Sweeteners

Have a check through the forums, there's been several fairly recent discussions on this. The ones I use are stevia and erythritol, as these are the ones generally recommend for diabetics - they both are virtually carb free and low calorie as well. Some sweeteners include bulking agents so watch out for these as they will usually be full of carbohydrates.

Robbity

They are each slightly different but I am relaxed about using any of them. Aspartame has caused issues for a few people but that does not mean it is "poison" for the rest of us. It has been studied to within an inch of its life and found to be safe at the recommended levels. Don't believe the hype that says it is of the devil, lol.

GeoffersTaylor said:

Hi all
I haven't ventured into the world of replacement sweeteners since starting LCHF. I don't have much of a sweet tooth and didn't want to encourage one. However I think maybe it's time to have a go at some sweeter stuff like fat bombs or that bulletproof hot chocolate that Trinity posted earlier.

So what's the deal with sweeteners? Sweetex, Stevia, Splenda? Are they all the same thing? Do they affect blood sugar?

Please educate me.

Cheers

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Mmm, this is a tricky one ultimately down to your personal palate preference and opinion.

I use splenda in tablet form and I drink aspartame because I drink diet coke. Neither of these two things I do in excess.

I have splenda with my coffee, yogurt and chia seeds and I drink diet coke regularly, but I'm happy with just water as well. Never had problems losing weight or sweet cravings or anything like that while consuming them. I don't have a sweet tooth though.

There are different schools of thought around it, which one is bad which one is good and why, lots of heated arguments... As I don't over do them (in sweet treats and stuff) I don't worry about them.

I try to avoid aspartame as it gives me a dodgy stomach, otherwise I use Splenda or truvia baking blend.

Stevia is a plant and thus supposed to be all-natural and harmless but for me its taste is just unacceptable. I tried different brands and different forms but I can't use it - the bitter aftertaste is overpowering. By the way powdered forms sometimes contain as little as a few percent of stevia - the rest is maltodextrin, which is a carb.
Xylitol and erythritol can affect your blood sugars - either that or they may not be digested and give you bloating. I find I have an adverse reaction to them.
That leaves artificial sweeteners like sucralose (splenda), aspartame, sodium cyclamate and saccharin sodium. I don't like the taste of aspartame and it is not stable in high temperatures so can't be used for cooking. Splenda is not easily available where I live that's why I mostly use sodium cyclamate and saccharin sodium blend in tablet form - if I need to add it to non-liquid foods I just put the tablets on the counter and crush them with the end of the spoon. I use it also when I cook.
I realize the artificial sweeteners are not healthy but for me it is the lesser evil.

Can't have any of them!! Still trying to find alternatives or adjusting recipes to suit taste buds without sweeteners..

My husband says that I had mood swings when drinking Diet Pepsi/Coke and having Canderel. I don't have sweeteners or diet sodas because I hate the aftertaste.

Have tried xylitol in the last few days. Looks like sugar, acts like sugar, tastes like sugar. No blood spikes or adverse effects so far. Have only used a very small amount but the sweetness is good. Bought from Holland and Barrett. £2.79 so worth a try.

If you have pets it's worth knowing that xylitol is toxic to dogs.

maryjey said:

If you have pets it's worth knowing that xylitol is toxic to dogs.

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Blimey - wonder whats so different to their anatomy and ours!!

donnellysdogs said:

Blimey - wonder whats so different to their anatomy and ours!!

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Lots of substances are ok for one species and not others, eg cats and dogs can't have paracetamol, guinea pigs can't have amoxicillin.

donnellysdogs said:

Blimey - wonder whats so different to their anatomy and ours!!

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Dogs shouldn't have chocolate either. Doggy choc drops are OK, but not "human" chocolate.

My wife made a baked cheesecake using Xylitol. She used about half the normal sugar amount, and it tasted great.

I use Lidl's own tablets and powdered sweetener. Neither affect my BS. The tablets I find less sweet than sugar, I have 3 in a coffee, and the powdered I use for baking and often only use half the amount vs sugar. They taste fine to me - I don't like saccharine - yuk! - and always used Canderel before changing to Lild's own. I can't tell the difference between the two.

My intolerance isn't due to taste or affect on bg levels etc its the effect of pain it gives in my body... Only now having eliminated artificial numbers ie E numbers totally, artificial sweeteners and preservatives that I have eliminated pain that I had for 20 years that must have built up in my body since my diagnosis of T1 30+ years ago.

Personally now I can avoid pain from eliminating non natural substances.. Its ust constantly checking every label on even basic foods. When I also have SCT it gets a bit wearisome sometimes...But its just a case of reminding myself that at least it keeps me painfree and my stomach working...