• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Sugar Substitutes. Which one to use? and why?

SlimLizzy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,721
Location
Normandy, previously Worcestershire
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
football, both the game and the culture.
Since discovering that some sweeteners are triggers for asthma attacks and found that others can cause digestive upsets have been very wary of them. Have always gone for the sugar rather than diet version of squash, drinks mixers etc. Not that I drink a lot of squash or pop. However, I can, quite literally, taste the difference. Diet Tonic is undrinkable. Such an unpleasant flavour.
But now, I need to reconsider, so am looking for information. No sugar in tea/coffee, no problem there. But for occasional baking, puddings etc. So tell me, which sugar substitite do you use? How did you choose?
 
It's expensive and it has an aftertaste. But erythritol is more do-able for baking/cooking than it is in coffee/tea. And it won't kill gut bacteria. I just tried all sorts and ended up disliking that one the least. Which I suppose doesn't say much for it! There's also a blend of it with stevia, which mitigates the taste a little, but as I don't like the flavour of stevia either... Still curious about Monks fruit, but that is expensive too and unavailable far as I know, in the Netherlands. Can't try what I can't find. Good luck with your search!
 
I use xylitol in tea as it’s the closest to sugar and no aftertaste to me.
In baking I use erythritol as it’s the least likely to provoke a bgl response of all sugar alcohols. Both bulk bought on amazon.

Occasionally the erythritol is blended with stevia but I hate the aftertaste of stevia so avoid these
I bought monk fruit drops which were very expensive and they tasted just like stevia with an awful aftertaste again.
I steer completely clear of anything with maltitol as it spikes me as bad as sugar

I try and avoid all artificial sweeteners eg in drinks but with the sugar tax it’s harder than ever. Aspartame and ace k (eg in Pepsi) spike me. Sucralose seems to be ok though.
 
I am using Stevia at the moment. I use it in tea and in cooking where appropriate.

I have come across no after effects at all.
 
Last edited:
Have decided to try sucralose first, or else to use flour substitutes and low sugar recipes. but this will not be happening immediately. Life is a bit complicatd a the moment, no time for baking, but I can dream.
 
Sucralose sounds best to me too.
The terrible taste of aspartame, and the side effects on my children made me very wary of all sweeteners.
 
SlimLizzy said:
Sucralose sounds best to me too.
The terrible taste of aspartame, and the side effects on my children made me very wary of all sweeteners.
Click to expand...
Sucralose is still artificial if that’s a concern whereas the sugar alcohols and stevia aren’t. Also check for any other bulking agents if using a powder/granular one. Maltodexrin is often added and is a sugar !
 
SlimLizzy said:
which sugar substitite do you use? How did you choose?
Click to expand...

None.

Putting something sweet in your mouth triggers an Insulin response, and putting Insulin into your system for no good reason is unlikely to help with insulin resistance.
 
I have erythritol, powdered and granular. I won't have xylitol in the house as it is deadly to furry creatures. Husband is highly allergic to malt so that rules out most Stevia products. I have some lakanto monk fruit but not tried it yet. Aspartame rules out most fizzy drinks as I find the taste disgusting.
 
Tipetoo said:
My partner uses raw sugar she gets from the sugar refinery.
Click to expand...
I forgot to say that I do not use sugar or sweeteners at all, that includes the cakes and other sweet stuff my partner makes.

Edit: Typo.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Stevia for drinks, tea, coffee, almond milk drinks etc.

Erythritol for baking stuff.

It's just a matter of personal taste on some things.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…