Sweet confusion!

[Jesterpuss1]

Hi everyone, I am trying to cut as much sugar out of my diet as possible. But I cannot stand my tea or coffee unsweetened! So I have been using a sweetener. Now I have been reading online the horrors of using these products (effects on health etc ). And basically I'm at a loss as which to use! Has anyone any ideas? Or do I give up my cuppa completely!! Not good!

[Sprout15]

Try agave nectar. You can buy it at Tesco, Waitrose, Holland & Barrett's. It's sweeter than sugar so you don't need to use much and it doesn't have a nasty aftertaste like sweeteners. It's like syrup in consistency. I use it on my porridge.

[Penel in reply to Sprout15]

Agave nectar is claimed to be healthy but it isn't, it contains more fructose than ordinary sugar. If you want something sweet on your porridge, try honey.

[Sprout15 in reply to Penel]

Sadly not healthy, you are right, but an alternative to sweeteners for those of us who don't like the chemical aftertaste. I wish I liked honey as I'd much rather have that.

[djas]

Morning i gave up sugar 9 days ago and i havnt had a cup of tea since then because i was using sweetener and i wanted to stop so ive been drinking a hot lemon instead. I think i will go back to tea when i think ive got all the sugar out of my system because hopefully i will be able to have it without sugar by then. I uses to drink 4 or 5 cups a day and just stopped so give it a go if i can do it anyone can. x

[nhs2015]

Don't give up your tea, try Natvia, a natural product and where you only use one third of the quantity for the same sweetness of sugar then slowly reduce it more and more.

Surf the net for Aspartame (sweetener). This will help you make an informed decision.

[nhs2015 in reply to nhs2015]

Our Natvia is what you call Stevia. It is plant based and not chemical stuff. I did eventually reduced it so as to get used to less sugar and eventually did not need it. It just happened naturally.

[asics]

I would be tempted to stick with sugar rather than mess around with substitutes and just reduce the amount bit by bit. Let those teaspoon numbers get less and then the teaspoon size. Maybe set a goal - a week at a drop, the next week drop further etc. I think a week would be enough for you to get used to each new reduction?

If you cut out sugar everywhere else you will be doing a fine job. Your tastes will then change and you will find your tea too sweet. You don't have to go completely cold turkey to get to your sugar free goal.

I have been sugar free for almost 2 weeks (2 weeks on Sunday) and I am finding that natural foods are incredibly sweet. Yellow pepper for example, is like eating naughties all of a sudden!

[Jesterpuss1 in reply to asics]

I used to have two teaspoons in a cup of tea but over the last couple of years I've got it down to one level teaspoon! So maybe I'll just cut down more and hopefully be able to manage without! Ha ha but I won't hold my breath! 😂😇

[Hidden]

I am the same I need my cuppa a little sweet or not at all! Apparently stevia is the best one to use as it is plant based not chemical although it is slightly more expensive than others.

[Jesterpuss1]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'll have a look when I go shopping. It's quite frightening when you read online about sweeteners! You basically can't win can you! 😕

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Jesterpuss1,

I did a thread about Artificial Sweeteners which got quite a few useful replies, and stimulated some interesting discussion, so you might want to have a read when making your decision about alternatives?

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh....

Lowcal

[Jesterpuss1 in reply to Zest]

Hi Lowcal thanks for your reply, I was using saccharin!! OMG I won't be using it anymore! I will definitely be checking labels when I'm out shopping in future! I've never been one for processed foods and don't really drink diet coke etc. It was very interesting to watch and read the discussion! I think I'll go back to half a tsp of sugar in my tea and try to wean myself off completely! Thanks again 😊

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Jesterpuss1]

Hi Jesterpuss1,

You're very welcome. I think it's great to be able to share ideas and discuss stuff in this forum. Glad it was helpful reading that thread.

Good luck with your plan to wean yourself off it completely.

Wishing you a great weekend!

Lowcal

[Jesterpuss1 in reply to Zest]

Thanks Lowcal, yes I luv the forum! I don't know what I'd do without it now! There's always someone ready to give advice! It's great!

Wishing you a great weekend too! See you at Monday weigh in! 😉

[2bFabnfit]

I use more milk in coffee as it contains lactose and now I have given up refined sugar I find it makes it sweeter

[Jesterpuss1 in reply to 2bFabnfit]

Thanks 2bFabnfit, i'll give it a try! 😊

[Dave1961 25kg]

I have done a bit of research into this and Stevia, as someone else mentioned, is your best bet. I actually swapped over to it recently because it has been found to be the most natural option and (apparently) does not fool the body into thinking its sugar and therefore starting chain reactions that store more fact.

[Jesterpuss1]

Hi Dave1961, i looked at Stevia while shopping last night, and thought "should I, shouldn't I! Then decided I'd go with the weaning myself off "proper" sugar if I can, coz it was £5 a pack in Sainsbury 's! If I find I can't do it I'll definitely try Stevia but at the moment I'll go without! Yuck! thanks for your reply, hope you have a good week end

[Andyt2120]

I've used artificial sweeteners for over 40 years with no ill effects. Depends on what you read. Does not have ill effects on the majority of people. I have given up all refined sugar so I feel the benefits outweigh any possible negatives. Science results change with the wind.

[Jesterpuss1]

Hi Andyt2120, thanks for your reply. I know what you mean about scientists saying something's ok for you one day and the next day its bad for you! It's just with me being borderline diabetic, I read online that saccharin can be worse for me than ordinary sugar! It's all very confusing!! It's quite scary coz I want to avoid getting type 2 diabetes if I can. 😕