Psycho-Babble Health Thread 394872

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Artificial sweeteners

Posted by Racer on September 25, 2004, at 13:08:06

My diabetic husband and I were discussing artificial sweeteners this morning. I do remember saccarine (sp?), and sorbitol, and manitol, and now we have aspartame and whatever Splenda is. All are different in terms of their drawbacks, but I was wondering if anyone could offer any thoughts on which is *least UNhealthy?*

And does anyone know the health risks involved in Splenda? That's the one I know least about. I do keep some in the kitchen for when I cook for my dear husband, and for making his special treat of Whipped Cream. (Yes, I know -- there's them as hasn't ever actually whipped it at home. My mother once purchased the canned spray stuff when I was a kid and begged, but after that experience, I never asked for it again. Much better when Mutti makes it at home. Or, as we do now, for Racer to make it at home. I just don't eat it.)

Anyway, any and all thoughts welcome, but keep in mind the most important fact in this question: diabetes. Any sweeteners used must be artificial. Honey is not an option, fructose is not an option. My husband has more of a sweet tooth then I do, so we're looking for the least unhealthy option for indulging that.

Thanks!

 

Re: Artificial sweeteners » Racer

Posted by karaS on September 25, 2004, at 20:49:00

In reply to Artificial sweeteners, posted by Racer on September 25, 2004, at 13:08:06

> My diabetic husband and I were discussing artificial sweeteners this morning. I do remember saccarine (sp?), and sorbitol, and manitol, and now we have aspartame and whatever Splenda is. All are different in terms of their drawbacks, but I was wondering if anyone could offer any thoughts on which is *least UNhealthy?*
>
> And does anyone know the health risks involved in Splenda? That's the one I know least about. I do keep some in the kitchen for when I cook for my dear husband, and for making his special treat of Whipped Cream. (Yes, I know -- there's them as hasn't ever actually whipped it at home. My mother once purchased the canned spray stuff when I was a kid and begged, but after that experience, I never asked for it again. Much better when Mutti makes it at home. Or, as we do now, for Racer to make it at home. I just don't eat it.)
>
> Anyway, any and all thoughts welcome, but keep in mind the most important fact in this question: diabetes. Any sweeteners used must be artificial. Honey is not an option, fructose is not an option. My husband has more of a sweet tooth then I do, so we're looking for the least unhealthy option for indulging that.
>
> Thanks!


From what I've read, the most healthy of the sugar substitutes are Stevia (an herb) and Splenda (sucralose is the ingredient and it is derived from sugar). I feel safe consuming sorbitol and manitol in very small quantities. Larger quantities can give you gas and diahrrea.

I was getting frozen yogurt a lot this summer with Splenda as the sweetener. It's not super sweet at all. Not nearly as sweet as sugar but I liked it a lot once I got used to it. I think that it started to make me feel dizzy though. Maybe a coincidence a couple of times. I'll have to try it again.

I hate the taste of Stevia unfortunately. It has a strange aftertaste to me - but some people love it.

I've been wondering about the use of inositol powder as a sweetener. It's very sweet and you can take a lot of it without harm. I don't think it causes blood sugar problems. (Maybe someone who knows more about this will join in here.) I am not sure why it's not used for that. Maybe you can't cook with it and probably because it's not patentable.

Good luck!

Kara


 

Re: Artificial sweeteners » karaS

Posted by Cass on September 26, 2004, at 14:49:57

In reply to Re: Artificial sweeteners » Racer, posted by karaS on September 25, 2004, at 20:49:00

Hi Kara,

I've been using stevia lately. I didn't like it when I first tasted it on its own, but I like it blended with things. I mix it with lemon juice to make a good salad dressing. Have you ever tried agave nectar? It's another natural sweetener. It comes from cactus. It's delicious, and it doesn't raise glucose levels like other sweeteners do.

 

Re: Artificial sweeteners » Cass

Posted by karaS on September 26, 2004, at 15:36:38

In reply to Re: Artificial sweeteners » karaS, posted by Cass on September 26, 2004, at 14:49:57

> Hi Kara,
>
> I've been using stevia lately. I didn't like it when I first tasted it on its own, but I like it blended with things. I mix it with lemon juice to make a good salad dressing. Have you ever tried agave nectar? It's another natural sweetener. It comes from cactus. It's delicious, and it doesn't raise glucose levels like other sweeteners do.
>

No, I've never even heard of agave nectar. I could probably get it at the health food store, no? Thanks and I'll definitely check it out!

Kara

 

Re: Artificial sweeteners » Racer

Posted by Larry Hoover on September 26, 2004, at 16:01:42

In reply to Artificial sweeteners, posted by Racer on September 25, 2004, at 13:08:06

> My diabetic husband and I were discussing artificial sweeteners this morning. I do remember saccarine (sp?), and sorbitol, and manitol, and now we have aspartame and whatever Splenda is. All are different in terms of their drawbacks, but I was wondering if anyone could offer any thoughts on which is *least UNhealthy?*
>
> And does anyone know the health risks involved in Splenda? That's the one I know least about.

Probbly more than you wanted to know....
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out68_en.pdf

Which is the least unhealthy? I really don't know, but this Splenda/sucrolose review by the EU Scientific Committee on Food seems to be pretty thorough. They set the acceptable daily intake at 1/100 of the no observable effects level in lab animals. The effect that did occur above the NOEL was a slight loss of weight.

Lar

 

Re: Artificial sweeteners » karaS

Posted by Cass on September 26, 2004, at 17:37:36

In reply to Re: Artificial sweeteners » Cass, posted by karaS on September 26, 2004, at 15:36:38

Kara,

I've never found agave nectar in the health food store. I've only found it online. It comes in liquid form. It sort of looks like honey, but it's not as thick. Here's one place you can buy it, but there are other online sources as well: http://www.rawfood.com/cgi-bin/order/index.cgi?id=61428592156&d=single&item_id=0699&c=Organic_Food&sc=Misc_Food_Items&tc=

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you! (nm) » Larry Hoover

Posted by Racer on September 26, 2004, at 22:15:53

In reply to Re: Artificial sweeteners » Racer, posted by Larry Hoover on September 26, 2004, at 16:01:42

 

Re: Thanks! (nm) » Cass

Posted by karaS on September 27, 2004, at 4:09:00

In reply to Re: Artificial sweeteners » karaS, posted by Cass on September 26, 2004, at 17:37:36


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