldn't have much of an impact.

I knew a fellow competitor who I've probably competed against 17 times. He's a WNBF Pro and would drink Diet Snapple all day long. The year after he gave it up, was the year that I'd never seen him more shredded.

Artificial sweeteners prevent the body from excreting water. They don't make you hold more water, but simply prevent your body from letting go of any exogenous water it still may be holding.

Is that true for all artificial sweeteners? That strikes me as a little odd since they have such different chemistries (aspartame is amino acids, sucralose is a sugar, saccharin is hardly soluble in water). At the moment Diet Snapple uses sucralose, but I think it used to be aspartame.

Is that true for all artificial sweeteners? That strikes me as a little odd since they have such different chemistries (aspartame is amino acids, sucralose is a sugar, saccharin is hardly soluble in water). At the moment Diet Snapple uses sucralose, but I think it used to be aspartame.

It has more to do with toxicity and the corosive byproducts released into the bloostream. Aspartame and artificial colorings, in particular. What's very interesting is that water retention via artificial sweeters is apt to be much more problematic for users of AAS's. Hence the furious administration of prescription diuretics, insane amounts of cardio, etc. to rid the body of the water before a bodybuilding show. The natural bodybuilder has to do the direct opposite. That is, drink more water to flush out more water.

It has more to do with toxicity and the corosive byproducts released into the bloostream. Aspartame and artificial colorings, in particular. What's very interesting is that water retention via artificial sweeters is apt to be much more problematic for users of AAS's. Hence the furious administration of prescription diuretics, insane amounts of cardio, etc. to rid the body of the water before a bodybuilding show. The natural bodybuilder has to do the direct opposite. That is, drink more water to flush out more water.

Dunno about the colorings, but the aspartame "toxicity" is at best controversial. The phenylalanine metabolites (which are what people worry about ending up in the brain) are present hundreds of times as miuch from a glass of milk as from a can of aspartame sweetened soda. The methanol/formaldehyde/formate worries about aspartame are similarlly not to the level that occurs in normal protein metabolism. (This is why phenylketoneurics have to avoid a lot of protein, like dairy and meat, not just aspartame). Sucralose has no amino acid content at all, so neither of these proposed toxic aspects apply to it. Sucralose appears to be remarkably non-toxic.

Oddly enough, the phenylalanine in aspartame is thought to be protective against ochratoxin, a naturally ocurring contaminant from mold which can appear in beer and wine, and some other food. The phenylalanin competes with the ochratoxin. Aspartame prevents the symptoms of ochratoxin poisoning; which is an ironic example of an artificial sweetener preventing a naturally occurring toxin.

Yup, aspartame is controversial. There are tons of studies supporting it's toxic effects on the human body. But usually I take studies with a grain of salt and base conclusions on personal experience. I know a couple of bodybuilders who are doctors, and they recommend abstainence from aspartame. Another very well respected dietician I'm friends with says it's all horse hockey. Personally, I avoid it at all costs and recommend people I may be helping for a bodybuilding/figure contest to do the same.

Again, my example above was an extreme one. Normally, water retention is a non-issue with artificial sweets, except for the example I gave. Keep in mind that over indulgence in certain amino acid compounds, such as l-taurine, can also elicit the "holding water" issue. I've even had a coach who warned me of Malic Acid. It also has a lot to do with hormonal response, GH release, and a host of other metabolic factors.

If someone enjoys their sucrolose, aspartame, nutrasweet....by all means do so..... in moderation.

Just curious mastover what you think of stevia?

It's normally bulked with inulin fiber instead of malto/dextrose, which is an advantage if you are watching carbs. Most don't realize that those 0 cal packets aren't really 0 cals, it's a rounding issue (not that it's probably still that signficant unless you are using a lot).

Just curious mastover what you think of stevia?

It's normally bulked with inulin fiber instead of malto/dextrose, which is an advantage if you are watching carbs. Most don't realize that those 0 cal packets aren't really 0 cals, it's a rounding issue (not that it's probably still that signficant unless you are using a lot).

I love stevia in my morning cup of guava er, uhm....java :o

Dahlia inulin is a very interesting carb which is included in a protein supplement I take on occasion. I notice that I remain leaner with this carb, as opposed to malto.

Yes, if you indulge frequently into the splendra packets, those calories will add up. Something may be touted as zero calories, or the label might read "net carbs", but don't be fooled.

A few years ago I was preparing for a show and my bodyfat stagnated at 4%. My trainer and I scoured what I could've been doing wrong. Well we finally realized that I was going through a can of Pam olive oil spray every 5 days. :eek: It said zero calories :rolleyes: I immediately switched to hard boiled egg whites, ditched the Pam, and lo and behold two weeks later I dipped below 4%. :confused:

A few years ago I was preparing for a show and my bodyfat stagnated at 4%. My trainer and I scoured what I could've been doing wrong. Well we finally realized that I was going through a can of Pam olive oil spray every 5 days. :eek: It said zero calories :rolleyes: I immediately switched to hard boiled egg whites, ditched the Pam, and lo and behold two weeks later I dipped below 4%. :confused:

I've made that point before around here. If you look at the serving size on a can of cooking spray, it's generally something like 1/3 a second. I don't know about you, but my reflexes don't let me spray 1/3 of a second too consistently, and even if they did, it would be pointless because it would do no good on the pan :)

After looking at the serving size, then look at the ingredients and you see the first one being "oil". Obviously oil isn't 0 cal, so it can add up quickly.

Since eating Anabolic Diet style for awhile, I will prefer stevia to sucralose packs when I use them since inulin is pretty much all fiber as I understand it, vs malto which is obviously not. AD lets you subtract fiber carbs for your 30 g daily limits, so it fits the plan better than the .5 g a pack of splenda adds.

I don't use a ton of it, though. I do get artificial sweetners in some stuff I drink, but don't worry too much about it as I'm nowhere near 6% bodyfat :) I doubt it makes a huge difference in how I look at the moment.

Again, my example above was an extreme one. Normally, water retention is a non-issue with artificial sweets, except for the example I gave. Keep in mind that over indulgence in certain amino acid compounds, such as l-taurine, can also elicit the "holding water" issue. I've even had a coach who warned me of Malic Acid. It also has a lot to do with hormonal response, GH release, and a host of other metabolic factors.

Yeah I would think aspartame would be the one involved in this - small peptides can have a lot of biological activity that wasn't really appreciated in the past. On the other hand, it will all be part and parcel of dietary protein.

Oddly enough, the phenylalanine in aspartame is thought to be protective against ochratoxin, a naturally ocurring contaminant from mold which can appear in beer and wine, and some other food. The phenylalanin competes with the ochratoxin. Aspartame prevents the symptoms of ochratoxin poisoning; which is an ironic example of an artificial sweetener preventing a naturally occurring toxin.

Phenylalanine is also broken down into tyrosine...which is in turn used to make neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinehprine, and epinephrine. It isn't harmful unless you lack the enzyme (phenylalanine hydroxylase) to metabolize it properly (as Phenylketonuriacs do).

Phenylalanine is also broken down into tyrosine...which is in turn used to make neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinehprine, and epinephrine. It isn't harmful unless you lack the enzyme (phenylalanine hydroxylase) to metabolize it properly (as Phenylketonuriacs do).

It's not normally harmful unless the concentration perhaps spikes, which is thought to have the potential for causing problems for other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) which need to get into the brain, that the phenylalanine might "monopolize" the LNAA transporters. As far as I know that is a more theoretical problem than one which has been documented to actually happen.

This is the reason that a lot of people (who otherwise think aspartame is generally safe) keep it away from kids (who have developing brains that might be more sensitive to this sort of issue).

It's not normally harmful unless the concentration perhaps spikes, which is thought to have the potential for causing problems for other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) which need to get into the brain, that the phenylalanine might "monopolize" the LNAA transporters. As far as I know that is a more theoretical problem than one which has been documented to actually happen.

This is the reason that a lot of people (who otherwise think aspartame is generally safe) keep it away from kids (who have developing brains that might be more sensitive to this sort of issue).

Unless you're concerned with central nervous system function, LNAA's will compete for absorption with the BCAA's and supplemental l-tyrosine in regards to crossing the BBB (blood brain barrier).

Normally this will not be a worry for the lifter. However, I think it's best to use some of the EAA's in synergy to get heightened effects, instead of concentrating on just one or two, or just the bcaa's by themselves.

Here's my current EAA supplementation:
the 3 bcaa's
l-taurine
l-arginine
Histidine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Threonine

My apologies to the OP, as this discussion has probably gone into a direction other than what was originally asked. In my defense, I love this kinda talk :D

I love stevia in my morning cup of guava er, uhm....java :o

Dahlia inulin is a very interesting carb which is included in a protein supplement I take on occasion. I notice that I remain leaner with this carb, as opposed to malto.

Yes, if you indulge frequently into the splendra packets, those calories will add up. Something may be touted as zero calories, or the label might read "net carbs", but don't be fooled.

A few years ago I was preparing for a show and my bodyfat stagnated at 4%. My trainer and I scoured what I could've been doing wrong. Well we finally realized that I was going through a can of Pam olive oil spray every 5 days. :eek: It said zero calories :rolleyes: I immediately switched to hard boiled egg whites, ditched the Pam, and lo and behold two weeks later I dipped below 4%. :confused:

I used Splenda (and lots of it :o) right up to the show and I leaned out pretty good (also I looked pretty "dry" for the show)
I guess that oatmeal with 3 splendas 3 times a day kept me sane during that crazy diet.
I think on average I was (and still am) having like 10-12 Splendas a day (yeah I'm Splenda junkie :o :o :o)
On the other hand I don't know how I would have looked if I had quit the Splenda :confused:

Would you say Stevia is better then Splenda?

I used Splenda (and lots of it :o) right up to the show and I leaned out pretty good (also I looked pretty "dry" for the show)
I guess that oatmeal with 3 splendas 3 times a day kept me sane during that crazy diet.
I think on average I was (and still am) having like 10-12 Splendas a day (yeah I'm Splenda junkie :o :o :o)
On the other hand I don't know how I would have looked if I had quit the Splenda :confused:

Would you say Stevia is better then Splenda?

Hi Maya :)
No, I'm talking more like 25-30 packets of splendra, not 9. Further, with your level of leanness you were pretty much safe, especially with your clean diet.

If your splendra/oatmeal meals were keeping you sane, you probably staved off the catabolic stress hormone *cortisol* which would've set off a cascade of other problems aside from water retention.

A bigger concern for the physique competitor a week out from a show would be controling aldosterone secretion from the adrenal glands. Many competitors decrease fluid and sodium, but increase potassium. Aldosterone then increases, bringing along with it water retention.

Stevia is more bulk fiber, and as with all fibrous foods, they should be eliminated about 3 days out to reduce bloat AND....you guessed it.....water retention.

Hi Maya :)

Hi Mastover :)

If your splendra/oatmeal meals were keeping you sane, you probably staved off the catabolic stress hormone *cortisol* which would've set off a cascade of other problems aside from water retention.
ok, *somehow* sane :whistle:.... they made me very happy for sure :D

A bigger concern for the physique competitor a week out from a show would be controling aldosterone secretion from the adrenal glands. Many competitors decrease fluid and sodium, but increase potassium. Aldosterone then increases, bringing along with it water retention.
Very interesting.... (I know i'm off topic :o, sorry guys)... but how you deal with that?

Very interesting.... (I know i'm off topic :o, sorry guys)... but how you deal with that?

Yes, I already apaologized to the OP for taking this a little too far. :whistle: I'll answer you via PM :)

I'll answer you via PM :)
:spaz: :D