sweeteners

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Denise1966
Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I know everyone says sugar is bad, they also say artificial sweeteners are bad, is there anything I can use like splenda or stevia or are they artificial sweeteners too? Oh and what about coffee? is that ok?

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  • Unknown
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  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
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    Hi Denise,
    Splenda is not a natural sweetner, but I prefer it to aspartame. Stevia is a plant that grows in South America and it is natural. At one point I heard they were going to start making Diet Coke with it, but I haven't seen any news about that lately. I wish they would though! Xylitol is another good sweetner to use. It is birch sugar. It does not effect your insulin levels like regular sugar and it is OK for diabetics to use. It is great, the only thing is you have to ease into using it or it can cause "stomach distress". So at first, if you are making cookies or a pie, use 1/3 Xylitol 2/3 sugar or Splenda. Then after a while you can use 1/2 and 1/2, etc. etc. The good thing about it is you can measure it out exactly as you would sugar, where the Stevia is much sweeter and requires experimentation. They do have cook books using Stevia though that you can buy.
    I personally try to avoid refined sugar at all costs, but I do have a sweet tooth, and I do use artificial sweeteners. I think you just have to "pick your poison" so to speak.
    Good luck,
    Susan H.
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
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    hi Denise,

    Depending on what you're cooking you can experiment with other sweeteners too like rice syrup or agave syrup. I use stevia in some things but be careful cuz too much makes things bitter. I have never used Splenda. Info on the safety of this is at www.mercola.com. He has some really good articles on Splenda. Aspartame is toxic poison.

    For the "health" benefits of coffee you have to ingest copious amounts. Never being a coffee drinker i can't relate to the need but like Susan says, "pick your poison" and we all have them. Just remember that coffee is acidic and diuretic so replenishing your fluids and balancing your pH is important too.

    Hope this helps.

    peace, emily
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
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    I agree with Babs - I would rather use sugar than an artifical sweetner, at least it occurs in nature. I think that coffee is a personal call. If coffee sits OK with you, why not? I don't have much of a problem with sugar - as far as intestinal issues go - as long as I pay attention to how much I eat. In baked goods it bothers me almost not all - in other things, I just don't eat too much. I think most of these food things everyone needs to work out for themselves.

    Pam
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
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    Moderation is the touch word. I, personally, avoid using artificial sweeteners. I don't use refined sugar, except when it is already in something. I use raw, or unbleached, sugar. And then, well, in moderation.

    I eat well, exercise often, laugh, and 'sin' (naughty foods) every once in awhile to keep me smiling. My one vice is coffee. It doesn't seem to bother me, except I don't drink it after noon, because the caffeine keeps me awake. Again, moderation....

    Hugs, kathi
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
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    Everyone, above, has said it all. My choose is Stevia. have been using it for years. But...you can't rely on it for baking. You can use a little (like maybe a tablespoon in baking with others.

    for cookies, I use a little dark brown sugar (at least you are getting molasses in that) with alittle stevia.

    Also, stevia melts betters in hot drink than cold.

    I grew stevia one year and dried it then put it in the coffee bean grinder to grind. NOT! didn't like it. Too "earthy" for me that way so I just use the powder for and order it from
    Wholesale supplements. Or..I also get it from the Amish stores (that are around our area).

    Congrats on 5 treatments done! Whooo Hooo!

    Claudia