I'm currently taking the "8 glasses a day challenge" hosted by the Delicous Change group. I've drank Crystal Light off and on for the past several years, I like the flavor it adds without adding a bunch of calories!
With all the posts and talk about Crystal Light on Gather this week, there has also been lots of talk about Crystal Light not being "good" for you because it contains; artificial sweetener, artificial flavor and artificial color.
Crystal Light does use aspartame, which doesn't bother me. But it is not in all the flavors. Aspartame is a low calorie sweetener that helps people to control their weight. People all over the world have been enjoying the taste of aspartame for more than twenty five years.
Personally, I am not a person who puts too much focus on that sort of thing. There are so many things out there that are so much worse! One day they say something is bad for you and then the next day they say it's good for you. Do you remember when eggs were "bad" for you? Now, they are incredible! So, which are you suppose to believe?
I'm one of those people who drinks and eats what I like! I honestly don't think that anything I put into my body is really hurting it all that much! Everything we do in life is a potential risk, from walking down the street to driving a vehicle.
Today I ended up drinking 6 glasses of water and 2 glasses of Crystal Light Lemonade! It was a HOT day and the lemonade really hit the spot!
The choice to consume or not consume artificial sweeteners is a personal one, but don't be naively misled by false information that circulates from people who THINK they know all the risks involved.
For reliable and official information about aspartame:
As part of the "8 glasses a day challenge" hosted by the Delicous Change group, I'll be adding a new post each day, ending on June 2nd. I'll also be linking to my previous articles in each new post!
- Crystal Light Challenge: Day 1 - Finding the Flavor
- Crystal Light Challenge: Day 2 - Finding the Energy
- Crystal Light Challenge: Day 3 - Making it Work
The Eight Glasses a Day Challenge has started, are you up for it? Even if you have one glass of Crystal Light or water in place of one glass of soda/pop - you're making a positive change!
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 31
I agree.
I've found that things with aspartame tend to give me headaches, but I agree that the choice to consume artificial sweeteners is a personal one.
I'm glad that you don't have negative effects from aspartame it tends to give me headaches but I have been able to try some of the crystal light products without any problems.
BTW I checked out the site link- the site is by a maker of apartame- per their site "Ajinomoto is a producer of aspartame" so I'm not sure it will help skeptics.
I see you added another link. There's a ton of info out there.
My ex boss used to drink tons of that stuff- she died from Cancer- I blame it on those types of products,
I'm going to die one way or another! :)
what people don't know is "aspartame' makes you want to eat
I want to eat no matteer what! LOL!
That could explain my ravenous appetite around lunch time for the past few days!!! I've never wanted to eat so much in my life. I imagine that it has different effects on different people, like most products do.
stevia is the answer. that's an all natural "real" sweetner that won't give you cancer or brain tumors
I can't have artificial sweeteners because ALL the different ones give me migraines. I've tried...
As a chemist, I try not to give my kids too much of the artificial sweeteners, because they do break down in the body....and we DON'T know all the effects yet. Oh and chemical companies, drug companies, and food companies report what they report, which isn't necessarily ALL the info. (Hubby works for one of them....as did I)
try Stevia
I use Stevia also. I still have a problem with it, too, but not that much.
take a fresh lemon, squeeze it in water, and then sweeten it with stevia pure extract
I've heard of Stevia but have never actually tried it! I'm not overly freaked about certain things, so I'm still fine with the Crystal Light! :)
A long, long time ago I tried drinking Crystal Light but got such ungodly headaches, I had to quit......plus it always left a terrible aftertast in my mouth as well.....I'll stick to my flavored waters.......never have problems with SoBe or Vitamin Water......they're great, especially the Acai/Pomegranate drinks!!!!
I love SoBe, Vitamin Water, Fuze, etc as well! Aspertame doesn't have any side effects on me, I'm lucky! I know it is terrible for many people though
I used to drink flavored sparkling water. I stopped when I read about how bad aspartame was ; wasn't only reason... I also wanted to get away from that fizz.
I use artificial sweetener every day. In coffee [2 big cups] and cereal. sweet n low is what I usually use. This time I bought store brand. Has saccharin in it. I wonder if sweet n low does as well. Got me thinking now..
I have never heard of stevia... definitely looking into that
thanks Kirk.
I don't dwell on it. In fact I give Crystal Light to James. You figure he isn't hyper on Crystal Light like he is Kool Aid. He doesn't have the craps like he does on to much Juice. Everything has something bad in it.
I say drink what you want and what you like. I personally cant drink anything diet I get instantly sick. I miss you Bridget. Did you get my gather email?
I drink things with aspartame in it and it doesn't have any effects on me. I understand that there may be risks with it, but I agree with you, there are risks with everything and advice changes so often it's hard to know which is right.
Bridget have you tried the Rasberry Lemonade, it is really good. I have a box of the lemonade and a box of the Rasberry lemonade right now. They both taste good. I had another box but it did leave an after taste. I got lectured over the weekend about the Crystal Light not being good for me, but I got to thinking about it over the last two days, I drink far more diet pop than any Crystal Light. I am trying to give up Diet Pop altogether too.
I drink lots of water w/o Crystal Light or any other flavoring.
While I do agree that the choice to consume artificial sweetners is a personal one I also believe that decision should be an educated one. We tend to believe that because a product has received FDA approval it is safe for consumption. Many times a product is deemed unsafe after years of it being in use. I do consume artificial sweetners but have been reducing my intake. I have been reading more and more articles regarding possible problems and side effects. Moderation in everything we ingest is always a good plan of action.
I totally agree! I NEVER believe everything I read, see or hear! It's just one of those things! Everything we do in life is a potential "risk" in my opinion! I could get hit by a car tomorrow, a person just never knows!
THANKS FOR SHARING
I use Splenda and love it.
I have been a Crystal Light drinker for over 2 years now. I usually drink at least 3 of the to go packs a day. I can't tell they give me headaches. I know I do have headaches from other things, but not my drink mix. I use in my foods and tea either stevia or splenda, just which ever i grab.
I personally can't use artificial sweetners - they make me ill. Two of my sisters (I have 6) use Splenda and swear by it. It is just personal taste. I don't like it, but if you do go for it! enjoy :)
I agree that people are going to eat or drink whatever they want, and it's really none of my business. I think that people need make informed decisions, though. I really don't like this crystal light campaign thing that is going on right now, because several are claiming that crystal light is a healthy alternative to water. While it's definitely no worse than many other drinks out there, it's definitely not healthy either.
I get migraines from most artificial sweeteners, so I don't use them and I don't let Elliott have them either (other than very occasionally when my husband is having something with one, and Elliott gets a bite or sip).
I don't believe everything I see or read, but I do research stuff and make the decisions that I believe are the best for my family. I know a lot of people who have reactions to artificial sweeteners. It's enough to make it so that I wouldn't use them (especially not for Elliott) even if I didn't get migraines from them myself.
I have a reaction to Splenda, which is kind of strange, as it's a sugar derivative. But, I don't use sugar, so maybe that's why, unless it's a little raw sugar. Nothing bleached or refined.
I've been OK with aspartame and I really, REALLY wanted to use Stevia and found that it didn't agree with me - weird, as that's an herb. Left a horrid after-taste and just in general didn't taste right.
There's another place you can look up aspartame, and other sweeteners, and that's on http://www.snopes.com, which is not a drug company.
I've never tried an energy drink, never thought about it. Vitamin drink either. I guess whatever works for someone, right? Everyone's system is different.
Marilyn