Tell me about the sweeteners

[cheriede]

In August, I started on Weight Watchers and began using a lot of artificial sweeteners and consuming a lot of diet drinks too. I ended up having some medical issues that are related to my consumption of artifical sweeteners. I am on several medications now and I've had to alter my diet even more. At this point, I avoid artificial sweeteners. I have now switched over to an all natural sweeteners. The 0 calorie sweetener that I have been using is ZSweet and Wholesome Zero Calorie and I like them. I also have used agave nectar. I love it but it is not a product that I use everyday like I do ZSweet or Wholesome. I also haven't tried Stevia yet. I also starting to cook and bake with these sweeteners. What are some of the things that you are using and do you cook with it? I have also read a little about Sucanat and people use it in place of brown sugar. Does anyone use this?

One more thing, I have been making a lot of granola bars lately. They call for corn syrup for some of the recipes. I did substitute agave for the corn syrup and the granola bars seem to fall apart. Is there something else to use in place of corn syrup? Thanks!

[DJ1972]

I use splenda, and have used stevia and like them both. I don't cook with either. My aunt cooks with splenda and loves it, but if I am trying to be healthier, it's just better for me to stay away from baked goods all together.

[geckoace]

One more thing, I have been making a lot of granola bars lately. They call for corn syrup for some of the recipes. I did substitute agave for the corn syrup and the granola bars seem to fall apart. Is there something else to use in place of corn syrup? Thanks!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chewy-G...rs/Detail.aspx

this is a granola bar recipe i plan to try no corn syrup just honey

[Palooka]

I like Splenda way better than Stevia. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth and cost more money.

I've heard good things about agave(no animal products) but never tried it.

[cheriede]

Unfortunately, I was using Splenda when all of my problems really started and I really liked it. I definitely steer clear of it now. The all natural sweeteners are lot more expensive than Splenda, NutraSweet, etc., but I seem to have less flares when I stay away from them completely.

[acidcookie]

Hm, so it's not just an oddity that I feel sick after consuming aspartame... I have a big bag of Splenda and think I will just give it to a friend.

I've tried Stevia, it's pretty gross. But I do think it's worth the extra cost to be healthier, so definitely stick to those natural sweeteners.

I avoid corn syrup too. Seems that honey would work as a decent replacement.

[suebeehoney]

I've used Splenda for years with no adverse affects, but I understand that it's not for everyone. Just like aspartame is not for everyone. Some people will be sensitive to the ingredients in either one.

Since using Splenda consistently, I've found that straight sugar makes my tastebuds raise up in some sort of reaction when I use it in anything, like coffee. Not sure why. I also don't experience the mood swings & sugar high/crash syndrome I used to have when using straight sugar. That's my main reason for staying away from sugar. However, it has to be said that I don't eat a lot of sweets, and the Splenda is used mainly in my coffee and occasionally over a cup of berries to sweeten them a little.

[shoiji]

I have used brown rice syrup in place of corn syrup. Honey is one of the main sweetners that I use.

[cheriede]

Thanks for the infomation about brown rice syrup. I will definitely look in to it and give it a try. I would really like to have an alternative to corn syrup.

I have read those emails about all the problems and side effects associated with artificial sweeteners, but I always remain fairly skeptical about the validity of those claims. I'm the one that heads over to Snopes to determine if any of those "too good to be true" emails that someone has forwarded on to me has any amount of truth--most cases it is bogus. It wasn't until I developed problems and really examined everything I was consuming and doing that were causing my flare ups. I can tell you that I would probably still use Splenda today and not give it a second thought had I not had issues. It has definitely been an eye opener for me and I have lots of questions on the matter ---Do we really know the long term effects of artificial sweeteners? Are my children better off having sugar than artificial sweeteners? My pediatrician couldn't even give me a clear cut answer. Up until the past year or so, we were giving children under 2 OTC cold medicines and not really thinking too much about it. I don't think artificial sweeteners should be banned, but I do wonder how many other people have problems with them and never make the connection that it's the artificial sweeteners that's the problem. I know it wasn't the first thing that crossed my mind when I began look at my diet. My plan is to stay away from the artificial stuff and figure out as much as I can about all-natural sweeteners an incorporating more of those into my diet. Just hope that I don't have issues with those too.

[Palooka]

Cheriede, I would really like to know what your health problems is that you link to artificial sweetners? Simple....

[cheriede]

I have Interstitial Cystitis and my flare ups come mainly in the form of pelvic pain. I can also have frequency issues too, but I can deal with frequency better than I can deal with high levels of pain. When things get really bad from something that I have eaten or some other activity, then I usually have to resort to taking 1-2 Percocet to just get relief. I take about 4-5 different medications to treat this, which one medication is fairly pricey if you ask me. The medications along with watching and elimate those foods that cause problems helps out a great deal. Like I mentioned before, I wouldn't have necessarily found out that I had issues with artificial sweeteners had my doctor not instructed me to track everything I eat and find out what are problematic foods for me. I would be interested to know what it is with those sweeteners that seem to cause so much trouble for me.

[Nishu]

My first obvious symptoms of FMS showed up at a time when I was getting way too much artificial sweetener. I stopped all artificial sweeteners and generally cleaned up my diet in an attempt to feel better, and interestingly enough my first severe flareup of FMS (horrible headaches, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, weakness) happened almost exactly one week from the time I stopped using them and lasted a good while after that. Don't ask me what the heck was up with that. But I've stopped using them, too.

I think stevia kind of tastes like licorice.

[Frugal Nurse]

Avoid artificial sweeteners.
They are full of chemicals.

I know y'all think that it's such a minute amount.... but this is serious chemicals you're ingesting.

Let's just say this.. the maker of ROUND-UP was the maker of an artifical sweetener PROVEN to cause cancer and was pulled.

Should that tell you?

try STEVIA all natural. No chemicals.

[cottageliving]

All,
I stay away from ALL man-made/artificial sweeteners since back in the mid 80's I started collapsing for no apparant reason -- after numerous neurological tests, turned out to be a reaction to Aspertame! Have had no problems since going off all diet soda and any other products with NutraSweet: not even chewing gum.

Just google Aspertame an Formaldahyde or Nutrasweet and Formaldahyde. When the human body breaks down aspertame, we are left with formaldahyde.... NOT good and not safe

Try the agave nectar and/or stevia -- both are natural. Or simply stick with sugar -- at least that is not as bad for you as Aspertame or Splenda.

[Palooka]

Thanks Cheriede for sharing. Wow, I should probaly lay off Diet coke. That is my weakness.

Seems like when Splenda came out everyone was saying how safe it was. Now it's like you hear conflicting info.