Sugar vs. Substitutes

laurie7075

I am wondering what everyone uses in their coffee, sugar or a sugar substitute? I have read so many pros and cons for each I really don't know what I should use! Currently I'm drinking about 4-5 large iced coffee's per week with a little milk and 2 equal packets. Also I was curious if anyone knows if one form of substitute is better than the others (i.e. sweet and low vs. splenda or equal)?

kikicooks

I try to stay away from the artificial stuff but sometimes I use Stevia. I just go for the natural stuff but look for the unrefined or less refined options, like evaporated cane juice and sucanat. It is still sugar so that means calories so I just try not to have too much of it.

WendyTerry420

I don't like sweet coffee. The only sugar substitute I will use is Truvia. The rest taste disgusting.

vim_n_vigor

For only 4-5 coffees a week, I would stick with what you enjoy. That is about what I have most weeks. If I am home, I used flavored creamer, and if I am out, I use half & half and sugar. This only takes up about 70 calories for one. I'm not going to sweat it. Now if I wanted 4-5 a day, I'd rethink how I do it.

BTW - our coffee at work is despicable. Even hardcore coffee drinkers have to doctor it up to be able to drink it.

sicilysclover

This is the great debate!! I use splenda because it's everywhere so it's convenient and I like the taste. I know a ton of people will tell me it's bad (and I don't disagree with them) but for now i'm letting myself have 1 a day with my coffee. It works for me.

taylor5877

splenda is the best blend of solubility and taste IMO...stevia is natural but can have a funny wang to it...sweet and low is the most soluble (best in cold liquids), but worst of the 3 in taste.

Equal, sucks in solubility and taste IMO.

IMO, if you're using a lot, I think the artificial sweeteners are better than the extra calories from sugar, but that's just my opinion.

Also, keep in mind that the packets aren't straight artificial sweetener...they're only a small fraction of the actual sweeteners...the rest is filler and maltodextrin (a nutritive complex carb that may as well be sugar). So you're not getting a teaspoon of artificial sweetener in every packet as some people imagine.

SideSteel

In a community largely focusing on weight-loss, if you're dead-set on adding something sweet to your coffee, I think there's merit to using a zero-calorie option given that calories are being restricted.

When you look at potential hazards of non nutritive sweeteners you need to pay attention to dose. Most people disregard this and apply blanket-alarmism thinking that they're somehow poisoning themselves by consuming small doses.


As far as my personal choice: I mix whey with milk, then I mix that with coffee. It serves as a creamer and since I'm supplementing whey anyways, I'm essentially killing two birds with one stone.

laurie7075

Thanks for all the great info! I've actually been getting my coffee at Cumberland Farms (convenience store) because any size is $.99, lol. They don't have the "real" brands of artificial sweeteners, they have the packets in blue, yellow, and pink with the store name on them. I know sweet and low is pink, equal is blue, and I think the splenda is yellow(??). I only posed this question because of the whole cancer scare with the substitutes and the fact I need to add at least 4 teaspoons of real sugar to get the sweetness I desire, which seems like a lot if I do it 5X per week.

WendyTerry420

splenda is the best blend of solubility and taste IMO...stevia is natural but can have a funny wang to it...sweet and low is the most soluble (best in cold liquids), but worst of the 3 in taste.

A funny wang? It's the only one that actually DOESN'T have a "funny wang!" :laugh: :laugh:

Flavor is subjective.

CyberEd312

I don't sacrifice anything in my morning coffee, it comes to 106 calories and so worth everyone of them... We own a Keurig Brewer and I make 1 Contigo Travel Mug size of Coffee People Donut Shop brand coffee and add 2 spoonfuls of Domino Pure Cane sugar (15 calories a spoonful) and 2 Tbps. of International Delight Hershey's Chocolate and Caramel Creamer (35 calories per Tbps.). Like I said I find a way to work this into my day. I don't drink anymore coffee than this so for me it works just fine.... Best of Luck...

AlabasterVerve

Artificial sweeteners are disgusting to me so I opted to just give up coffee instead (flavored creamers & lots of sugar was how I drank it). A few weeks ago I tried coffee again but with just heavy cream this time and it was great -- love the fat in the cream and it cuts the bitterness just enough. The buzz was nice after going without for so long too. :happy:

EccentricDad

I am wondering what everyone uses in their coffee, sugar or a sugar substitute? I have read so many pros and cons for each I really don't know what I should use! Currently I'm drinking about 4-5 large iced coffee's per week with a little milk and 2 equal packets. Also I was curious if anyone knows if one form of substitute is better than the others (i.e. sweet and low vs. splenda or equal)?

I don't drink coffee any more but I would use honey if I did.

Lourdes1212

I tried researching better substitutes for plain sugar for my one cup of coffee per day.. I found that although agave nectar and date sugar is better for you I would have to use more to make it to my liking. I went back to splenda afterall most studies showed that in moderation it is not as harmful to your health as other sugar substitutes. I use 2 packets a day.

melsinct

In my opinion, if you eat so much added sugar on a daily basis that you need to look for zero calorie alternatives, the problem isn’t the sugar, the problem is your overall diet. I drink one coffee a day with one teaspoon of sugar at 15 calories- not exactly a calorie bomb.

taylor5877

I personally have days where I'll drink a gallon or more of unsweet tea (sweetened with artificial sweetener) or crystal light.


So for me, the non nutritive sweeteners are more than worth it from a calorie perspective.

Four_Leaf_Clover

I drink coffee every day. On the weekends, I have one cup with a teaspoon or two of real sugar and a touch of skim milk.
During the week, I get Starbucks or DD iced coffee with skim milk and 1 splenda.

If you would need 4 tsp sugar per coffee - that is 60 calories of sugar per coffee - 420 calories per week.
It's not a terrible amount if you have room in your numbers for it.

If that is the only artificial sweetners you are using - then it's probably not the end of the world. If you also drink lots of diet soda or yougurt with aspartame, etc. - you might want to think about the big picture.

I have come to like the flavor of coffee more and more as I get older - I need far less milk or sweetner than I remember.

laurie7075

I tend to have quite a sweet tooth so I figure adding 4 teaspoons (I'm assuming each granulated sugar packet is a teaspoon?) to my iced coffee at least 5X a week is a lot of extra sugar but then the alternative using the artificial sweeteners scare me a bit using 2 packets at least 5X a week (for the risk of cancers), not to mention the aspartame in some of the drinks, yogurts, ice creams, etc.