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Artificial Sweeteners - Your Choice and Comments
As I first started my weight loss journey, I absolutely could not eat certain foods without sugar. Therefore, I elected to use artificial sweeteners. Just curious as to what you think about artificial sweeteners. Do you use them? What is your favorite choice? Have you found something more natural you feel is better?
I try to stick to splenda but it's hard to avoid nutrasweet. I bought truvia, it seemed ok in my coffee.
I don't use any, not even Stevia. I quit them last April.
It seems with all of these products, there are supporters who say they are safe, and critics who deny those claims. So for now, I'm just avoiding the whole situation.
I also think that even if one disregards any issue of safety, there is still the matter of how these sweeteners affect appetite. It was my experience that consuming products with artificial sweeteners made my body crave food, and also dulled my taste buds.
Since I quit the sweeteners, I've sipped other people's diet drinks and can't believe how different it tastes now. I was a diet pop/crystal light junkie for years, too, so I really surprised myself when I lost my taste for these products.
It seems with all of these products, there are supporters who say they are safe, and critics who deny those claims. So for now, I'm just avoiding the whole situation.
I also think that even if one disregards any issue of safety, there is still the matter of how these sweeteners affect appetite. It was my experience that consuming products with artificial sweeteners made my body crave food, and also dulled my taste buds.
Since I quit the sweeteners, I've sipped other people's diet drinks and can't believe how different it tastes now. I was a diet pop/crystal light junkie for years, too, so I really surprised myself when I lost my taste for these products.
I should give them a try ... sugar is my weakness; not chocolate, not other gooey deserts, just sugar in my AM coffee, etc. hmmmmmmmm maybe it is a comfort thing moreso than the taste and can be modified with an art. sweetner if I can get into the mindset to try it ?!
Oh, you can use sugar alcohol in baked goods if you are diabetic. That's what my mom-in-law uses for her hubby.
Well I haven't heard very good things about Splenda, Sweet-n-Low, Equal, etc. so I stick to honey or granulated sugar. But I stopped eating sweets and I don't put sugar on anything. Believe me, this has been hard! I'm a chocoholic. So instead I drink a chocolate milk if I need a sugar fix.
I use Equal, but only in my coffee, and then I use only 1/2 of the little packet. It's the only thing I need to have sweetened. I need my coffee and it must have Equal and a little bit of skim milk. Sorry,but it's my weekness and my addiction. LOL If I run out of Equal, then I use a half of teaspoon of real sugar.
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I've tried the Truvia that I found in the grocery store - I don't care for it much. I use the Sweet Leaf brand that I get at the health food store. In addition, it's got inulin fiber, which helps keep other things in line. It's bitter if you use too much. One packet is the equivialent of 2 tsp sugar.
Generally I prefer "the real stuff" in moderation (and preferably organic) I always have regular granulated sugar, honey and agave nectar on hand but I don't use them *too* often. I typically don't add sugar to most things unless I'm having black coffee or plain oatmeal. I used to use Splenda, but for a few years now I've been trying to stray away from artificial sweeteners and foods containing artificial sweeteners as much as I can. I can't imagine that consuming large quantities of artificially chemically processed sweeteners can be a good thing for us over a long period of time. And since they do cause stomach pains, headaches and other types of reactions in so many people, you have to wonder what that stuff is really doing to our bodies.
Like Barb, I also have been getting into using Stevia and have been looking into other Stevia-based sweeteners. Stevia is sold in most natural/health food stores and is starting to make it's way onto more chain grocery store shelves. Purevia (made by Pepsi) is one of them and is the one I recently bought. Truvia is another (made by Coca Cola and was just FDA approved) And then there's another brand SweetLeaf which is made by a smaller more independent company. All of these companies make the claims that these calorie-free Stevia based sweeteners contain natural ingredients and are naturally processed. It's probably best to just buy Stevia in liquid form since that's been around the longest, truly is 100% natural and we know exactly how it's processed/extracted. These other Stevia-based sweeteners are pretty much brand new and I personally don't know much about how exactly they're processed (although I've been trying to do my research!) I mean when Splenda first came out, everyone thought it was so great because "it's made from sugar" but then of course we learned more about how it's processed and that still makes it articficial and chemical-laden. The only drawback of Stevia is that some people think it's a little bitter tasting, which is why I'm giving Purevia a chance (so far so good!) Even if pure Stevia is the best option of all, I still think that the other Stevia based sweeteners are worlds better than any kind of artificial sweetener.
Like Barb, I also have been getting into using Stevia and have been looking into other Stevia-based sweeteners. Stevia is sold in most natural/health food stores and is starting to make it's way onto more chain grocery store shelves. Purevia (made by Pepsi) is one of them and is the one I recently bought. Truvia is another (made by Coca Cola and was just FDA approved) And then there's another brand SweetLeaf which is made by a smaller more independent company. All of these companies make the claims that these calorie-free Stevia based sweeteners contain natural ingredients and are naturally processed. It's probably best to just buy Stevia in liquid form since that's been around the longest, truly is 100% natural and we know exactly how it's processed/extracted. These other Stevia-based sweeteners are pretty much brand new and I personally don't know much about how exactly they're processed (although I've been trying to do my research!) I mean when Splenda first came out, everyone thought it was so great because "it's made from sugar" but then of course we learned more about how it's processed and that still makes it articficial and chemical-laden. The only drawback of Stevia is that some people think it's a little bitter tasting, which is why I'm giving Purevia a chance (so far so good!) Even if pure Stevia is the best option of all, I still think that the other Stevia based sweeteners are worlds better than any kind of artificial sweetener.
Quite interesting .. am hoping a few more people weigh in on this subject .. it really is one that interests me greatly. Thanks so much for the great insight!
I can't use artificial sweetners due to the fact that my body cramps up and I have an outbreak when I try to use them. The doctor told me to use honey or regular sugar. I can't drink diet sodas or flavored water either.
When I have my coffee, i just use the creamer, no sweetner.
When I have my coffee, i just use the creamer, no sweetner.
I use to use Splenda and drink diet pops. I find that artificial sweeteners give me a headache so I cut them out. I learned to drink my coffee without sugar. If I am going to have something sweet I will use sugar or honey or maple syrup sparingly. Luckily I love cold, cold water so don't miss the pops or else I drink green or herbal teas.
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I quit using sugar and went to Stevia about a year or so ago. It's not artificial - it's a natural sweetener that comes from the sweet leaf plant and is actually sweeter than sugar, can be used any place sugar would be used.
I also use a lot of agave nectar. I drink a lot of green (or other flavored) tea (had to quit drinking coffee) and I like the taste of agave nectar for a change of pace.
In a pinch, I will use splenda if I run out of both stevia and agave nectar which is rare, or if I'm at a restaurant. Agave nectar can be purchased in the health food section of the grocery store, but I've only found one grocery store that carries stevia. I get it at the health food store.
I also use a lot of agave nectar. I drink a lot of green (or other flavored) tea (had to quit drinking coffee) and I like the taste of agave nectar for a change of pace.
In a pinch, I will use splenda if I run out of both stevia and agave nectar which is rare, or if I'm at a restaurant. Agave nectar can be purchased in the health food section of the grocery store, but I've only found one grocery store that carries stevia. I get it at the health food store.
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