Sugar substitute

[Shires123]

Trying to follow anti inflammatory diet. Can I substitute sweetener for sugar occasionally

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm sure you COULD - whether it is a good idea or not is another matter. There are a lot of downsides to the chemicals and one is that they have also been implicated in being pro-inflammatory. Studies are mixed but as they point out, it is a tightly fought field by the manufacturers who sponsor studies and publish them if they are in their favour.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

By far the best approach is to enjoy sweet things as a very occasional treat and teach your taste buds to enjoy less sweet foods. It only takes a few weeks of cutting sugar in your tea for example to find tea with sugar tastes awful!

[Shires123 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I thought that was the case. I have read so much conflicting advice. Better to be safe than sorry. Will stick to my couple of medjool dates a day for my fix. Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shires123]

Don't think I could manage 2 dates! I have a whole pack sitting there left from Christmas!!

[Shires123]

Send them my way. I could eat the whole box. Have to limit myself

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shires123]

Not likely - a pleasure deferred is a pleasure gained ...

[Hidden]

I was addicted to dates for a few months but have now dropped that addiction.... And prunes.

[Shires123 in reply to Hidden]

Now prunes that's an idea!

[Hidden]

Lovely. I am not too sure but I was quite concerned about any sugar content in prunes and dates. Also carbs. I was eating a bag a day with Huel on top

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

PMRpro maybe you could help on sugar and or carbs of dates and prunes? I love both!

[Shires123 in reply to Hidden]

To be quite honest I am at a loss. Just read a banana can have 30 g of carbs.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shires123]

Dates have a fair bit of sugar - one Medjool date has about 18g of carbs. Prunes are a mere 6g per prune.

It is disheartening to start with - all that lovely healthy fruit turns out to have some downsides when looking at carbs, pred and weight gain. Berries are best. I usually substitute with veggies and keep fruit for a special treat. You just have to juggle - if you want a banana, you have to cut the carbs somewhere else.