Sugar Vs. Artifical Sweetener

Judas_Queen
Judas_Queen Posts: 251 Member
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Ok.. So I use sweetener as I drink a lot of tea/coffee, and would have 1tsp in each every time I had one.. (thats cut down from 2 from 6 months ago.. workin my way down to unsweetened)

I've heard from a friends personal trainer that sugar (and he didn't specify what kind - so i'm going with generic granulated white as that seems the most likely) is better for you than artificial sweetener? I can't tell the difference in taste, and sometimes prefer it as I find sometimes sugar in drinks makes it syrup-y!

Could someone shed some light on this for me? As if it doesn't matter which I use then I will carry on with sweetener, but if not then I may have to change?

Thanks in advance you beautiful people <3

Replies

  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    Simple - don't use either so the taste is not 'hidden'
  • turlykerd1
    turlykerd1 Posts: 54 Member
    Simple - don't use either so the taste is not 'hidden'

    simples ?? hahaha

    i think it depends on how healthy you are , as sugar gives you more energy to burn but more cals too .

    moderation is my answer to using both :)
  • LilMissFoodie
    LilMissFoodie Posts: 612 Member
    There is a lot of 'evidence' around that suggests that artificial sweetener causes all kinds of problems. I personally think it is rubbish though, a lot of the studies are done with mice and mega (and I mean like 10 times body weight) doses of sweetener. Artificial sweetener is now generally considered to be safe for what they term as general use, basically, drinking 8 litres of diet coke is not going to be healthy no matter how you spin it but the amount most people would use shouldn't be a problem.

    Some are considered safer than others for example saccharin is one of the earlier sweeteners and is still possibly questioned the most.

    Obviously, ideally we would all eat and drink unsweetened things and live happily and healthily ever after. In the real world though, I definitely don't stand for the debate of 'I will continue to drink sugary soft drink despite being overweight as sweeteners cause cancer' since there is a far stronger (and actually proven) link between obesity and cancer than there had ever been between sweeteners and cancer. Hope that helps.

    Dotti
  • cheeksv
    cheeksv Posts: 521 Member
    It is said that because they are artificial they are loaded with chemicals and are not natural. I guess they can have a negative effect on your body but, I have not done any real research on the matter because I do not like the taste of any artificial sweetener. It is just what I have read here and there on the matter. I stick to regular sugar when I do use it and that is not often, or I use a little honey. ( but you said you don't like syrupy and that is very)

    On the coffee thing if you drink milk try a good amount of skim or soy milk like a latte. Makes the coffee taste yummy without a ton of sugar problems and you wont have to drink it black unless you like it that way lol

    Good luck :)
  • Ophelia75
    Ophelia75 Posts: 10 Member
    I have heard a lot of bad stuff about artifical sweetners. I am sure you could find some articles on google.

    Personally I think anything natural, whole and unprocessed is better then anything artificial. As you work towards cutting sugar out of your diet why not try brown unrefined sugar or honey or argarve nectar or maple syrup.

    I hope this helps.
  • PBJunkie
    PBJunkie Posts: 652
    There is a lot of 'evidence' around that suggests that artificial sweetener causes all kinds of problems. I personally think it is rubbish though, a lot of the studies are done with mice and mega (and I mean like 10 times body weight) doses of sweetener. Artificial sweetener is now generally considered to be safe for what they term as general use, basically, drinking 8 litres of diet coke is not going to be healthy no matter how you spin it but the amount most people would use shouldn't be a problem.

    Some are considered safer than others for example saccharin is one of the earlier sweeteners and is still possibly questioned the most.

    Obviously, ideally we would all eat and drink unsweetened things and live happily and healthily ever after. In the real world though, I definitely don't stand for the debate of 'I will continue to drink sugary soft drink despite being overweight as sweeteners cause cancer' since there is a far stronger (and actually proven) link between obesity and cancer than there had ever been between sweeteners and cancer. Hope that helps.

    Dotti

    The chemical you are referring to is aspartame, found in the majority of protein shakes, diet soda and sweetners. I am not very educated on whether it is really bad or not, but definitely worthwhile reading up on it.
  • Judas_Queen
    Judas_Queen Posts: 251 Member
    On the coffee thing if you drink milk try a good amount of skim or soy milk like a latte. Makes the coffee taste yummy without a ton of sugar problems and you wont have to drink it black unless you like it that way lol

    Good luck :)

    I tend to drink my coffee/tea black these days (after someone bought full fat milk into the office and i refused to touch it!) Plus I really really hate milk, even on cereal i just dribble it over so the cereal is wet! I find that milk in coffee/tea is very sickly now!

    I tried honey in my tea... and actually only managed one mouthful (1) because it was syrupy and (2) i don't like honey (lol.. i'm really not that awkward with any other foods i promise!)

    Hmm...
  • Judas_Queen
    Judas_Queen Posts: 251 Member
    There is a lot of 'evidence' around that suggests that artificial sweetener causes all kinds of problems. I personally think it is rubbish though, a lot of the studies are done with mice and mega (and I mean like 10 times body weight) doses of sweetener. Artificial sweetener is now generally considered to be safe for what they term as general use, basically, drinking 8 litres of diet coke is not going to be healthy no matter how you spin it but the amount most people would use shouldn't be a problem.

    Some are considered safer than others for example saccharin is one of the earlier sweeteners and is still possibly questioned the most.

    Obviously, ideally we would all eat and drink unsweetened things and live happily and healthily ever after. In the real world though, I definitely don't stand for the debate of 'I will continue to drink sugary soft drink despite being overweight as sweeteners cause cancer' since there is a far stronger (and actually proven) link between obesity and cancer than there had ever been between sweeteners and cancer. Hope that helps.

    Dotti

    I don't really drink many carbonated drinks, but these days i defnitely prefer sugar free e.g. coke zero, or flavoured carbonated water. I don't really add sugar/sweetener to anything, except coffee/tea, i was just interested in why sugar is deemed better for you.. some people have tried to give some bizzare reasonings.. but i suppose that the "natrual" side of it makes it better, i just don't like it syrupy!

    I guess what I will just have to do soon is bite the bullet and remove sugar/sweeteners from my hot drinks all together! (when my sweeteners run out.. those buggers can be pricey!) *sigh...*
  • cheeksv
    cheeksv Posts: 521 Member
    On the coffee thing if you drink milk try a good amount of skim or soy milk like a latte. Makes the coffee taste yummy without a ton of sugar problems and you wont have to drink it black unless you like it that way lol

    Good luck :)

    I tend to drink my coffee/tea black these days (after someone bought full fat milk into the office and i refused to touch it!) Plus I really really hate milk, even on cereal i just dribble it over so the cereal is wet! I find that milk in coffee/tea is very sickly now!

    I tried honey in my tea... and actually only managed one mouthful (1) because it was syrupy and (2) i don't like honey (lol.. i'm really not that awkward with any other foods i promise!)

    Hmm...

    haha it is hard when you know what you like and are trying to find better healthier ways. Sugar is one of my big problems. I used to drink all natural juices and go to Starbucks and not realize how much I was taking in and how it was contributing to weight. If you like sugar I would find the most natural kind of sugar you can. I think natural ( like someone else said too) is always better than artificial no matter how safe it is said to be. especially if there is controversy around it why take the chance if you like both equally? Is amount of sugar the issue or just what is healthiest? Maybe limiting sugar in your diet elsewhere could help too?
  • Goonygugu
    Goonygugu Posts: 114
    The asparteme that is in all artificial sweetners has been said to be very bad for and can be linked to cancer...

    I use Xylitol.... it's a natural sweetner that has less calories than sugar and you can not tell the difference at all... it's also better for your teeth.
  • Judas_Queen
    Judas_Queen Posts: 251 Member
    The asparteme that is in all artificial sweetners has been said to be very bad for and can be linked to cancer...

    I use Xylitol.... it's a natural sweetner that has less calories than sugar and you can not tell the difference at all... it's also better for your teeth.

    Could I get this at a health food shop like Holland & Barrett (UK)? I use silverspoon one at the mo, but it's not very good, i have to use double! (I usually use candrel but the shop didn't have any!!!)
  • 0PhAtDaDdY
    0PhAtDaDdY Posts: 569 Member
    I use Stevia.....
  • Judas_Queen
    Judas_Queen Posts: 251 Member
    Thanks for all your help guys! I bought som agave syrup on my lunch, and had it in my coffee just now (with milk... the ultimate test!!! dun dun dunnnn)

    and it was actually pretty nice :) and i feel better knowing it's allllllllllll natural!!!

    Thanks again folks :) xx
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    The asparteme that is in all artificial sweetners has been said to be very bad for and can be linked to cancer...

    This has also been disproved several times. The conclusion was that, surprise surprise, in "normal" usage there's no evidence at all of it being harmful.

    I switched from sugar to sweeteners, saving myself 5-600 calories a day, and have never felt better for it!
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