The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Neall (St. Louis, MO, USA) on 03/15/2007
I had experienced several outbreaks a year since childhood of cold sores, especially in the winter. I haven't had more than a couple of outbreaks in the past few years, mostly I think due to maintaining healthy water intake and when my lips feel like they are starting to get chapped, using Blistex Lip Infusion. In my experience, it is
dehydration that triggers my outbreaks. Since I am following a low-carb diet, I have been substituting Splenda and Nutrasweet for sugar quite a bit. I have experienced no ill effects so far and have had no outbreaks of cold sores since I started using them frequently several months ago. I realize that everyone is different and are affected differently so if you need a non-sugar sweetener and you think that Splenda and Nutrasweet are causing problems, I suggest trying Stevia extract. It comes from a naturally occurring plant and has no unpleasant aftertaste. It may seem expensive but a little goes a long way. I buy it at Whole Foods but I'm pretty sure I've seen it at Trader Joe's too. There are usually two kinds, one with maltose and one just Stevia. I can taste a slightly unpleasant aftertaste with the maltose so I try to avoid it.
PS: I've used Abreva and it did seem to help but only if used before the blister starts to show. When the blister was already showing, it seemed to increase the size and duration of the blister(s).
PPS: Low carb iced tea recipe: (per ~2L water) 2 bags Luzianne iced tea, 1 bag Yogi Throat Comfort tea, 3 tiny scoops of Superior Source Sweet 'n Natural 100% pure Stevia. Stir, ice, and enjoy!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by SG (Bakersfield, CA) on 05/25/2006
It says on your website to let you know if I experienced a connection between aspartame and herpes sores. Here's my story: Sometime around 9 years ago, I started having pain around my genital area. There was never anything visible, or anything that seemed to trigger it. It was generally not painful unless I had sex. I went to doctor after doctor. Each one tested me for everything, and then told me I didn't have any STDs--that maybe it was an allergic reaction or some other skin problem. This went on for EIGHT YEARS. Last November, after moving to a different city and starting a diet, I developed incredibly painful sores, so bad that I couldn't walk. I went to the emergency room. The attendants took cultures and blood samples, and sent me home. When I got my little postcard in the mail, it said that the blood test was positive for herpes. HERPES!? It's been 9 years and this is the first diagnose-able outbreak? After that, I kept having painful outbreaks. All the time. And I couldn't figure out what the difference was between 8 years of almost completely dormant and Attack of the Evil Vicious Viruses. Tonight, I was researching into ways to ease a friend's Lupus symptoms and ran across this website, saying that there is a link between aspartame and herpes... LIGHT BULB!! THANK YOU!! The outbreaks started happening soon after I started our household on a health-conscious diet. We started with drinking only water, but eventually we started drinking "diet" energy drinks, containing... guess what? I'll keep ya posted.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Kay (NJ) on 04/02/2006
I have been dieting for 6 weeks now. I usually use organic sugar, but switched to Splenda. My outbreaks and constant prodrome were unbelievable. I normally get about 4-6 outbreaks a year. I must have had 4 in one month. After reading about Splenda and herpes, I can only conclude this is the reason.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Lyn (Orange City, FL) on 02/10/2006
i drink a lot of unsweetened tea and add sweet and low. i also drink a lot and i mean a lot of diet products and my outbreaks are one right after another. my doctors are stunned. i'm gonna try going without to see if it works. i will let you know!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Chanel (Des Plaines IL) on 02/07/2006
I am glad I came upon this website because I just started drinking the new diet cherry vanilla dr pepper and that morning felt my lip itching and it has been years since I have had a cold sore. I did not realize it was from this drink.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Walley (Spring Valley) on 01/22/2006
I recently started chewing sugarless gum because of a low carb diet. I experienced one of my worst herpes outbreaks in years around that same period, it may be related to
aspartame.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Mary (Chicago, IL) on 01/07/2006
Ok, yesterday I had lunch with a friend. I asked her to bring me a diet something. It was COKE or Pepsi. Later that evening around 8pm. I felt the sensation of an outbreak. This was not oral. I cannot believe what I have just read. Thank you for the information. I will never drink or eat anything containing a sugar substitute.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Angela (Portland, Maine) on 01/13/2006
I never drink diet sodas, or even soda in general, last night I had diet coke. I'm usually a more natural person. I've never had a cold sore in my life, overnight I developed a blood blister on my lip. I am very worried about it. I hope this is not a start to a very bad thing. I wish I would have known that these sweeteners do this before. Spread the word!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Tara (Columbia MD) on 05/24/2006
I totally agree that aspartame can trigger outbreaks. I love yogurt which I eat daily. When I went on this website, I see where it says avoid aspartame. I usually don't have outbreaks often but since I have been eating yogurt I noticed more frequent outbreaks. I didn't know why these outcoming were coming back but now I see why.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Anonymous (London) on 08/01/2006
i cannot believe what i have just read about Herpes outbreaks and Splenda. I have been on a diet for a few weeks and have been taking Splenda as a substitute for sugar. I have had the worst outbreak ever lasting 3 weeks!! Now that i know, i will cut out the Splenda. Throwing it out now.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Anonymous (NC) on 09/20/2006
Oh my gosh! I thought my body was falling apart. I keep having outbreaks, this past month i've had 3. This was the first time in my LIFE. But when I just read the info on this site I realized that it's because of diet soda. I have been drinking diet soda everyday for the past month at work. Before that I had never had an outbreak. I will never drink another one. THANKS.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Chris (Canada) on 09/26/2006
I stopped using both Splenda and Aspartame and have not had a symptom for a month now. Was having constant problems for 3 years now and couldn't figure out why. This coincides with my starting to use Splenda and Aspartame for a low carb diet regimen. i believe you are onto something here.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Anonymous (Los Angeles) on 11/04/2006
I came upon your website while searching for a natural healing for Genital Herpes. WOW. Am I surprise to find out information about this crazy chemical call Sucralose or Splenda. OK, here's my story: Two weeks ago on Monday, I went to work with a great new idea. That I will go on a sugarless diet. Why? Because people at work noticed that I do look a little chubbier. Before going on this sugar diet, I used to drink about a cup of coffee every morning with real sugar. I guess you can say the addiction to coffee kicks in and I just wanted some a little taste of coffle again. So, without destroying my commitment to a sugarless diet, I search around the office kitchen for those diet packet sugar and found some. I did the coffee with diet sugar for about 4 or 5 days and Well... You guess it. That following friday night, when I went to take a piss after having dinner with my girlfriend. My urethra was on fire, meaning burning sensation when I pee. HERPES OUTBREAK!!! and I seriously do agree agree with you guys it's from that diet stuff I took in. If I didn't come upon this website, I would not have made this connection. I am so glad I know this. I think I'll stick to real food from now on. Even Junk Food scares me now. The freaking USDA is as reliable as this country's Intelligence Agency. Thank you
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Linda (Houston, TX) on 11/23/2006
I wanted to add my story and am relieved to know that I'm not the only one who has experienced this. Approximately two years ago I began having herpes outbreaks (Cold Sores) with regularity and didn't know why this was happening. This occurred for several months in a row when I finally thought "what the heck is going on here". I then tried to figure out what I'd been doing differently. It took me about a day or two and then it struck me that I'd been consuming large amounts of SPLENDA. Which I normally don't use. I have a bitter orange tree in my yard with beautiful, but very sour oranges and I had discovered that these oranges make a rather delicious drink comparable to lemonade. Not wanting to consume so much sugar, I bought a box of SPLENDA and began using that. What a huge mistake! I was miserable and can't believe that I didn't put 2 and 2 together sooner than that. What's funny is that the sores would come on very quickly with little pain and didn't seem to last quite as long as they sometimes do, but they were horrible and frequent. I wonder how many people suffer needlessly and don't even know why? I relay my story every chance I get in hopes of helping anyone else avoid this stupid problem. Thanks for this web site!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Annie (Seattle, WA) on 01/01/2007
Just visited my brother and his wife for a week in northern california. Splenda was not available in their home. Upon returning to Seattle, I resumed my consumption of Splenda (quite significant) and immediately (within 2 days) developed a severe herpes outbreak. Yikes. Will certainly monitor the situation and stop using Splenda for a while to see if this is indeed the cause. This was a low stress period for me and there is not other reason for the outbreak except perhaps having started taking L-Carnitine upon my return to Seattle.
