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Healthy sweeteners? (Original Post) rdharma Oct 2013 OP
Sugar, elleng Oct 2013 #1
Agreed, just don't drink gallons of sugar water every day. tridim Oct 2013 #6
I don't drink 'sugar water,' elleng Oct 2013 #10
Stevia VanillaRhapsody Oct 2013 #2
I've been using sucralose (Splenda), raw sugar and blue agave honey.... TheDebbieDee Oct 2013 #3
When I have diet soda I try to get Coke Zero. It has half Splenda and half aspartame. kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #9
My favorite "Light" lemonade has sucralose & aspartame! rdharma Oct 2013 #12
Honey :) abelenkpe Oct 2013 #4
I asked a MD in Japan what their experience of stevia has been, because applegrove Oct 2013 #5
Stevia (as long as Breaking Bad's Walter White hasn't gotten to it) hlthe2b Oct 2013 #7
Stevia has a bitter aftertaste that I can't stand. kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #8
I like the aftertaste of Stevia :-) djean111 Oct 2013 #11
+1 for Sweetleaf brand Stevia astral Nov 2013 #23
Thanks for the recommendations. rdharma Oct 2013 #13
Xylitol BuddhaGirl Oct 2013 #14
Thanks I'll check that out! nt rdharma Oct 2013 #15
you're welcome! BuddhaGirl Oct 2013 #16
2nd the xylitol handmade34 Oct 2013 #22
I use xylitol, erythritol, and Truvia (erythritol & stevia). Truvia tastes just Nay Oct 2013 #18
I have never tried erythritol BuddhaGirl Oct 2013 #19
The truvia must be almost all erythritol, because I agree that stevia alone Nay Oct 2013 #20
I'll give it a try BuddhaGirl Oct 2013 #21
Sure. Sugar. MineralMan Oct 2013 #17
Sugar, in moderation. bemildred Nov 2013 #24

tridim

(45,358 posts)
6. Agreed, just don't drink gallons of sugar water every day.
Wed Oct 2, 2013, 05:24 PM
Oct 2013

Sodium Chloride is also the best salt. I eat enough to balance my water intake and stay alive.

And fats like Coconut Oil are GOOD FOR YOU.

elleng

(130,156 posts)
10. I don't drink 'sugar water,'
Wed Oct 2, 2013, 05:40 PM
Oct 2013

and rarely had sodas at home; just for kids parties, when 'required.' I think/hope my daughters similarly avoid the stuff.

I salt foods slightly, and only on my plate, rarely when cooking, and ad lemon juice often.

I drink water all day, and for sparkle, seltzer, maybe w slice of lemon.

So I'm healthy, right???!!!!

 

TheDebbieDee

(11,119 posts)
3. I've been using sucralose (Splenda), raw sugar and blue agave honey....
Wed Oct 2, 2013, 05:07 PM
Oct 2013

to sweeten my beverages and foods.

I'm trying like crazy to avoid any diet beverages with aspartame, but it's nearly impossible! All diet beverages seem to have aspartame!

 

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)
9. When I have diet soda I try to get Coke Zero. It has half Splenda and half aspartame.
Wed Oct 2, 2013, 05:31 PM
Oct 2013

I get serious ventricular premature contractions if I consume aspartame on more than an occasional basis.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
12. My favorite "Light" lemonade has sucralose & aspartame!
Thu Oct 3, 2013, 11:48 AM
Oct 2013

I'm trying to avoid both (if possible). I'm go to try stevia and will also try the blue agagave.

applegrove

(118,022 posts)
5. I asked a MD in Japan what their experience of stevia has been, because
Wed Oct 2, 2013, 05:11 PM
Oct 2013

it has been used there for 30 years. She said it's fine.

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
11. I like the aftertaste of Stevia :-)
Wed Oct 2, 2013, 06:14 PM
Oct 2013

Anyways, regarding Stevia, the brand I buy is called sweetleaf, it only has a bit (1%) of fiber added. Other brands have all kinds of added ingredients, I think one is actually has Splenda or something like that.
I gave up soda years ago, now I drink cold water with lime or lemon juice, and occasionally a packet of Stevia in it. Through a straw, so the juice doesn't get at my tooth enamel too much.
I understand the lemon juice is good for preventing kidney stones, too!

 

astral

(2,531 posts)
23. +1 for Sweetleaf brand Stevia
Sat Nov 2, 2013, 02:05 PM
Nov 2013

I use that too, the plain dark extract kind, which has a fuller taste because it just contains stevia extracted with water, and is useful for more than just a sweetener, if you have little skin irritations or minor problems in the mouth.

The CLEAR version of Sweetleaf may be the simple sweet taste preferred by some people, and it is also available in some great enhanced flavors, I like the vanilla, but still prefer the dark.

I bought some brand off the grocery shelf once just to check it out and it was bitter! I read the ingredients and it actually ontained grapefruit seed extract as a preservative.. That was what was bitter, not the stevia! Stevia doesn't need a preservative, by the way, it can be USED as a preservative, but not in the USA due the FDA, but that is getting off-topic.

I'm not really avoiding sugar, although I think I should. The stevia is just so handy when I want to sweeten my coffee or add something to something I am drinking, or even in my oatmeal i I don't have any raisins. I love to just put a few drops on my tongue sometimes, for a little flavor-blast. It's supposed to be good for the gums/teeth, not harmful, one of its bonus 'side-effects.'

Lately I just get mine on Amazon, you can buy enough super saver shipping there, too.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
13. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thu Oct 3, 2013, 11:49 AM
Oct 2013

I'm going to try stevia and blue agave.

I guess nobody has any input on norbu or erythritol.

handmade34

(22,755 posts)
22. 2nd the xylitol
Sun Oct 6, 2013, 05:24 PM
Oct 2013

it is all we use in our house (just for coffee) Erythritol isn't bad but not as good as xylitol

I buy from http://store.xylitolusa.com/xylitol-sweetener/ they usually have some good deals and it turns out to be less expensive than other sources

Agave is not as healthy as reported to be... really the best natural sweeteners are fruit!!

Nay

(12,051 posts)
18. I use xylitol, erythritol, and Truvia (erythritol & stevia). Truvia tastes just
Sat Oct 5, 2013, 04:53 PM
Oct 2013

like sugar to me. I'm diabetic and none of these bothers my blood sugar.

Nay

(12,051 posts)
20. The truvia must be almost all erythritol, because I agree that stevia alone
Sat Oct 5, 2013, 10:38 PM
Oct 2013

has a bad aftertaste -- but the truvia doesn't. They have just enough stevia (in the form of rebiana, a stevia extract that seems not to have that weird taste) to boost sweetness, but lose the bitterness. I think you'd like it.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
17. Sure. Sugar.
Fri Oct 4, 2013, 08:58 AM
Oct 2013

Just don't use too much. It's a mixture of sucrose and fructose, both natural sugars that occur in most fruits and many other foods consumed by humans. Consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity, so moderation is the best practice when consuming sugar.

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