Aspartame-safe or not?

teachergk

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry if this was posted before, but I can't seem to find it.  My friend who is pregnant was reading about this and said she just wanted to know more about it.  That got me thinking as well because I'm 17 weeks.    I occasionally drink a diet coke...not like I used to, but probably 1 a day.

I don't freak about the things I eat...I know in moderation is fine, but what have your doctors said about Aspartame?  I haven't asked my doctor and he hasn't brought it up.

I know it isn't the greatest for anyone, but just curious!  Thanks so much!

Anna&Matt

One of my family members is an OB and he has said absolutely no aspartame (and he drinks it himself ALL the time, like 5 a day and is all for it normally). So I haven't touched it. I wouldn't worry about what you already drank but I'd probably switch to regular coke from here on out.

a4smith

My doc said no aspertame...to drink regular not diet

MrsPatterson

I was a total Diet Pepsi junkie before getting pg (like 3 a day at least), and it's been one of the hardest things to let go of.  My OB told me it's ok in moderation, about 2 or 3 a week. 

But also be careful of finding aspartame in other places, like sugarless gum and low-fat yogurts.  I've virtually stopped chewing sugarless gum (my other vice) and don't really eat yogurt anymore because I'm finding it really difficult to find regular-fat yogurt that doesn't have artificial sweetener.   

FutureHardings

Everything in moderation is the key. 1-2 drinks that contain aspartame in it, per day, is fine. I have GD, and without diet drinks, I would be on water alone and going crazy.

If anything, try looking for things made with Splenda, as more and more companies are using it. Splenda has been proven as a "safe sweetner" and I am allowed as much of it as I want... kinda like sugar for someone without GD. Many soft drink companies are now using it instead of aspartame, so it's easier to get drinks!

 

duchessII81

I'm insulin-resistant so I rely on sweeteners quite a bit. She was fine with my intake levels so I haven't modified them at all.

MissyC979

Mine said it was fine in moderation.

mksolomon23

Mine said 1-2 servings a day is fine

ValentineNJ

My nutritionist said no artificial sweetners...she feels that it is worse than smoking cigarettes (maybe a little extreme, but I listen to her because on everything else she is not an extremist). 

luckyangel

I was told in moderation is fine.  She said one can of pop a day won't hurt anything...and normally my doc is a nazi about everything!

nickyh7

I avoid it. It's not like I'm trying to lose weight.

Alyssajoy87

There's a lot of different thoughts on this. For me personally, I was a heavy diet Pepsi drinker before pregnancy and as soon as I found out, I stopped drinking it immediately. Everything I've read suggests that expectant moms stay away from artificial sweeteners during pregnancy. I decided that cutting aspartame out of my diet was a sacrifice that I could make for 9 months for the sake of my son and that if I really needed a can of Pepsi, I could drink a can of regular, caffiene-free pop.

jessloveschase08

My cousin who is a MD told me not to drink it because there have been studies that show the links to aspartame and Alzheimer's...

I don't like diet drinks and I don't really care too much anyway...

epphd

My Ob says moderate intake is fine. 

epphd

jessloveschase08:

My cousin who is a MD told me not to drink it because there have been studies that show the links to aspartame and Alzheimer's...

I don't like diet drinks and I don't really care too much anyway...

Jessie - if you could point me to these studies I'd be curious to read them.  A quick scan of the medical literature (pubmed) using the key words aspartame and Alzheimer's has turned up zero studies...  maybe they are unpublished.

trinamarie87

moderation is the key. I used to drink diet pepsi all the time before I got pregnant. My doctor told me that like most things (minus the obvious like drugs and alcohol) it is okay in moderation. If you're only having 1 a day you should be fine. If it's really scaring you, switching to regular would be a good choice.

Kingston54

I don't believe aspartame is safe ever - let alone during pregnancy.  I will not eat/drink anything containing it.  Regular sugar is natural and I know I can trust it.

lara&aaron

FutureHardings:

Everything in moderation is the key. 1-2 drinks that contain aspartame in it, per day, is fine. I have GD, and without diet drinks, I would be on water alone and going crazy.

If anything, try looking for things made with Splenda, as more and more companies are using it. Splenda has been proven as a "safe sweetner" and I am allowed as much of it as I want... kinda like sugar for someone without GD. Many soft drink companies are now using it instead of aspartame, so it's easier to get drinks!

 

This.  I love Diet Rite. Made with splenda. Tastes so much better than Diet Coke. No calories, no aspartame, no caffeine, and no sodium. So it is not a diuretic. Different flavors too like orange. I think most walmarts carry it.

etude de la vie

I am avoiding Aspartame this pregnancy because how it is metabolized within your system.

When it is metabolized the chemical structure changes into formaldehyde and once completely metabolized the byproduct is cyanide. This then goes to your liver to be broken down. It is unknown how much of this goes to the fetus and at what concentration but Doctors believe in moderation it will not harm the fetus.

Spledna is different because it is created from Sucrose molecule (sugar) and changed the one of the hydroxide to chloride thus when it is metabolized the byproduct is water. There hasn't been too many studies on Splenda but so far it is believed to be the lesser of two evils... especially if you have Gestational Diabetes or Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. 

Personally, I am avoiding all artificial sweeteners. There is no reason I can't have just regular sugar (I am not diabetic or anything), but before I was pg I love diet coke and used splenda in my coffee.