Any suggestions?

[texasstyle]

About using artificial sweeteners I know not to use Equal or Sweet 'N Low. We are currently using Splenda. I'm looking for other SAFE things to use for a sweetener.  There are several on the store shelves. Thanks

[Annig83]

If you are looking for a good sweetener, I have heard Stevia is a good option.  It's a natural sweetener with zero calories, but the downfall is that you can not use it for baking.  I think Pepsi used a dirivitive of it, but it was called Truvia?  It was a sweetener alternative.  The powdered form is very concentrated so if you don't want things overly sweet try using a small amount, or it also comes in liquid form.  Also, organic, local honey provides a great alternative to artificial sweetners.  It is a bit high in sugar, but it has lots of antioxidants, and if you have low blood sugar, it can help with that.

Also, here in Indiana ( I am not sure where you are from), there have been commericials about corn sugar alternatives. Popular sugar alcohol sweeteners include xylitol, sorbitol, and erythritol, natural sweeteners made through a fermentation process of corn or sugar cane. If you look on the label of some sweetners you will be able to see the ingredients.

I think you can find Stevia in health food stores. Hope this helps!? 

[monrein]

I've used stevia...the powdered type...I get it at my grocery store.  My understanding is that it can taste different depending on the quality but it is a natural product.

[jbeany]

Are you doing it for diabetes?  I've been diabetic since 13, and in the long run, decided I was better off with small amounts of real stuff.  All the artificial seemed to bother me is some way or another - usually an upset digestive system.  I think my body knew what to do with the real stuff, but couldn't recognize the rest!

[boswife]

Agave.. Or Blue Agave.  Id say give it a 'look up' and see what ya think..

[lmunchkin]

Husband is diabetic and he uses real stuff, but very little!  So far his A1C has been 6.

[texasstyle]

I've heard quite a bit about this Stevia sweetner and no even more so from you guys. My girlfriend had a bottle of Agave and I used it in coffee but I am not on the diet so I could eat anything. It tasted good, but thought it too be a little less sweet than I'm used to having things. (I could always just use moreof it right? lol) No, it's not the diabetic diet but the renal. My understanding is that you can NOT use Aspertaine (like Equal-the blue kind sweetners), because of something to do with Potassium. In our home that is a big issue the K and I have to watch everything. I'm going to assume since you guys are using the 2 reccommended that they are renal friendly. i'm finding you have to watch every morsel that goes into the mouth. Thanks for the advice.

[monrein]

Like anything else, moderation is important.  Large amounts of sugar or stevia or any of the syrups aren't great.  Some concern about the effect of stevia on the kidney has been raised and studies seem to show that it can lower blood pressure.  Who knows who did these studies.  When I was on D I just used sugar since I'm not diabetic and I wasn't eating much anyway and now I use mostly sugar or honey but very little of either.  Gastrointestinal issues and bloating have also been reported.

http://www.wellness.com/reference/herb/stevia/dosing-and-safety

[jeannea]

Why are you avoiding certain sweeteners? My dietician never mentioned this.

[texasstyle]

I had heard that aspertain is some kind of Potassium. WE use sweetners for a lot of things during the day and even get them in the bigger bags for cooking with. I'm starting to get curious on this now. Hmm......

[Restorer]

I think your dietician is thinking of Acesulfame Potassium, often used in combination with aspartame and sometimes sucralose (Splenda). I might not know enough about how to calculate this (it's a little complicated - don't take this as an absolute fact), but it looks like, in a 12 oz can of soda sweetened only with Acesulfame-K, you'd get up to 50 mg of potassium, assuming there aren't any other potassium sources like preservatives or juices. Most things are sweetened with a combination of aspartame and Acesulfame-K, so it'd be less, but it could still add up if you're drinking a lot of diet drinks or using a lot of Equal in your tea - and you don't have a fluid restriction!   

[noahvale]

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