Natural Sugar Replacement

cp46449

Trying to refrain from white sugar. I have been using Splenda, but I know it has some chemical things such as aspartame in it.

If you have any substitutes you use, let me know!

Thanks

kevinmacpa

I just don't eat anything sweet at all for most of my meals, and eat some actual sugar before or after each workout.

For example, eat healthy carb for most meals, but if you crave sweets, have a slice of cake, cookies or whatever it is that you want before or after you exercise. As long as the carb, fat and protein fit your daily macro nutrient, you should do fine. And no more need for chemicals such as aspartame.

flabassmcgee

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't any sugar or sugar-like product going to give you the same body/chemical reaction anyway?

I dunno, I like Stevia. It's a zero calorie sweetener and it's supposed to be natural.

Mr_Knight

Stevia is a chemical produced from plants using a chemical process.

Sugar already is about as natural a sweetener as you're going to get....

flabassmcgee

Mr_Knight wrote: »

Stevia is a chemical produced from plants using a chemical process.

Sugar already is about as natural a sweetener as you're going to get....

Thanks. xx

SnuggleSmacks

cp46449 wrote: »

Trying to refrain from white sugar. I have been using Splenda, but I know it has some chemical things such as aspartame in it.

If you have any substitutes you use, let me know!

Thanks

Splenda is sucralose. It's a completely different thing from aspartame, which often goes by the trade name Nutrasweet.

That being said, current science seems to support that these sweeteners are not dangerous to your health. At most, the most recent studies show that in some individuals, they may have some negative impact on gut flora. It's a correlation, which does not necessarily mean it's a causation...in other words, the conclusion is that more study is needed in this area, not that there is any definite impact.

In other words, if you enjoy your sweeteners, go ahead and use them. If you're concerned or worried or whatever, research Stevia. It's supposedly natural, although I'm not sure how, since it's also processed...and some concerns have been raised regarding its safety as well, although none have been well-documented in studies.

Jennloella

There's no aspartame in stevia or truvia, it's a leaf extract from I think Paraguay but may be wrong about that.

WednesdayJanuary07th2015

Nothing that I am aware of is safe, except sugar in moderation. I've been using Stevia myself & notice that it causes me to have headaches (same effects of Aspartame, with me as well), as soon as I go through my current/last box of it; I'll only use sugar. Unfortunately sometimes in our quest to be healthy, we make unhealthy choices; such as artificial/natural sugar substitutes. Remember that "If it seems to good to be true/it probably is" & I've found that be the consequential case with substituting sugar.

SaraSteeves1993

I use truvia (stevia) or honey , I barely use sugar anymore

SnuggleSmacks

I bought some Truvia once, and found the texture/weight of it very disturbing. It looked like tiny beads of Styrofoam, and was oddly light in weight. It looked like about the most unnatural thing that I could possibly use in the pie I was making, so I just used sugar instead.

SaraSteeves1993

I use it for coffee half a pack I'm slowing getting used to not needing much sweetener . I definitely would bake with it , I use regular sugar for baking which I don't do much of anyway. Instead of a spoonful of sugar half a pack truvia does the trick

SaraSteeves1993

Would not bake with it * I meant to say

coffeetox

I don't know if its any better but I used to have a stevia plant. I just pulled off a few leaves when I needed something sweetened. Until my husband accidentally tripped over it...lol
I think im going to try getting another planted this spring.

cp46449

furioushummingbird wrote: »

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't any sugar or sugar-like product going to give you the same body/chemical reaction anyway?

I dunno, I like Stevia. It's a zero calorie sweetener and it's supposed to be natural.

I know right! I didn't know if just using plain ole sugar would be better than anything else! Although it's refined white sugar.

SnuggleSmacks

Unless you're picking stevia leaves off the plant and throwing them into your food, any stevia products you use will also be refined. And possibly even white.

dsnsbyl

I've quit using splenda and now sweeten my oatmeal with bananna or bake apples for sweet toppings. I still use limited amounts of sugar. 1 cube in morning coffee. I notice sweet cravings have deminishef.