I am having trouble determining if splenda is causing my loose stools .Is there another sugar sub that works best for a j-pouch.thanks gary

Gary,
I can't drink more than 1 "diet" drink a day (perhaps 2 if they're more than 8 hours apart) without it causing increased frequency and watery stool. I don't drink pop at all so I'm referring to any other drink sweetened with artificial sweetener. Any kind of sugar free candy, including mints if I eat more than a couple will cause large amounts of watery stool for me, so I just don't eat them. I drink water and coffee (with sugar) and thats about it and if I'm going to indulge in something sweet I make sure its really worth it

You can try experimenting of course, but I think at the bottom of it all artificial sweeteners amount to about the same thing.

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katie

Typically, Splenda or Nutrasweet should not cause diarrhea, unless you are individually sensitive to them. Even saccharin (Sugar Twin) should be OK. What you definitely need to avoid are the sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol. Taken in sufficient quantities, they have a laxative effect.

Here is a good list of sugar alcohols for you to watch out for:
http://www.ific.org/publications/factsheets/sugaralcoholfs.cfm

Jan

Hey Gary! I do use Splenda all the time, and even bake with it, as my husband is diabetic. I have thought at times that perhaps Splenda was giving me gut troubles, but when I thought about what else I had eaten... I then realized, it was something else. Most diet drinks are not sweetened with Splenda, still!! So ready carefully, as Jan said, there are many types of sweeteners out there. If you can, document your foods, including when you have Splenda, and see what you come up with. Good luck and stay in touch!

OMG Splenda sends me right to the bathroom. Diet coke is a no no too! I use Stevia in my tea but still bake with regular sugar. My husband is a diabetic so it's hard but I just do not bake anymore cause of this problem which might actually be a good thing weight wise.
Susan

THANK YOU ALL for the input.gary

I tried Stevia and about died. The pain was almost unbearable.
I can only tolerate the artificial stuff in very small amounts so I avoid it. Splenda is the only one that I consider if there is some reason to even do so.
I get horrible abd cramping and gas pains.