Safe artificial sweetener suggestions for diabetic lemonade

[pavlosn]

I drink far too many diet cokes at the moment and would like to substitute for a drink (non alcoholic) with less question marks over its long term health effects.

I suppose water is the obvious answer but it is also rather boring.

I love lemonade but it is usually packed full of sugar.

Any ideas for a healthy sugar substitute I can use to make home made diabetic lemonade?

Thank you


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[mo1905]

Obvious answer would be carbonated spring water with lemon juice ? Never tried it but I guess it would taste Ok.


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[Daibell]

I could suggest tea or coffee?

 

[Andy12345]

how about iced tea? personally i hate it but you may not

 

[kelaarts]

How about using the stuff made from Birch bark (I think)? - Total Sweet from Holland & Barrett. Can be used exactly the same way as sugar...
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=605&prodid=171

Does contain Xylitol - not sure if you are trying to avoid that

 

[Joe Sweatthang]

Ain't no thing as a safe artificial sweetener. Aspertame is used extensively by the food industry. It's in yer diet coke. On food labels it E951. The way it got FDA approval is nothing short of scandalous. When the likes of coke and Pepsi get slammed for pumping people up with high fructose corn syrup, they weaselled themselves another sweetener to maintain profits.


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[FatGenes999]

Not sure, but I've heard that Stevia is a natural sugar-substitute that's supposed to actually help to stabilize BG. I never like the taste of it, but, I will have to go back to it because a lot of the artificial sweeteners can raise BG.

Maybe the Uk's Holland and Barret carries it. (that's one of stores I shopped in when I was in London about a decade ago. I saved the empty vitamin bottle as one of my souvenirs of England, LOL)

 

[pavlosn]

Just bought a bottle of stevia from our local Holland & Barrett store - we actually do have one, Nicosia, Cyprus is not as much of a backwater as I thought. Have not tried it yet, but I will let you guys know what it tastes like when I do.

The shop assistant tried to sell fructose to me saying it was natural and healthy for diabetics. Her mouth hit the floor when I told her that it is twice as bad as sucrose and so poison for a diabetic or anyone else for that matter. Fructose should only be taken in fruit - these contain vitamins and fibre to counter balance it.


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[Yorksman]

I use bottles of zero calorie zero carb lemonade which I keep in the fridge and add the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon into it. I also add some of the yellow flesh as this is good source of soluble fibre.

 

[AnnieC]

Not sure, but I've heard that Stevia is a natural sugar-substitute that's supposed to actually help to stabilize BG. I never like the taste of it, but, I will have to go back to it because a lot of the artificial sweeteners can raise BG.

Maybe the Uk's Holland and Barret carries it. (that's one of stores I shopped in when I was in London about a decade ago. I saved the empty vitamin bottle as one of my souvenirs of England, LOL)

I use Stevia and also Agave Nectar which is not supposed to raise BG
I only use sweetners for the fruit puree that I make from frozen berries so do not know what it is like in anything else. I only drink tea coffee and water so don't need sweetner for those

 

[aseret]

I drink far too many diet cokes at the moment and would like to substitute for a drink (non alcoholic) with less question marks over its long term health effects.

I suppose water is the obvious answer but it is also rather boring.

I love lemonade but it is usually packed full of sugar.

Any ideas for a healthy sugar substitute I can use to make home made diabetic lemonade?

Thank you


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I too find water, whether plain or carbonated, very boring, almost like trying to drown oneself! I drink about a litre of diet coke a day. I tend to drink it to stop me snacking. I must lose some weight and am trying to cut carb intake.

I use Stevia or Xylitol, (which is the extract of birch wood). Its ok for cooking generally, and adding to desserts and drinks so can be used to sweeten squeezed lemons, and does not have that 'aftertaste' but its only 40% less calories than sugar and still a carb....

Will be watching this thread for answers from the more experienced. I am weighing up the disadvantage of sugar v harmful chemical intake, as I am type 2 diabetic and overweight, which is likely to kill me first?

 

[robert72]

I squeeze half a lemon into a tall glass of water. Quite refreshing and doesn't need sweetening IMO

 

[Mud Island Dweller]

Think l warned before xylotol is very toxic to animals beware.

Having said that xylitol is good for teeth hence the chewing gums that have it in. One post meal meant to be good to protect/clean teeth but l am not keen on gum only ocassionly have one so not something l use.

 

[spanglegem]

I squeeze half a lemon into a tall glass of water. Quite refreshing and doesn't need sweetening IMO

Particularly if they are Spanish lemons, and with the addition of ice, it tastes and smells gorgeous! Can we have some long hot Summer days now please? Spanglegem.

 

[janewatt]

Obvious answer would be carbonated spring water with lemon juice ? Never tried it but I guess it would taste Ok.


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I used to drink carbonated water all the time, but found it hard work lugging big six packs home from supermarket, so invested in a machine to carbonate tap water. Use a couple of bottles per day, often with a bit of lemon juice. You could add tiny amount of any fruit juice. I find it infinitely better than still tap water.
Jane

 

[Randy L]

^^^ what Joe Sweatthang said.
Plus- Numerous studies have shown that drinking diet drinks only makes you gain weight. They make you crave, and hungry for more carbs, sooner, rather than later.


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[mo1905]

I used to drink carbonated water all the time, but found it hard work lugging big six packs home from supermarket, so invested in a machine to carbonate tap water. Use a couple of bottles per day, often with a bit of lemon juice. You could add tiny amount of any fruit juice. I find it infinitely better than still tap water.
Jane

Nice idea ! Was it a Soda Stream ?


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[tonyS54]

I find Xylitol ok it's very low on the GI index 7 were as sucrose has a rating of 65, the only downside is the cost it doesn't come cheap.

 

[pavlosn]

Just tried sparkling water with the juice of half a lemon freshly squeezed. No sugar or sweetener added. Loved it!

Thank you for the tip!


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[rden66]

I use a soda stream to carbonate my water and add lemons and limes. Nice and refreshing. One gas bottle and you can make up 60 litres.
Not all in one go though.

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