artificial sweetener

Chaobaby7 · Sep 30, 2016

I have always had a huge bee in my bonnet about artificial sweetener, I am really anti it and not happy when Diabetes organisations seem to say it's a good thing and even suggest it, of course it is down to choice I agree but I don't like seeing it promoted, it tastes fowl, it's unnatural, I am a strong believer in eating pure food and drinking pure stuff ( although it is my love of carbs in the form of spuds and whole meal bread and fruit that's not helped me at all) I also think stuff like aspartame is addictive and increases a sweet tooth, I also have IBS so these nasties bloat me and give me very severe diroeah.

I don't want to make an argument with anyone after all that's why I quite facebook.

I like to use stevia myself although even that doesn't taste right to me although it is natural, I am learning to get used to sparkling water and also have un concentrtated fruit juice once a day watered down with sparklng water

What other natural ways of sweetening things do people use? or is it a case of just going cold turkey and how ever dull the sparkling water may get after a bit.

Mep · Sep 30, 2016

I'm with you.... I stay away from artificial sweeteners. Plus if I drink a diet drink for example it triggers spasms on me. Although I do need to suck things and chew gum from time to time for my throat and that's the only time I have stuff with artificial sweetener as I don't want sugar ones to raise my sugar levels... plus they irritate my throat more. But other than that if I want to use sugar I use one that is called LoGiCane here which is sugar coated in molasses to slow down sugar absorption in the body. I will use a bit of honey sometimes. All these things get factored in of course. I would rather have natural stuff than artificial.

Streety · Sep 30, 2016

I try to avoid having to use sweeteners. If I must, say in something like coffee, I use stevia (the brand is natvia) which comes from a naturally sweet plant that is 150 times sweeter than sugar so it can be used in tiny amounts. I've found the granulated natvia brand doesn't suffer from the licorice aftertaste that other brands do.

Perhaps the reason why the establishment promote sweeteners so much is that giving up on something sweet from time to time is very hard.

I've given up on artificially sweetened drinks, but I do miss the fizz. After I got bored drinking mineral water I discovered kmobucha - not for everyone but I like it. It's a tea based probiotic drink you can buy or make yourself. You can add juice to it but because the drink has bacteria and yeast (much nicer than it sounds) it eats the sugar leaving you with a very low sugar fizzy drink. The upsides are that it also helps your immune system.

I've found that the longer I've been low carb the less appealing I find very sweet things (although I do sneak the odd potato occaisionally!). It's all about finding what works for you.

Karenchq · Sep 30, 2016

It bothers me too that diabetes organizations, American Diabetes Associations in particular, advocates for the artificial sweeteners as something healthy for diabetics. Rubbish, I would rather satisfy a healthy real food sweet urge in moderation with the appropriate bolus then ingest a bunch of cancer causing chemicals. Squeezing a little lime or lemon in the sparkling water is nice and refreshing.

4ratbags · Sep 30, 2016

I unfortunately still havnt given up diet fizzy but I have cut down. I prefer to use no sugar at all but if I find the need to add some I use Erythritol or if Im poor Xylitol.

Daphne917 · Sep 30, 2016

I still have diet drinks and use Xylitol if needed. You have to be careful with it though it you have dogs as it is poisonous to them!

srobertson06 · Sep 30, 2016

A year ago I would have said I have a very sweet tooth - I do still eat sugar free sweets but not that many that I consider it a concern - if I could buy them made with stevia I would.
What I have discovered recently is how sweet normal milk tastes - I used to drink it by the glass full almost daily - now I have found I dislike the taste - I now purchase lactose free milk which I still do not drink as milk but use in my tea and coffee.
This is a side affect I never expected.
I have tried wheat alternative bread and that also tastes really sweet as well as having a very odd flavour - will be sticking with the protein rolls until perhaps something a lot better comes along - I really miss a bacon roll!!!!!!!!!! Not had one in two years but still miss it.
Sorry I digress - I find all sweeteners have an odd taste, I do get fed up with fizzy water but have not found any alternative when out socially.

Nicksu · Sep 30, 2016

The interesting thing is that in Japan instead of sugar in their sweets they use Stevia. And they don't have the dental problems that Europeans have with bad teeth. 'nuff said?! I must admit I use Stevia (the white granulated version) in my coffee. It's either that or Aldi's tablet version of Stevia (not too bad an aftertaste).

ChrisSamsDad · Sep 30, 2016

What makes you think that natural is good and artificial is bad - lots of natural things are bad for you - carbs, disease, poisons, etc, and lots of artificial things are good for you - vaccinations, anti-biotics, artificially created insulin (using a GMO by the way) if you're a diabetic. The natural world has evolved many many ways to kill us, and by denying it, you're by definition doing something unnatural.

Besides which, how is bread or sugar 'natural' - to get bread, you need to have carefully selected and bred wheat to the point where it's worth growing it, extra the seeds, smash them to bits, mix it with a fungus and some sugar, let it ferment for a few hours, create some very carefully controlled fire and almost, but not quite burn it until you can eat it - with a paste extracted from cows' milk by churning and adding salt extracted either by digging 100s of metres below to ground, or evaporating sea water. Artificial just means created, there's nothing inherently wrong about it.

I think you're suffering from a common bias - that natural is somehow better. Sorry if you think this counts as 'arguing', but if you don't want people to argue with you, don't post outrageous statements. You have a right to your opinions, but people have an equal right to point out the fallacies involved in them.

Daibell · Oct 2, 2016

Hi. I agree with @ChrisSamsDad. Not all 'pure' food is good for you. Natural, organic grains for example are not good for diabetics and neither is honey. Rhubarb is 'pure' but full of oxalates and poisonous when taken to excess. I have artificial sweeteners and don't believe that in the quantities I have that they are harmful or maintain my sweet tooth. Everyone needs to find what works for themselves and realise that all foods are made of chemicals. Don't forget that horseradish is also poisonous....

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Mep said:
I'm with you.... I stay away from artificial sweeteners. Plus if I drink a diet drink for example it triggers spasms on me. Although I do need to suck things and chew gum from time to time for my throat and that's the only time I have stuff with artificial sweetener as I don't want sugar ones to raise my sugar levels... plus they irritate my throat more. But other than that if I want to use sugar I use one that is called LoGiCane here which is sugar coated in molasses to slow down sugar absorption in the body. I will use a bit of honey sometimes. All these things get factored in of course. I would rather have natural stuff than artificial.

I have started using rose water, ground almond and stevia. Diet drinks bloat me like a balloon and make me live on the loo.

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Streety said:
I try to avoid having to use sweeteners. If I must, say in something like coffee, I use stevia (the brand is natvia) which comes from a naturally sweet plant that is 150 times sweeter than sugar so it can be used in tiny amounts. I've found the granulated natvia brand doesn't suffer from the licorice aftertaste that other brands do.

Perhaps the reason why the establishment promote sweeteners so much is that giving up on something sweet from time to time is very hard.

I've given up on artificially sweetened drinks, but I do miss the fizz. After I got bored drinking mineral water I discovered kmobucha - not for everyone but I like it. It's a tea based probiotic drink you can buy or make yourself. You can add juice to it but because the drink has bacteria and yeast (much nicer than it sounds) it eats the sugar leaving you with a very low sugar fizzy drink. The upsides are that it also helps your immune system.

I've found that the longer I've been low carb the less appealing I find very sweet things (although I do sneak the odd potato occaisionally!). It's all about finding what works for you.

I have started adding lemon juice freshly squeezed to sparkling water, it livens it up

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Karenchq said:
It bothers me too that diabetes organizations, American Diabetes Associations in particular, advocates for the artificial sweeteners as something healthy for diabetics. Rubbish, I would rather satisfy a healthy real food sweet urge in moderation with the appropriate bolus then ingest a bunch of cancer causing chemicals. Squeezing a little lime or lemon in the sparkling water is nice and refreshing.

i agree. A bit of squeezed juice does liven up the sparkly water

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

hbg

ChrisSamsDad said:
What makes you think that natural is good and artificial is bad - lots of natural things are bad for you - carbs, disease, poisons, etc, and lots of artificial things are good for you - vaccinations, anti-biotics, artificially created insulin (using a GMO by the way) if you're a diabetic. The natural world has evolved many many ways to kill us, and by denying it, you're by definition doing something unnatural.

Besides which, how is bread or sugar 'natural' - to get bread, you need to have carefully selected and bred wheat to the point where it's worth growing it, extra the seeds, smash them to bits, mix it with a fungus and some sugar, let it ferment for a few hours, create some very carefully controlled fire and almost, but not quite burn it until you can eat it - with a paste extracted from cows' milk by churning and adding salt extracted either by digging 100s of metres below to ground, or evaporating sea water. Artificial just means created, there's nothing inherently wrong about it.

I think you're suffering from a common bias - that natural is somehow better. Sorry if you think this counts as 'arguing', but if you don't want people to argue with you, don't post outrageous statements. You have a right to your opinions, but people have an equal right to point out the fallacies involved in them.

I didn't say anything outrageous. I do find your tone a little aggressive. Personal choice I like to eat pure, I was interested in what others use and to hear from people like me who don't like or want to use junk food or artificial stuff.

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Nicksu said:
The interesting thing is that in Japan instead of sugar in their sweets they use Stevia. And they don't have the dental problems that Europeans have with bad teeth. 'nuff said?! I must admit I use Stevia (the white granulated version) in my coffee. It's either that or Aldi's tablet version of Stevia (not too bad an aftertaste).

I am getting use to stevia, also rose water to sweeten things and make them tatse nice.

phil1966 · Oct 6, 2016

I have to agree with @ChrisSamsDad and @Daibell - I'd much rather have artificial sweeteners that don't affect my blood sugar than natural sugar, honey, etc that sends it into the stratosphere (and as a type 2 not on insulin, I can't compensate for it)

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Streety said:
I try to avoid having to use sweeteners. If I must, say in something like coffee, I use stevia (the brand is natvia) which comes from a naturally sweet plant that is 150 times sweeter than sugar so it can be used in tiny amounts. I've found the granulated natvia brand doesn't suffer from the licorice aftertaste that other brands do.

Perhaps the reason why the establishment promote sweeteners so much is that giving up on something sweet from time to time is very hard.

I've given up on artificially sweetened drinks, but I do miss the fizz. After I got bored drinking mineral water I discovered kmobucha - not for everyone but I like it. It's a tea based probiotic drink you can buy or make yourself. You can add juice to it but because the drink has bacteria and yeast (much nicer than it sounds) it eats the sugar leaving you with a very low sugar fizzy drink. The upsides are that it also helps your immune system.

I've found that the longer I've been low carb the less appealing I find very sweet things (although I do sneak the odd potato occaisionally!). It's all about finding what works for you.

could not live without spuds. the nurse suggested I have a carb portion each meal the size of what I can fit into a fist,

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Karenchq said:
It bothers me too that diabetes organizations, American Diabetes Associations in particular, advocates for the artificial sweeteners as something healthy for diabetics. Rubbish, I would rather satisfy a healthy real food sweet urge in moderation with the appropriate bolus then ingest a bunch of cancer causing chemicals. Squeezing a little lime or lemon in the sparkling water is nice and refreshing.

agree

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

srobertson06 said:
A year ago I would have said I have a very sweet tooth - I do still eat sugar free sweets but not that many that I consider it a concern - if I could buy them made with stevia I would.
What I have discovered recently is how sweet normal milk tastes - I used to drink it by the glass full almost daily - now I have found I dislike the taste - I now purchase lactose free milk which I still do not drink as milk but use in my tea and coffee.
This is a side affect I never expected.
I have tried wheat alternative bread and that also tastes really sweet as well as having a very odd flavour - will be sticking with the protein rolls until perhaps something a lot better comes along - I really miss a bacon roll!!!!!!!!!! Not had one in two years but still miss it.
Sorry I digress - I find all sweeteners have an odd taste, I do get fed up with fizzy water but have not found any alternative when out socially.

I must say I am loosing my sweet tooth, you sort of get used to not having it. Then I may have a bite of something and think that is sweet, yes I agree about milk, it does seem to tatse sweet. I have been using almond milk

Chaobaby7 · Oct 6, 2016

Nicksu said:
The interesting thing is that in Japan instead of sugar in their sweets they use Stevia. And they don't have the dental problems that Europeans have with bad teeth. 'nuff said?! I must admit I use Stevia (the white granulated version) in my coffee. It's either that or Aldi's tablet version of Stevia (not too bad an aftertaste).

Japanese are very healthy, their diet is good and they don't get fat

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