Yet, Another Post on Sugar Substitutes
Yes, I know it’s Thursday…but I’ve got places to go and people to see…if this is rocking your world too much, just come back and read this tomorrow.
Not to beat a dead horse. I really don’t have an obsession with sugar substitutes. Or sugar, for that matter. But I am quite thorough and happen to have a dose of “perfectionist” in my personality. So, basically, this subject cannot die until I’ve covered it one more time.
Conducted under sterile conditions in a highly controlled environment, this Experiment should settle with finality all questions you’ve ever had about Natural Sugar Substitutes.
So, without further adieu, I give you,
The Natural Sugar Substitute Files
Hypothesis: Natural sugar substitutes are great alternatives to real sugar, both in nutrition and in taste. And will allow me to eat mass amounts of cookies, cakes, ice cream and soda without putting on a pound.
1. Research Truvia and Stevia on the internet. Because if it’s on the internet, it has to be true.
Truvia was developed by company giants, Cargill and Coca Cola, as an alternative to aspartame. Coke plans to add Truvia to Coke-brand diet sodas, as well as food.
According to the official Truvia website : Truvia is made from the stevia plant. It’s made with a process whereby the leaves are steeped, much like tea.
The ingredients of Truvia are Erythritol, rebiana and natural flavors.
Erythritol is an all-natural, non-caloric sweetener, used as an ingredient that provides bulk for the tabletop form of Truvia™ rebiana. Bulking agents are additives that increase the bulk and contribute to the texture of a food. Erythritol has been part of the human diet for thousands of years as it is present in fruits such as pears, melons and grapes, as well as foods such as mushrooms and fermentation-derived foods such as wine, soy sauce and cheese. It is added to foods and beverages to provide sweetness, as well as to enhance taste and texture.
Truvia claims to be better than other stevia-based sweeteners because, unlike most stevia-based sweeteners, which are typically a mixture of many components from the stevia leaf, Truvia™ natural sweetener is made with rebiana, the best tasting part of the stevia leaf.
One packet of Truvia provides the same sweetness as two teaspoons of sugar.
Reported side effects of Truvia include a decreased lactose intolerance, bad breath, back, neck and shoulder pain, mouth itch, hives, gas, diarrhea, cravings for carbohydrates.
There have been some reports of early tests showing some decreased fertility in rats. After 10 minutes of Googling and still finding nothing substantial and conflicting information, I decided that Coke doesn’t want us to know about the rat infertility, so it’s making it hard for me to find this info.
Both Truvia and the Pepsi-developed version called Pure-via have received FDA approval and are “generally recognized as safe.”
According to the Stevia website, Stevia is a South American herb that has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. The leaves of this small, green Stevia rebaudiana plant have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar.
Stevia has not been approved by the FDA as a food additive, only as a supplement. Meaning, it cannot be sold in food in the U.S. at this time, only by itself.
There are no reported side-effects or dangers of stevia known at this time, and it has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
2. Buy some Truvia and Stevia. (I told you this would be scientific!)
Both were available at Kroger. Truvia was with the sugar and sugar substitutes. Stevia was in the Natures Market. That seems significant, somehow, but I’m not sure why.
I totally don’t know what I paid for the Truvia, but the website said it is $3.99 for 40 packets. That sounds about right. So let’s go with that.
I bought the powdered form of Stevia Plus because it looks like sugar (as opposed to the liquid) and it has probiotics. (that’s the “plus” part). It was $9.99 for 4 ounces. I think the packets were cheaper.
3. Have members of the Cooper family taste the Truvia and the Stevia using their choice of fingers, strawberries and coffee.
First Truvia. (isn’t this exciting?)
Rebekah: Finger Test–“Tastes like Splenda”
Strawberry Test: “It’s good. Can I have more?” Ends up eating several strawberries and four packets of Truvia. (Mom cringing watching her precious daughter consume four packets, while thinking about infertile rats)
Jon: Finger Test—“Are you sure this is safe?”
Strawberry Test—“It has a lingering aftertaste. It doesn’t taste natural. It tastes chemically” (Chemically: scientific word for “like it’s made from chemicals”)
FFG: Finger Test—“Yep, tastes like a sugar substitute.”
Strawberry Test—“Yep, still tastes like a sugar substitute.” (makes” eewwww “face)
Next, Stevia:
Rebekah: Finger test—“Tastes like Truvia…no, wait, I don’t like it…YUK. Mom, why can’t we just eat sugar?” There was no strawberry test. Joins Elijah on the trampoline.
Jon: Finger Test—“I like this. I’d eat this.”
Strawberry Test—“This is good. Yeah, I’d definitely eat this.”
Elliana:
Finger Test: Cautiously stuck finger in her mouth and made sort of a funny face.
Strawberry Test: Finished all of Jon’s strawberries dipped in Stevia. I asked her if it was good, and she smiled and said, “Yes.” Though she still had a cautious look on her face. I think she was thinking about infertile rats.
FFG:
The Finger Test—“Very sweet with a bitter aftertaste”
The Coffee Test—“My coffee is undrinkable. Therefore, I must dispose of coffee.” I didn’t actually say that, I was just thinking it. I was in the room alone. I think in complete sentences.
4. FFG’s General Observations.
A. The fact that Coke is having to create an entirely new sugar substitute to put in its products substantiates what I’ve suspected all along: Aspartame is pure evil. And honestly, something about Coke being behind the manufacturing of Truvia makes me suspicious of its safety. Maybe because Coke doesn’t really have the reputation for producing natural, safe or nutritious food???
B. Truvia is FDA approved, but Stevia is not? Is not Truvia made from Stevia? I’m so confused. Me thinks big business may have some pull on the government. I know, radical concept. Call me crazy.
C. I generally support any measure taken to decrease the world’s rat population. Heaven knows, we don’t need so many rats running around. But my heart does go out to the little Rat Mommies and Rat Daddies who are trying so hard to get pregnant with Rat Babies, yet making no connection to the funny tasting white powder that has been inconspicuously sprinkled on all their Rat Food.
D. Decreased fertility….hmmmm…this could save Jon from having to see a certain urologist for a certain surgery that I’ve been bugging him to get for a certain number of years. (Note to self: Put mass doses of Truvia in Jon’s food)
E. Why does Rebekah know what Splenda tastes like? I don’t serve Splenda. I don’t own Splenda. The only time Rebekah eats out is with me, so she should have no access to Splenda. Is Rebekah leading a dual life? The other, wrought with sugar substitutes????
F. “Generally recognized as safe.” I don’t know about you, but I’m a little leery consuming something that is only “generally recognized as safe.” Diet Coke: Generally Recognized As Safe doesn’t sound like a great ad campaign.
G. Truvia, Stevia and Pru-via would be great baby names if the fertility thing backfires and we get pregnant with triplets.
5. Conclusions: Neither Truvia nor Stevia taste all that great and neither one tastes as good as sugar. I never baked with it, or put it in ice cream…so I guess the jury is still out on whether you can eat mass quantities of baked goods and still fit into your jeans.
I suppose if there is some medical reason why you cannot eat sugar, then I’d recommend one of these. Otherwise, I would recommend what I’ve been recommending all along: Cut down all processed foods to an absolute minimum in your diet. When you crave something sweet, stick with natural sweeteners like honey and pure maple syrup. Or better yet, just eat fruit.
And if you really need a chocolate chip cookie, for the love of all that is right and good, just make you some really good organic homemade chocolate chip cookies with real sugar, and call it a day.
The end.
Sandy I don't know how to delete the first Mr. Linky I put. It has the WRONG link. The second one has the right link which is to my Cleaning House and Fitness Relates that I just did today for tomorrow as I won't be online tomorrow until late.
PLEASE DELETE THE FIRST ONE THAT I DID.
Sandy I don't know how to delete the first Mr. Linky I put. It has the WRONG link. The second one has the right link which is to my Cleaning House and Fitness Relates that I just did today for tomorrow as I won't be online tomorrow until late.
PLEASE DELETE THE FIRST ONE THAT I DID.
Sandy,thanks for the info.I learned a lot.Hope you are having a great day! Blessings, Faye
Sandy,thanks for the info.I learned a lot.Hope you are having a great day! Blessings, Faye
Sandy I've never been into the sugar substitutes. I appreciate your message.
When I got off of white sugar that was it for me. I also try to be very careful with what I ingest when we eat out because I can SPOT sugar in food the moment I taste it.
I'm going to send your message to a friend of mine who puts sugar subsitutes in her coffee and tea.
Bless you!
Sandy I've never been into the sugar substitutes. I appreciate your message.
When I got off of white sugar that was it for me. I also try to be very careful with what I ingest when we eat out because I can SPOT sugar in food the moment I taste it.
I'm going to send your message to a friend of mine who puts sugar subsitutes in her coffee and tea.
Bless you!
Hey Sandy,
Thanks for the low down on Truvia and Stevia. Another one bites the dust on my growing list of things to avoid.
Now let me throw this one out… xylotol. That's a new sugar substitute. Jillian Michaels recommended this one. I saw it at the Vitamain store. It's also in Trident. I know that because this is now the only guilty pleasure I have left; Trident that is.
For the past week, I have been googling every night and learning more and more about how our diet really does affect our health! I thought diet was just a small contributor but no, it's a biggie!!
Hey Sandy,
Thanks for the low down on Truvia and Stevia. Another one bites the dust on my growing list of things to avoid.
Now let me throw this one out… xylotol. That's a new sugar substitute. Jillian Michaels recommended this one. I saw it at the Vitamain store. It's also in Trident. I know that because this is now the only guilty pleasure I have left; Trident that is.
For the past week, I have been googling every night and learning more and more about how our diet really does affect our health! I thought diet was just a small contributor but no, it's a biggie!!
Oh, my word, you made me laugh.
But as a Diet Coke addict – I know, I KNOW, I know – I will try it. Because I also believe that anything is better than aspartame.
As I guzzle down some chemicals.
Oh, my word, you made me laugh.
But as a Diet Coke addict – I know, I KNOW, I know – I will try it. Because I also believe that anything is better than aspartame.
As I guzzle down some chemicals.
Girl, you are so funny! Thanks for making me laugh on this otherwise ordinary Thursday.
As far as the sugar substitutes go, I can only say "Amen Sister!"
Girl, you are so funny! Thanks for making me laugh on this otherwise ordinary Thursday.
As far as the sugar substitutes go, I can only say "Amen Sister!"
Wow, thanks for the GREAT information…and for making me laugh!!! I have learned so much from you today about artificial sweeteners, both old and new. Plus, I want to be in your family. It sounds like so much fun!
Blessings,
Wendy
Wow, thanks for the GREAT information…and for making me laugh!!! I have learned so much from you today about artificial sweeteners, both old and new. Plus, I want to be in your family. It sounds like so much fun!
Blessings,
Wendy
Hey Sweetie the link you deleted was not the right one so #1 on the Mr. Linky is incorrect. I posted the RIGHT LINK on #4 so that's ok. It'll be right for next week.
Love ya.
Hey Sweetie the link you deleted was not the right one so #1 on the Mr. Linky is incorrect. I posted the RIGHT LINK on #4 so that's ok. It'll be right for next week.
Love ya.
Sandy, you are too funny. I love the scientific study that you conducted using the Cooper family. I usually don't use sugar substitutes. If I have iced tea, I like it plain without sugar. I try to stay away from sugar because I love it. If I have a little, I usually want more.
Sandy, you are too funny. I love the scientific study that you conducted using the Cooper family. I usually don't use sugar substitutes. If I have iced tea, I like it plain without sugar. I try to stay away from sugar because I love it. If I have a little, I usually want more.
Hi! I'm Briana, I work for ZSweet all natural zero calorie sweetener.
I love, love, love the way you did your home expirement! We did the same thing over here when Truvia came out.
I would love to send you a sample of both our granular and supersweet ZSweet and get your opinion on it.
I also hate artificial sweeteners and I can always tell if I've been given a diet soda on accident (not that I drink soda anymore, but when I did). Anyway, I'm not supposed to have sugar 'cus I have problems with candida, and ZSweet is truly amazing! I want you to try it.
Please send me your address. = )
Thanks for this article!
Hi! I'm Briana, I work for ZSweet all natural zero calorie sweetener.
I love, love, love the way you did your home expirement! We did the same thing over here when Truvia came out.
I would love to send you a sample of both our granular and supersweet ZSweet and get your opinion on it.
I also hate artificial sweeteners and I can always tell if I've been given a diet soda on accident (not that I drink soda anymore, but when I did). Anyway, I'm not supposed to have sugar 'cus I have problems with candida, and ZSweet is truly amazing! I want you to try it.
Please send me your address. = )
Thanks for this article!
Great post even if it was on Thursday. LOL.
I still bake with sugar but bake a whole lot less than I did! I am so not addicted to white sugar anymore! Yippee!
I think Stevia only tastes ok on fruit. It´s def. terrible in coffee.
I hope my post is ok for The Fitness Friday. I really have done a lot of reading but I am not that great of a writer. I love to write though. LOL
hope you have a Fit Friday! jeje
With no Sugar Substitutes lurking around!
Great post even if it was on Thursday. LOL.
I still bake with sugar but bake a whole lot less than I did! I am so not addicted to white sugar anymore! Yippee!
I think Stevia only tastes ok on fruit. It´s def. terrible in coffee.
I hope my post is ok for The Fitness Friday. I really have done a lot of reading but I am not that great of a writer. I love to write though. LOL
hope you have a Fit Friday! jeje
With no Sugar Substitutes lurking around!
I just got a free sample of Truvia in the mail and tried it in my coffee this morning. I didn't think it was too bad, but then again, I'm used to Sweet-N-Low. Don't worry… I'm smacking my own hand for ya!
Great post. I love that you used your fam in this one.
I just got a free sample of Truvia in the mail and tried it in my coffee this morning. I didn't think it was too bad, but then again, I'm used to Sweet-N-Low. Don't worry… I'm smacking my own hand for ya!
Great post. I love that you used your fam in this one.
Girl, I totally LOVE this post!
And goodness did I need it!!! I've been going a little nutty lately about the whole sugar thing! Whew! But I'm gonna do what you said: avoid all the processed stuff and make some cookies with real sugar at home – if I really want them 🙂
THANK YOU 🙂
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
Girl, I totally LOVE this post!
And goodness did I need it!!! I've been going a little nutty lately about the whole sugar thing! Whew! But I'm gonna do what you said: avoid all the processed stuff and make some cookies with real sugar at home – if I really want them 🙂
THANK YOU 🙂
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
Sandy,
I loved the family experiement. Great job and very funny!
This was actually very informative for me.
Thanks
Sandy,
I loved the family experiement. Great job and very funny!
This was actually very informative for me.
Thanks
Hi Sandy! Thanks for coming by to look at the post. I really had linked and so didn´t even think twice about it. It must not have shown up. Thanks for letting me know.
I will get it next week. 😉
I said a prayer for Aimee and Adam too. I can´t even imagine what they are going through.
Hi Sandy! Thanks for coming by to look at the post. I really had linked and so didn´t even think twice about it. It must not have shown up. Thanks for letting me know.
I will get it next week. 😉
I said a prayer for Aimee and Adam too. I can´t even imagine what they are going through.
Hey i was just in the store and saw the Truvia on the shelf. I think I had the side effects just looking at the box!!!
I love your post!
Just wanted to let you know I've linked to your site from mine… I nominated you for an award. Come check it out!
Hey i was just in the store and saw the Truvia on the shelf. I think I had the side effects just looking at the box!!!
I love your post!
Just wanted to let you know I've linked to your site from mine… I nominated you for an award. Come check it out!
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