Sugar Free Foods

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Replies

  • Laceylala
    Laceylala Posts: 3,094 Member
    I never could stand any artificial sweeteners, but hearing so much about stevia i thought i'd have a taste. Blech, I could never eat that, I had to spit it out.

    what brand did you use? the newer ones don't have the anisey aftertaste like it used to have, you just have to watch what the additives are in it. I use stevia in the raw or sun crystals (sun crystals is mixed with sugar though so it wouldn't work for a sugar free diet). maybe try another brand? although I have a friend who's tried several and just doesn't like it.... I swear people have different taste buds because I don't notice any aftertaste at all... maybe I have less sensitive taste buds :)


    Xylitol and Sucranat are also natural sweeteners. I find that Sucranat stinks to high heaven (nasty nasty) but I do love to bake with it. Ans Xylitol is sweet on par with sugar and looks like white sugar. I use it to bake and to sweeten things such as strawberries for my daughter for a treat, etc.
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    I believe I am feeling some sugar detox myself at the moment. I do not feel sick, but I sure do feel tired. Making it through the rest of the work day is going to be a challenge enough, and I am disappointed to feel like I am not up to doing my workout. I want to , but I am in sad shape.
    My primary goal was the caffeine in giving up coffee, but since I loaded it verrry heavy with sugar, it is a double whammy. I am into my 2nd week free of it, 10 days to be exact. From what I have been reading , you can be over the caffeine quicker than the sugar, sugar can take 2 full weeks to detox from.
    All I know is I feel totally wiped out.

    And you know, the sickness you feel , may in fact be the detoxing from the sugar.

    If you are detoxing from the sugar, you should get a burst of energy soon.............I know I am. I am waking up at 4 am, ready to clean house before going to work, exercising and have my shower taken before my husband or my dogs wake up.
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    I never could stand any artificial sweeteners, but hearing so much about stevia i thought i'd have a taste. Blech, I could never eat that, I had to spit it out.

    what brand did you use? the newer ones don't have the anisey aftertaste like it used to have, you just have to watch what the additives are in it. I use stevia in the raw or sun crystals (sun crystals is mixed with sugar though so it wouldn't work for a sugar free diet). maybe try another brand? although I have a friend who's tried several and just doesn't like it.... I swear people have different taste buds because I don't notice any aftertaste at all... maybe I have less sensitive taste buds :)


    Xylitol and Sucranat are also natural sweeteners. I find that Sucranat stinks to high heaven (nasty nasty) but I do love to bake with it. Ans Xylitol is sweet on par with sugar and looks like white sugar. I use it to bake and to sweeten things such as strawberries for my daughter for a treat, etc.

    Xylitol found in fruits and vegetables that is natural occurring is the only natural stuff..................

    The Xylitol found in bags or bottles in the grocery stores is not natural and is misrepresented as such. It is hydrologized, which means it is hydrogenated, which in itself makes it unhealthy. it is extremely toxic to dogs too..............


    If the following sound "natural" to you, then by all means purchase it and use it....................I don't find it to be natural and free from processing so I will not consume it. I stopped consuming the white Stevia powder when I found out how processed it is.
    1. First the xylan needs to be broken down in a process called acid hydrolyzing. The results of this process leave us with xylose and acetic acid. The process of hydrogenation is carried out at higher pressures and temperatures ranging from 158 degrees Fahrenheit and higher. Hydrogenation needs a catalyst, so a substance called Raney nickel can be used which is a powdered nickel-aluminium alloy.

    2. The acetic acid needs to be removed as the material safety data sheet describes it as, "Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, permeator), of eye contact (corrosive)."

    3. Then the hydrolyzing acid and organic residues must be removed, this is done by heating the mixture and evaporating it.

    4. The resulting syrup, now free of acetic acid, hydrolyzing acid, nick-aluminum and other residues.

    5. The syrup is crystallized by stirring ethanol into it.

    6. The crystalline xylitol is now separated in a centrifuge from the ethanol and from the sorbitol remaining in solution.

    7. Viola, you have xylitol.
  • AHealthierSuzyQ
    AHealthierSuzyQ Posts: 698 Member
    If you are craving sugar, try taking a teaspoonful of organic apple cider vinegar immediately before or after each meal or snack for a few weeks. It really does kill carb cravings as you can read in depth on another nutrition thread.
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    If you are craving sugar, try taking a teaspoonful of organic apple cider vinegar immediately before or after each meal or snack for a few weeks. It really does kill carb cravings as you can read in depth on another nutrition thread.

    I have tried that and I just can't get past the taste. Ewww, yuck.

    I have eaten dill pickles instead. LOL
  • TwentyTen
    TwentyTen Posts: 585
    I believe I am feeling some sugar detox myself at the moment. I do not feel sick, but I sure do feel tired. Making it through the rest of the work day is going to be a challenge enough, and I am disappointed to feel like I am not up to doing my workout. I want to , but I am in sad shape.
    My primary goal was the caffeine in giving up coffee, but since I loaded it verrry heavy with sugar, it is a double whammy. I am into my 2nd week free of it, 10 days to be exact. From what I have been reading , you can be over the caffeine quicker than the sugar, sugar can take 2 full weeks to detox from.
    All I know is I feel totally wiped out.

    And you know, the sickness you feel , may in fact be the detoxing from the sugar.

    If you are detoxing from the sugar, you should get a burst of energy soon.............I know I am. I am waking up at 4 am, ready to clean house before going to work, exercising and have my shower taken before my husband or my dogs wake up.

    I sure hope so. A burst of energy would sure be welcome, cannot come soon enough!
  • stratdl
    stratdl Posts: 303 Member
    Why do you think you have to give up peanut butter? It's great stuff--as long as you get the kind that's pretty much ground peanuts and a little bit of salt. I eat the Smucker's Organic Creamy peanut butter and boy does it taste good! Of course, my hubby can't stand it because it's not sweet enough for him. I felt that way, too, at first. I found that, to wean myself off the extra sugar in peanut butter, it worked to put a little bit of honey on top of the peanut butter, steadily decreasing it until I could eat it plain. Now I can't stand the other stuff at all!

    ...I just read that the average American eats 100 lbs of added sugars a year. That's enough to get me to stop and to eat more like July24lioness!
  • bjs06
    bjs06 Posts: 316 Member

    What type of sickness do you have going on?

    I ask this because it is highly possible that after 6 days of no sugar, no artificial sweeteners that your body is going through detox and withdrawal from sugar.


    I work at a day care so it's just the general stuff that everyone gets. Sore throat, bad cough.. the croup (sp?) is going around so I think it's just from my job. Sugar detox may not be helping either, slowing me down a bit maybe? I'm not sure. But I'm feeling better and having an easier time after a week without sugar. Im excited to see how exercising will play into it once I can get back to the gym..

    stratdl - i live in a small town and there is pretty much one type of peanut butter here which is not the good kind haha. if i can ever find some of the organic stuff you were talking about, i will check it out for sure!
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    Why do you think you have to give up peanut butter? It's great stuff--as long as you get the kind that's pretty much ground peanuts and a little bit of salt. I eat the Smucker's Organic Creamy peanut butter and boy does it taste good! Of course, my hubby can't stand it because it's not sweet enough for him. I felt that way, too, at first. I found that, to wean myself off the extra sugar in peanut butter, it worked to put a little bit of honey on top of the peanut butter, steadily decreasing it until I could eat it plain. Now I can't stand the other stuff at all!

    ...I just read that the average American eats 100 lbs of added sugars a year. That's enough to get me to stop and to eat more like July24lioness!

    yes, I read last night that the average American eats between 2 and 5 pounds of sugar PER WEEK!!!!! That is because sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, etc is in everything.................

    Read this article...............What if it all has been a Big Fat Lie........by Dr. Gary Taubes

    It is long, but well worth the read.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html?pagewanted=print
  • stratdl
    stratdl Posts: 303 Member
    Hi bjs06 - I know how it goes, when the products you want aren't carried locally. That's when I end up going online and seeing what I can find there. At amazon.com, there's a product called Justin's Nut Butter, Organic Classic Peanut Butter (it's got 1 g sugars, from what I found). It's sold in 3-packs of 16-oz tubs each (so a total of 48 oz) for $17.17 (plus shipping, unless you order $25 or more). And I just saw that the Smucker's online store has a 6-pack (96 oz total) of the peanut butter I mentioned earlier for $25 + ~ $10 shipping (depending upon how fast you want it).

    I don't want to sound like I'm pushing the peanut butter thing (because I'm honestly not trying to do so), but I just wanted to point out options for when you're in the middle of nutritional nowhere. Cost can be an issue, too (and buying that much stuff at once may be a problem if you're the only one eating it and eating it only occasionally). I hope that this helps a bit and I hope that you have success in kicking the sugar. I'm trying every day to do it, myself! No 100 lbs a year for me!!! :wink:
  • TheMaidOfAstolat
    TheMaidOfAstolat Posts: 3,222 Member
    As for the peanut butter (that keeps on coming up, lol). Make your own. All you need are peanuts...just roast them and grind them in the food processor (it won't be as creamy as store bought stuff but it sure does taste better. You can do this with any nut. Put it in a jar and keep it in the fridge. I haven't done this in a while as I usually buy the Skippy Natural (yes it's got added salt and oil but no added sugar-only 3 grams per 2 Tbsp).
  • rtownzen
    rtownzen Posts: 6
    i would try to find things that are naturally free of refined. while sugar alcohols, which go into sugar free products on the market, have no calories, they're not great for your body and you shouldn't really be filling yourself with chemicals anyway. i used to really like sugar free lifesavers, but sugar alcohols can cause gas and other digestive issues (unless you don't mind a laxative effect, i'd say use caution). a lot of things that are sugar free (like reese's and other chocolates) aren't that nutritionally different (like for reese's you really only save 1 g of fat...so there's not much point).

    whenever i'm craving something sweet, i eat fruit leathers. they only have 35 calories each, no fat, and while they do have sugar, it's natural so it's good for you. if you're REALLY craving something sweet, add splenda to strawberries. it was one of my favorite desserts when i ate artificial sweeteners. try just eliminating foods with high fructose corn syrup (makes a huge difference, at least for me). other foods i enjoy having for desserts/meals are: KIND bars and larabars. also the 100 calorie packs of kettle corn popcorn are sweet but, obviously, only 100 calories and very low fat, and actually sugar free!
  • bjs06
    bjs06 Posts: 316 Member
    i would try to find things that are naturally free of refined. while sugar alcohols, which go into sugar free products on the market, have no calories, they're not great for your body and you shouldn't really be filling yourself with chemicals anyway. i used to really like sugar free lifesavers, but sugar alcohols can cause gas and other digestive issues (unless you don't mind a laxative effect, i'd say use caution). a lot of things that are sugar free (like reese's and other chocolates) aren't that nutritionally different (like for reese's you really only save 1 g of fat...so there's not much point).

    whenever i'm craving something sweet, i eat fruit leathers. they only have 35 calories each, no fat, and while they do have sugar, it's natural so it's good for you. if you're REALLY craving something sweet, add splenda to strawberries. it was one of my favorite desserts when i ate artificial sweeteners. try just eliminating foods with high fructose corn syrup (makes a huge difference, at least for me). other foods i enjoy having for desserts/meals are: KIND bars and larabars. also the 100 calorie packs of kettle corn popcorn are sweet but, obviously, only 100 calories and very low fat, and actually sugar free!

    some awesome info in there! i never thought of putting splenda on strawberries, i guess i always just thought of it as something you add to like cookies or cake or something. i've never tasted it not in something that has already been made!

    never heard of KIND bars or larabars? anyone know what they are?
  • rtownzen
    rtownzen Posts: 6
    http://www.kindsnacks.com/

    and http://www.larabar.com/

    larabars are super delicious and generally only have like 5 ingredients! the guy who wrote eat this not that actually recommended them, they're so good. i eat them as a meal with some fruits and veggies or sometimes as a snack if i'm particularly hungry. both of them are like 100% natural so whatever sugar IS in them isn't the bad processed kind. kindbars are all pretty nut based so they have higher concentrations of fat, but a lot of them have almonds which are high in monounsaturated fat which is good for you (weird, right?) so even then it's not so bad. they're both vegan, and larabars have a "joclat' line that tastes like chocolate. excellent dessert!
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