SCD'ers Do you sweeten with Agave nectar?

I've been getting increasingly worse as time passes by (had 3 accidents last week alone) so I've decided to try the SCD. So far I've cut out gluten, lactose and almost all sugar. However, I gotta get my sweet tooth fix somehow, so I was wondering if it's ok to sweeten tea with agave nectar. Also, can I use maple sugar on my gluten free pancakes?

I've seen a slight improvement since starting 3 days ago, so I'm encouraged to continue.

Thanks!

I don't understand why the SCD allows saccharin and limited amounts of aspartame, but considers stevia illegal. Makes no sense to me. Stevia takes a little getting used to but is considered by most in the health industry to be the best sweetener.

I don't follow SCD but I know that even the strongest advocates of that diet customize their list of legal/illegal foods to fit their own individual body chemistry. See what Imagardener has to say.

stevia seems to have pro-inflammatory effects. i've read it somewhere but i've forgot the location.

i'm using limited amounts of honey for sweetener and sometimes saccharin. BUT i avoid sweetened foods/drinks (other than natural sugars that come from ripened fruits) since sugars then to be pro-inflammatory as a hole.

Good luck for you on SCD. Patience and a food journal will be your best friends to begin with. Most people will find that a customized SCD diet based on legal foods is better than the whole list.

Weird, I thought I'd replied already in this thread, but no.

I've never used agave anything (or stevia), never had the need. I simply use honey as sweetener and every now and then maple syrup on almond pancakes. I too find it strange that SCD allows artificial sweetener but it doesn't concern me because I quit them a long time ago. SCD is very concerned with mono- and di-scaccharides IIRC.

If you are positive through personal testing that agave sweetener is OK with your colon then fine, use it. I've always been more comfortable removing things from SCD rather than adding them but my colon is a cranky SOB. Less is more for it.

GuatGirl-
Hope your improvement continues. It's never a straight line. Keep notes for 4 weeks and then look back and see if you are improved. Gluten-free gave me the biggest jump up and the rest took longer to improve.

UCinMI: espresso?? really?? I'm jealous!! Haven't had coffee (or soda) in about 6 months. Lucky dog ;D

I have noticed that when I eat sugar free gum or mints I have a really bad time the next day. I guess I can't do the artificial sweeteners. Even before UC they gave me a bad headache!

Aspartame has all kinds of health issues. Google it and you'll be overwhelmed. Low carb foods that are sweetened with sugar alcohols can really do a number on normal guts, much less those of us who already have issues. Lots of sugar-free gums, candies and diet/weight training bars use the stuff.

As I recall, saccharine is allowed on the SCD, but I don't have my book handy for reference. Now that I'm not really following the SCD any more, I do use stevia as an alternative sweetener and have had no problems with it. The taste of stevia has certainly improved in the last few years. I use Sun Crystals - a mix of sugar and stevia - and Truvia - granulated stevia - in my tea and it's great. I can feel good serving it to my diabetic relatives, too, and everyone likes the taste.