I just realized that the food and bev corps aren't switching to natural sugar and flavors

[xultar]

For anything other than greed.

Over the last few years I've realized that artificial flavors along with artificial sweetness are making me sick. First it started with xylitol about 9 years ago it was in a lot of sugar free gum. When I chewed the gum at first it was fine but about 4 years into it my stomach started to feel funny. Over time it got worse and worse, now I can't chew gum hardly at all.

Now it is the artificial lemon and or lime flavoring for years I was able to eat or drink stuff that had it fine. Yesterday I had some in the deer park lime sparkling water and I've been sick for 2 days. What is in that shit? Feel like I've been poisoned. My stomach is fucked up I have been sick in bed all day.

Anyone know what I can do to feel better?

[virgogal]

1. Drink plain water.

[cutlassmama]

3. Yep. It's best for the kidneys...although I don't know how long

we'll have fresh, clean drinking water.

[xultar]

5. I just wanted a little flavor, but I'm drinking plain water trying to wash out my system

I feel Like I wanna vomit. It is horrible.

[uppityperson]

12. Put a little juice in a glass, add a bunch of water

It won't taste like juice, but will give it that little bit extra to make it not just plain water.

[malaise]

15. I do it all the time

Just squeeze some fresh lemon in your water - or an orange, grapefruit, etc.
Folks here also love cranwater (I hate it)

[pansypoo53219]

22. i make my own lemonade/grapefruit aid. cute a lemon into 1/4s

or grapefruit into 8 . only 1 1/4 lemon, sugar and water needed. i use 1/4 of grapefruit tho. or tea. i get organic lemons in summer. haven't tried oranges.

[Taverner]

2. Kratom

[xultar]

6. If I don't feel better by tomorrow il venture out to the health food store.

[Taverner]

7. That's not something you could find at a health food store

Have to buy it online - very good temporary pain reliever.

[xultar]

13. Wow, well good thing is I. Feeling better, I guess the worse is over. Omg I'm

Throwing that shit out!

[no_hypocrisy]

4. If you want to drink soda/soft drinks, you'll have to make your own

from syrup rendered from organic sugar and any natural flavorings (e.g., lemon juice, lime juice, grated ginger, etc.) and mix the syrup with club soda/sparkling water.

[TorchTheWitch]

8. Maybe you're just sick

I don't know why you're blaming your illness on the lemon/lime flavoring. Sounds more like a stomach virus or food poisoning from something you ate.

Drink plain water, plain bread or crackers and light broth or soup when you feel like you can and wait it out. If it goes on for much longer, see a doctor.

[xultar]

17. Nope get this same reaction from xylitol.

[TorchTheWitch]

27. Then why are you consuming it?

If you know you get a reaction from consuming this xylitol, then why did you consume something that contained it or MIGHT have contained it? It sounds like you think it's the company's fault for putting this stuff into it's beverage because YOU have a bad reaction to it. Why should companies remove ingredients that some people have a bad reaction to just because SOME people do? I'm allergic to tomatoes... should tomatoes be banned for use in any foods or beverages because I and MANY other people have a bad reaction to them? That's stupid.

If you already know that you get this reaction from consuming xylitol and already know what it was you consumed that contained it, then why are you asking people what to do about it? If you've gotten this reaction before from the xylitol enough times to know that the xylitol is what causes this reaction then you already know why you got this reaction, what it feels like and how long it's going to last. Your OP made it sound like you don't know why you feel sick, don't know what to do about it and don't know how long it will last, which you would already know if you are certain that it was caused by the xylitol and know what you consumed that contained the xylitol.

So apparently you consumed something you know contained something you get a bad reaction to, are getting that bad reaction, and that sucks. Um... so, what are you complaining about then and what are you asking?

[xultar]

29. I'm saying it is the same reaction not that I've consumed it within the last 3 years. DUH!!

If I'd known the water was gonna fuck me up I wouldn't have had any.

Just like I haven't chewed gum in YEARS.

[TorchTheWitch]

31. No, you said it was the xylitol in the sparkling water

that is what caused this current illness. I have no idea what you're referring to about the past three years.

Just what is it that you're trying to say? You said that you knew your current illness was caused by xylitol that you said in your OP you had consumed through drinking the sparkling water. Apparently, you have a bad reaction to the xylitol and have confirmed that your current illness was caused by this xylitol which in your OP you said was in the sparkling water you drank.

So? Did you not read the label before you drank it? Did the label not say that xylitol was in the sparkling water? Is it required that foods and beverages containing xylitol be labeled that they contain xylitol?

Look, you're the one insisting that this current illness was caused by your recent consumption of xylitol and that you said that the xylitol was in the sparkling water you recently drank. What does this have to do with whether or not you have managed to avoid consuming any food or beverage containing xylitol in the last three years?... and what in the world does that have to do with anything I posted? DUH!

[Codeine]

32. She said it was the artificial lime flavor in the water, actually. nt

[xultar]

35. No, the ARTIFICAL FLAVOR in the water. Xylitol is a sweetner the water is not sweet

[obxhead]

9. Stop drinking and chewing crap that makes you sick.

:rofl:

I don't mean to be so blunt, but when the problem is literally punching you in the gut and you know the cause, coming to the simplest conclusion is usually the best idea.

[xultar]

18. I didn't know the water would make me sick.

[Skip Intro]

10. Hard for me to wake up without a couple Diet Cokes in the morning.

I switched to a store brand of diet cola which used Splenda instead of aspartame, but after a year on this stuff, I started to feel terrible. Was it the Splenda? I can't really say. But I switched back to aspartame sodas and feel better. Is aspartame better? I'm sure it isn't. But then again, I need my caffeine kick in the am, and coffee disgusts me (I don't know why).

Funny thing about the gum. I've been having stomach issues for a while now, and have been chewing sugar-free gum, as well as eating a few sugar-free hard candies each day (I've pretty much taken real (added) sugar out of my diet - I feared if I didn't I'd end up a diabetic).

I guess water's safe. And I drink water. But I haven't trusted tap water since I years ago held a glass up to a beam of sunlight and saw all kinds of little things floating around in it. So it's bottled water for me, and even my cat. But then you hear that the plastics that hold the water might be contaminating it.

What do you do?

I do hope you feel better, and my only real advice is to see a doctor.

[xultar]

16. I buy bottled water for me and my pets. Usually I have natural lemon or lime

In the fridge to add to water. I love the taste every once and a while. My aunt hD some of that deer park crap and gave it to me on thursday.
It tasted ok but artificial. I drank a half bottle friday and ended up wishing were dead all day today. I felt hot, nauseated, weak, shaky, I burped a lot, it wasnt pretty.

[auntsue]

26. hmmmmm could it be the fact of a lot of sofa and the

accumulated effects of that stuff on the delicate stomach lining????????

[avaistheone1]

11. I have a cast iron stomach, but GMO corn and GMO soy really hurt it.

I am fine if I just eat organic corn and soy.

Here are some healthy ideas for beverages:

1)Water best but can get kind of dull.

2)Mix say 1/2 sparkling mineral water with half juice of your choice or

3)Mix homemade green or other herbal tea 1/2 and 1/2 with juice of your choice.

4)Homemade flavored waters are easy, low cal, and inexpensive
a good example is the recipe I have linked to. It is spa water. I hope it is not too girly for you.
This recipe is refreshing and good palate cleanser. In my experience it is also a good diuretic.
http://www.food.com/recipe/refreshing-lemon-cucumber-water-110671

[SoCalDem]

14. Even in toothpaste.. I had to start buying Tom's All Natural

It costs more, but does not leave that nasty after-taste.. I never even buy gum anymore..

[EC]

19. 100% apple or cranberry juice...

for kidneys...radishes for gallbladder or gastronomic discomfort...(acid reflux or pain)

[bemildred]

20. The light dawns eh?

Drink water. Drink unsweetened tea.

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. For what it is worth

I have noticed over the past few years that I have become intolerant of food dyes, Splenda, HFCS, more and more types of artificial flavorings and chemicals.
So I have consciously stopped using them.
Thing is, if I go back to using them, I really feel ill afterwards.

Maybe there is a cumulative effect, I dunno. Maybe the body just has a certain threshold and after that, it rebels.

[xultar]

24. That is what I was thinking, It seems to be cumulative. I was wondering if i was the only 1

The amount of crap that seems to be messing with my system seems to sneak up on me.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

23. I don't think any of the artificial sweeteners are good for you.

Equal is insect killer. Splenda has chlorine in it. I don't like Stevia.

When I was a kid the parents wanted me to put liquid saccharine in my iced tea. They INSISTED that it tasted just like sugar. Well, it did not taste anything like sugar to me. It was bitter.

I could sure as hell tell the difference and I didn't like them telling me that MY perceptions were WRONG.

:crazy:

[avaistheone1]

28. I haven't found a satisfying replacement for sugar either.

Most of the replacementd have an icky after-taste, or they make the beverage itself taste odd.

I just try to cut down on sugar. And if I have a juice I mix it usually with more than half water, or I just have water with a twist of lemon or lime.

[Toucano]

25. Try some ginger. Even ginger ale can be good for tummy troubles.

You can make your own flavored water with lemons or limes in the future.

I keep a pitcher of water with lime slices in the fridge. You can keep a thermos for when you're out and about.

[xultar]

30. Yes, I normally do but my aunt gave it to me. It didn't seem like it was bad

until after I had some.

I do make my own iced teas and flavored waters @ home but since I'm on the road 26 days out of the month...and most of that is in a hotel I don't keep my fridge stocked.

[Toucano]

33. It's tough to be a nomad.

But you knew that already. ;-)

[astral]

34. I love stevia.

I don't totally avoid sugar at all, but I haven't got in the habit of wanting juice or pop when thirsty. Rarely will drink part of a coke but not a diet coke. I love coffee with stevia but I have learned to like it black too, and also will use regular sugar in it. I think all artificial sweeteners are dangerous because they have a cumulative effect.

[AspenRose]

37. My homemade soda is liquid stevia and sparkling water.

[Mimosa]

36. Gum chewing and sodas are both bad for dental health. n/t