Which sweetener is sweeter?

acmcgraw · 11-05-2007, 11:13 AM

HI Dancers,

Which sweetener is better/better for you?

Stevia
Sucralose
Aspartame
acesulfame potassium

or just stick with Sugar?

My husband and I have sensitivity/allergy to Aspartame, so that is off my list for use, anyone have experience with/use the others?

Lipton and Celestial seasonings have made green or white tea powders and I'm wondering which is healthier to drink as a snack.

nasila · 11-05-2007, 11:21 AM

I prefer Stevia personally, since there are no known side effects and it's been used for centuries. :) Second would be organic cane sugar (if used sparingly), and a distant third would be sucralose in my book.

mahsati · 11-05-2007, 11:26 AM

I use organic honey or organic sugar usually, but have used stevia and agave both with no problems. All of the others listed trigger migraines for me. I think it all depends on your body chemistry. :)

zamora · 11-05-2007, 11:40 AM

a little bit of real anything, is better than its man made substitute.
stick with sugar, butter, olive oil
z

kiyaana · 11-05-2007, 02:22 PM

I also support whatever is natural. I like Stevia, but use it sparingly and it does have limitations. I often buy turbinado sugar or organic cane sugar.

Does anyone know anything about xylitol? Xylitol 100% Pure, 3 lbs (1361 g)

I'm not familiar with the "tea powders" you mentioned. We drink lots and lots of the brand "Yogi" tea at my house. Love the Kyoto Mint green tea!

acmcgraw · 11-05-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiyaana

I also support whatever is natural. I like Stevia, but use it sparingly and it does have limitations. I often buy turbinado sugar or organic cane sugar.

Does anyone know anything about xylitol? Xylitol 100% Pure, 3 lbs (1361 g)

I'm not familiar with the "tea powders" you mentioned. We drink lots and lots of the brand "Yogi" tea at my house. Love the Kyoto Mint green tea!

I prefer natural too, so what are the limitations of stevia?

The only thing I've read on Xylitol (cen't remember where at the moment) is that it *does* affect blood sugar and is a misleading sugar substitute for diabetics

The tea "to go" things are new, I found them in the tea section of my grocery store last week. They make a great snack substitute for me. (see diet thread)

Thanks Ladies! Keep the info coming.

samiramirage · 11-05-2007, 03:58 PM

AGAVE!

It is taken from the agave cactus, its also known as "honey water". As a sweetener, Agave syrup is unique in that its glycemic index and glycemic load are apparently lower than most if not all other natural sweeteners on the market. Your blood sugar doesnt crash after eating it so it is good for weight control and people with diabetes.

It tastes delicious and natural because it is. I could never get into stevia, tastes strange to me. I really tried to like it. Then I found agave. I use it to sweeten anything from iced tea to baked goods. It is sort of like honey but it is thinner, yet sweeter and it doesnt have the earthy honey taste. It is totally neutral and almost tastes like simple syrup (sugar disolved in water).

I know that sometimes artificial sweetners are better for some, but I really try to avoid them all together. I just feel like they can't be good for your body. We cant always have control over environmental toxins in our lives, but we can control what we put in our bodies. With all of the cancer and other disease that have been on the increase, I personally think its better to stick to basics. Its not nice to fool mother nature.

sabrinabellydancer · 11-05-2007, 05:01 PM

i also like agave syrup best. stevia is ok, but i find it leaves a funny aftertaste.

please be careful with the synthetic sweeteners. they can have weird and unpleasant effects.

BabsGrrrl · 11-07-2007, 10:21 AM

Question about the agave nectar and the stevia: Are they okay for Diabetics? Any one have a good reliable resource for finding out that information? Thanks!

bdaddiction · 11-08-2007, 03:53 PM

sugar...

My fiansa worked for a soda company. The fake stuff has even more sugar than real sugar.

nasila · 11-10-2007, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabsGrrrl

Question about the agave nectar and the stevia: Are they okay for Diabetics? Any one have a good reliable resource for finding out that information? Thanks!

Agave is indeed low on the glycemic index (have a reference book but I can't seem to find the info online). I believe Stevia is safe for diabetics also, but I'm not sure about that one.

habibiyaeini · 11-10-2007, 02:02 AM

Stevia is great! Sandra Cabot has information about it in her books and perhaps her website.

Ive heard Xylitol is good but I cant remember where or what I read about it.

Nat242 · 11-10-2007, 05:38 AM

Hmm - I'm not an expert. All I know is that I would rather cut back on a simpler product than use more or the equivalent in a synthetic product; that goes for sugars, oils, fats, the whole lot.

Bellissima · 11-10-2007, 06:13 AM

Stevia and xylitol are good ones, both are made from plants. You can read about them on mercola.com. Stevia has less calories, but a stronger insuline response. Xylitol is antibacterial and thus good for teeth, but is laxative in high quantities. of course one should use common sense and indulge in sweets sparingly, especially diabetics.

autumnlaughing · 11-12-2007, 10:16 PM

I'm hypoglycemic, allergic to corn, and currently on a Candida diet. My taste buds have (thankfully) adjusted, but I still prefer a tablespoon or two of maple syrup (real, of course) for about 1 c. sugar over any "substitute".

I think wikipedia's article on stevia listed some health concerns - apparently, it's been banned as a sweetener in several countries because of this. Of course, they all have!! I've got a Stevia-lactose blend that I use as well. Technically 1t ~ 1T sugar, but I usually only use 2t. to equal about a cup. Used sparingly, I find it has less of an aftertaste than the others, especially if I mix it with the maple syrup!

Some of the mixes are OK - I like the sugar free Werther's. And the sugar-free dove chocolates.

Now if only there was a good microorganism-free pizza cheese.....

enigmahealth · 11-17-2007, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bellissima

Stevia and xylitol are good ones, both are made from plants. You can read about them on mercola.com. Stevia has less calories, but a stronger insuline response. Xylitol is antibacterial and thus good for teeth, but is laxative in high quantities. of course one should use common sense and indulge in sweets sparingly, especially diabetics.

You're right about Stevia stimulating insulin secretion, and if you're trying to lose weight, this would be counterproductive, as insulin is your enemy when trying to lose weight. Insulin is a key ingredient to fat storage. (Howstuffworks "Fat Storage and Insulin") Xylitol doesn't do this.