Interesting!

[chocoholic]

I've just returned from a fortnight in America and as someone who enjoys nosing around foreign supermarkets, I found it most interesting looking at the foods available that are "sugar-free" over there. Okay probably full of artificial sweeteners and full of chemicals but still interesting to see sugar-free maple syrup, chocolate fudge sauce, lemon iced tea etc.
It was also interesting to see that some of the enormous buffet-style restaurants had sugar-free dessert options....chocolate mousse, blueberry pie, strawberry cheesecake, cookies etc. I was on holiday, so yes, I did indulge and couldn't tell the difference. Having said that because you walk so much round all the Disney attractions etc. I found I was able to have a bit of "normal" stuff too.My slice of Key Lime Pie was yummy and I'd walked so bloomin' far beforehand, I did not feel guilty eating it. My highest reading was oddly on a day when I ate the least but I was so hot I actually thought I would melt. I guess heat can affect the blood sugar levels too.
What I found most interesting in the supermarket was the amount of goods boldly labelled as having "0 Trans Fats". America always seems to be ahead of the game, so I wonder how long before manufacturers over here go down that route? Hmm. There must be something in what others have said on here for so many manufacturers over there to be classing it as "bad".

 

[Dennis]

Hi Chocaholic, You are right about the States and their "sugar-free" foods. The US food authorities allow manufacturers to describe a food as "sugar free" provided it contains no sucrose. So instead the makers substitute fructose, lactose, maltitose, sometimes even glucose as a sweetener. All of these have exactly the same effect on BG as sucrose! Even the "diabetic" versions all contain sugar alcohols (sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, etc) which are the equivalent of 75% pure glucose (as well as being very powerful laxatives!).

You make a very interesting point about trans fats and America's enlightened attitude towards them. Perhaps all those who were so quick to attack Carefix for warning us of this about a year ago might think again, but I doubt it. It must be very difficult to smell the roses when your head is stuck so far up your own ar5e!!