Sugar alternatives?

I have read that splenda bothers some uc-ers. I recently bought Stevia packets from GNC. I heard about Stevia from this site. It is a no calerie sweetener, that is a supplement that comes from a plant. It was $9.99 for 100 packets. I was a big splenda user and although it didn't bother me, I thought I should make the healthier choice. Try to google Stevia and read more about it. I don't know what it does t blood sugar/ Hope this helps, Bellski

Stevia, a tiny tiny bit goes a looooooooong way.

:)

Thanks I'll see if I can find anywhere around here I can pick those up.

Stevia does not effect blood sugar - good for diabetics. It's pretty easy to find now. Good luck!

I always heard that artificial sweetners were worse on uc than actual sugar, is that not the case with stevia?
Thanks!

Some versions of stevia are better than others, but I don't considered an artificial sweetener. It comes from a bush unlike a lab. I consider it like the agave nectar/honey/rice brown syrup categories. The first kind I bought sucked horribly, so be aware not all stevia products are the same. It will soon be in some soft drinks too, not that it makes them any better for you, lol.

I used to be a huge splenda consumer--and i can't say enough about stopping!! i use stevia and i also know that xylitol is a great natural sweetener. it is a sugar alcohol but it doesn't have the same effects on the digestive system as malitol, etc. hope that helps!

A nurse practitioner mentioned it. She suggested moderate use, of course, but felt that the others were worse. I only consume xylitol when i chew gum, so I am not sure about the effects of excessive consumption. I would be very interested to know if anyone has heard otherwise.

I heard the same birdiem...that's why I've consciously chosen to chew a gum (Spry) with only Xylitol instead of all the sugar alcohols as does Extra and the others on the market. There is nothing else out there....and it doesn't bother me as would a piece of gum with aspartame.

Not all are created equal. I think it would depend on the actual action of the sweetener itself as to side effects...

Honey, albeit natural, has laxative qualities..so for some, it can be a problem.

I use sugar as a sweetener or honey....at least my body knows what to do with it...it's still the safest product.

Stevia isn't without its concerns either.

Agave syrup...seems to be very safe...time will tell.

quincy

sugar is still safe...but it is refined..yes. The problem is that many tend to consume too much of it. It's also in most processed foods.

The use of honey for children/babies (under age one I believed it to be) should be totally avoided because their digestive tract cannot handle the bacteria that's naturally occurring in it and can become toxic to them..


I don't believe that manufacturing foodstuff with stevia instead of sugar will be without any major/serious health problems incurred by consumers. Time will tell.

pb4...Sending happy faces and awesome weather wishes your way......supposed to be 31 today with possible rain..ugh!

q

quincy said...
sugar is still safe...but it is refined..yes. The problem is that many tend to consume too much of it. It's also in most processed foods.

The use of honey for children/babies (under age one I believed it to be) should be totally avoided because their digestive tract cannot handle the bacteria that's naturally occurring in it and can become toxic to them..


I don't believe that manufacturing foodstuff with stevia instead of sugar will be without any major/serious health problems incurred by consumers. Time will tell.

pb4...Sending happy faces and awesome weather wishes your way......supposed to be 31 today with possible rain..ugh!

q

Lot's of smilies towards your way too Q, and we're suppose to have the same weather today as you, it's been very hot but cloud is comming in I imagine from all the wind we've had today...heard on the news you guys in winnipeg had some tornados, was your area affected at all?

And agreed, people tend to over-do the refined sugar which is what causes the problems, but Stevia has been around for some time and put under the microscope again and again, I think it's a much safer alternative to sugar, plus no calories (from my understanding at least, or at best hardly any calories) and the decay thing is also the beauty of it plus it's perfect for diabetics (my bro loves it).

  for you Q!

no haven't tried the fructose I thought that was like concentrated fruit sugars. Here's the thing, when I was pregnant I was going for the gestational diabetes test and because of my sugar issues I got sick on that syrup they gave me because it bottomed me out so bad, the lowest the meter reads is 40 and they couldn't get a reading on me. I retested with just grape and orange juice a week later and should have tested in the 120-150 because I ate just before the test too. I tested at 72. So even fruit juice is touchy with my sugar.

I know there are insulin inhibitors out there that you can take to keep your sugars in the normal range but I'm trying really hard not to take in any more meds I don't have to if it's something I can regulate in other ways. I really do hate taking pills. That's why I'm trying to figure this sugar thing out so I don't get too bad off. I wish they would send me to a nutritionist but none of my docs seem to thing I need it. I get so confused with whether I should be on high fiber or low fiber . . .no carbs or some ok carbs . . . .boiled or fresh veggies. . . . fruits or no fruits. . . .it gets overwhelming so fast. I try to stick to the few little things I eat now and not venture too far away eating only little bits of each thing at a time so if I do react it's small . . . .but I get bored with the same things day in and day out.