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Artificial Sweeteners

DenDweller
DenDweller Posts: 1,438 Member
edited November 7 in Social Groups
I never thought chlorinating sugar and then eating it sounded like the best of ideas. Maybe I wasn't just being paranoid...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/study-suggests-sweeteners-could-contribute-to-obesity-and-diabetes/2014/09/17/c3c04ea6-3dc2-11e4-b03f-de718edeb92f_story.html

Replies

  • DawnyB1210
    DawnyB1210 Posts: 55
    I guess what it comes down to is our bodies are not meant to process things that are manufactured in a laboratory.
  • Peloton73
    Peloton73 Posts: 148 Member
    This is my beef with the ADA. They recognize and suggest artificial sweeteners. I even questioned them once on their FB page and they stuck to their position. There are enough medical studies coming out today that show artificial sweeteners are not beneficial. The one hidden disaster to them is they can raise triglycerides which studies are showing are more detrimental to risk of heart attack than the standard LDL/HDL ratios.
  • Wendydelmo
    Wendydelmo Posts: 42 Member
    So glad to see this. I'm really not into artificial sweeteners, and hated the idea of having to use them. What do you use to sweeten things?
  • NK1112
    NK1112 Posts: 781 Member
    I don't usually sweeten foods and find that sweetend foods are too sweet for my tastes. I eat fruit to satisfy my sweet tooth. If I do need to use a sweetener then I'll usually use maple syrup, or honey. When baking, I use regular sugar, but cut it down and add some sweeter tasting fruit or vegetable to the dish ... applesauce, plum butter, mashed ripe banana, shredded carrot ... stuff like that.
  • Peloton73
    Peloton73 Posts: 148 Member
    For my steel cut oats, I add a dash of cinnamon and mash my blueberries to release the sugars. If you would've told me a year ago I would truly enjoy my oats this way, I would've sent you for a drug test. LOL.

    For other foods, I really don't need to sweeten. I'm trying to think of things I would need sugar for and I can't really think of anything. I've kind of transitioned into the savory side of things so I use spices to add flavor.

    If I'm really having a sugar craving that just won't stop I'll do one of three things. 1) pop a handful of blueberries and slowly chew them 2) eat an apple with almond butter and 3) if it's one of those cravings that is driving me up the wall, I have a stash of Ghirardelli Twilight Delight squares. One square is 5g carbs and 3 grams sugar and contains real sugar. I should add that the monster sugar cravings are very rare. Usually the blueberries will do the trick. I bought a bag of Ghirardelli Squares in July and still have 2/3 a bag remaining. It's only there for those "break glass in case of emergency" moments.

    I've noticed two things since cutting sugar. 1) I have fewer sugar cravings 2) the better my numbers keep getting, the less inclined I am to eat things with carbs and sugar.
  • mrron2u
    mrron2u Posts: 919 Member
    This is the next thing I need to work on. I still love my Sweet and Low in my coffee so I have 2-3 packets a day.

    Anyone try Stevia? I keep hearing it is better for you.
  • Wendydelmo
    Wendydelmo Posts: 42 Member
    The GOOD thing is that I don't do any sweetened drinks or anything already. but I di need sugar on occasion- I bought swerve. it's a small bag and will probably last till Christmas.!
  • amberj32
    amberj32 Posts: 663 Member
    This is the next thing I need to work on. I still love my Sweet and Low in my coffee so I have 2-3 packets a day.

    Anyone try Stevia? I keep hearing it is better for you.


    I prefer Equal. I put it in my ice tea and I still drink diet Coke. I've tried Stevia but I don't like the taste of it and it gives me headaches. My triglycerides are fine. It hasn't raised them at all. I am still going to drink my diet Cokes and tea with Equal.
  • Unknown
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  • BarneyRubbleMD
    BarneyRubbleMD Posts: 1,092 Member
    mrron2u wrote: »
    This is the next thing I need to work on. I still love my Sweet and Low in my coffee so I have 2-3 packets a day.

    Anyone try Stevia? I keep hearing it is better for you.

    I use the Stevia sweeteners to flavor my water so I'll drink more water. I also like a Stevia sweetener (Hazelnut or Cinnamon) in my coffee lately. For my water, I typically go for the Stevia fruity flavors like cherry, mango or coconut-pineapple.


  • phxteach
    phxteach Posts: 309 Member
    BarneyRubble, what brand do you use for your coconut-pineapple water flavor? Is it prepackaged or make it on your own?
  • BarneyRubbleMD
    BarneyRubbleMD Posts: 1,092 Member
    phxteach wrote: »
    BarneyRubble, what brand do you use for your coconut-pineapple water flavor? Is it prepackaged or make it on your own?

    I use the "Honest H2O" brand water enhancer (2 oz bottle, using 1 "squeeze" of the eye-dropper into 8 oz of water--some people may prefer more but I don't need my water to be sweet, just have some flavor to it). I purchased this on Amazon.

    For my Hazelnut or Cinnamon, I use the "Stevia Select" brand (1 or 2 oz eye-dropper bottles) and use it in my coffee (which is also typically hazelnut or cinnamon). I've also found their Lemonade flavor refreshing in water too.

    I was getting tired (or bored) with plain water & trying to get off of diet soda so these water enhancers helped with that & now I drink a lot less diet soda. I typically like the fruit-type flavors with water and just adjust the "dosage" (i.e. eye-dropper squeezes) to taste. Note: it won't turn water into something as sweet as juice.
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