HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Can we talk about sugar substitutes?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/1/2008 8:31 AM (GMT 0)
Lately, when talking with friends about real sugar vs. sugar subs, I have gotten alot of conflicting info. So I thought I would ask ya'll. What I am really interested in are your personal opinions- just like the caffeine question, I have read what the docs and "pros" say, but I want to hear what you think. I grew up on saccharine, the little bitter sweetener; I have used every sugar substitute that has been on the market, never using real sugar in my life. I am working really hard on my health now- massage therapy, accupuncture soon, nutri-therapy, etc. I have totally cut alcohol out, and other bad things have been banished. I decided I was going to give myself an amazing xmas present- a much better, happier and healthier 2009. SO- about this sugar vs non-sugar, any thoughts?  Thank you!
Posted 12/1/2008 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
I can only give you advice from a perspective of a person who has Crohn's. I find that both sugar and sugar substitutes bother me terribly. I use two sweeteners.... Honey and Stevia. Stevia is an herb in powder form. This way, I can still sweeten things but stay away from sugar and artificial sweeteners. Blessings, Julie
Posted 12/1/2008 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard that they are bad for you, but I still indulge in both. Especially now that dh is diabetic, I do most of my baking with Splenda. I think it's okay in moderation, just liek everything else. I do stay away from saccharin though. If that was banned durign my pregnancies, I just can't see it being that safe! I'm interested to see what others with more knowledge will post. Good question!
Posted 12/1/2008 1:30 PM (GMT 0)

My mom is diabetic (non insulin dependent), and she swears by Splenda.  She takes 2 different meds (one of them is Januvia) and her blood glucose is always right around 100.  From a personal, non-diabetic POV, I think Splenda tastes great.  BTW-my mom has been an nurse for over 40 years, so she does have some knowledge on the subject.  LOL-now if she could just get a clue about my fibro... rolleyes

Anyway, I think Splenda is your best choice as an everyday sugar substitute (and you can bake with it, too).  Just my opinion. :-)

Posted 12/1/2008 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
personally, my body can not tolerate a lot of the sugar substitutes, especially aspertame (sp?) because it makes me feel really achy and tired. i try to steer clear of sugar, but do fall victim to the sweet treat a lot (my main weakness). i have cut out super sugary things like donuts because they make me feel really jittery and on edge, almost as bad as coffee does.

i am a big tea drinker, so i use honey with my hot teas and stevia with my iced tea. i've never tried baking with stevia, but have used xylitol, which is all natural and used in a lot of chewing gums. it's really sweet so you don't need to use as much of it as you would sugar, but the things i've baked with it have come out tasting really good.
Posted 12/2/2008 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

Ok, I find that sugar and sugar substitutes are addictive and make me feel horrible.  That being said, I just can't seem to stay away from them.  I try really hard to stay away from sugar but I need my things sweetened so I go for the splenda (I tolerate that best).  I have tried the stevia and I just can't get used to the taste and it is expensive.  I haven't tried the Xylitol, I didn't know that it was available but I will be looking into it. 

I have often thought about trying hypmotism (sp), erasing my need for sweets but I just can't imagine letting someone in to my mind.  Has anyone tried this?  I just wish I could stop liking the taste of sweets, my life would be a bit easier!

Meggie

Posted 12/2/2008 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with you Julie, honey and stevia :) They are great and all natural :)
Posted 12/2/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
I personally have a tough time tolerating artificial sweeteners. Even with Splenda I get a terrible headache and it makes me feel achy. I try really hard to stay away from aspartame too and I check all of my food labels in order to avoid it. Honestly I just use one regular sugar in my mug of coffee. I feel like it's better to have that in moderation than to ingest the stuff that makes me feel bad.
Posted 12/2/2008 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Well I know that aspartame is bad for you. If you use it in heated foods/drinks, it releases a chemical that can cause Alzheimer's. I avoid it whenever possible and I tend to stay away from other artificial sweeteners as well. I'd rather use natural sugar than chemical substitutes.
Posted 12/2/2008 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
for me i stay away from aspertame it is the seventh circle of bad for you.. also sorbotol, nutra sweet, and any other sweetner... if you want to sweeten drinks use stevia or honey... for baking i use regular sugar but keep it to a minimum i hardly ever have sweets any more.... if i have to use a subsititute i use splenda as it doesn't have the after taste that some others have...
Posted 12/2/2008 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I use real sugar, just a little though. Fortunately I am not a diabetic. If I were, I think stevia would win.

Donnaeil
Posted 12/2/2008 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your thoughts. I have been reading about aspartame and it doesn't sound good. I think I will get off of the sugar subs and return to raw sugar in minimal amounts. Thank you all again for helping me think through these changes.
Posted 12/2/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I stay away from artificial sweetners have heard and read alot of bad about them. Its funny a couple of you have mentioned stevia My Dr actually recommended it for my son because he gets such bad sugar highs and she said in her experience kids that get sugar highs with a moderate amount of sugar usually end up diabetic. her thoughts and not official research.
LeeAnn
Posted 12/2/2008 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
You can purchase stevia, the brand name escapes me right now, by I buy it from www.iherb.com. Their prices are unbelievable and they have people do product reviews. I bought a liquid form of stevia and use it in my morning cocoa. I no longer drink coffee, not because of the caffeine, but I was told that coffee AND decaf make my fibro symptoms worse, so I gave it up over a year ago. I use unsweetened cocoa and add cinammon, stevia and a little vanilla. I purchase all of my supplements through iherb. After a while, they will make you a VIP customer and give an additional 10% off. Shipping is free for orders over a certain amount, so I wait and put an order together every other month or so.
Posted 12/2/2008 6:35 PM (GMT 0)

Real sugar, raw sugar and honey (when I can control it).  I base it on the opinion that the real thing must be better than anything man could create.  But that is just my opinion.  I also use butter instead of margerine.

Sue

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply