Sweet Misery

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

Has anyone tried the Sweetleaf liquid flavored Stevia? A friend of ours who works with DH quit drinking coffee and started drinking hot tea. She had a bottle of it for her coffee, and told DH to give it to me. IT IS WONDERFUL! It has zero calories, zero carbs, and is all Stevia. The one she gave me is "Dark Chocolate". It is very pricey, (I see Netrition has it for $9.99, in that link above), but it is very concentrated. That little bottle lasted me for over a month, using it several times, every day. I would put two or three drops in my coffee (and I drink a big cup of coffee), and it was a very rich chocolatey flavor. I'm now wondering if it would be good in recipes, since it comes in so many flavors. There are many more flavors, than the ones shown in the picture.

[pooticus]

Cleo glad to hear it!!!!!

I love my Mr Coffee Tea maker. My favorite teas are Red Zinger tea and Peach teas. Both are non-caffeinated and one is an herbal tea (it may not even have any tea in it?)

So, why do any of us need to chew gum?

Also, just my opinion, and knowing we aren't all at the same point in our walk and this walk IS progressive when you are committed to it, but a sweet every now and then is fine, but why are we all perpetuating an addiction to the "sweet" taste? By keeping sweet in your life EVERY day instead of as a little treat here or there (which is how I use the DaVinci syrup, which is still bad I'm sure)??? Atkins talks about breaking addictions. But it's like subbing methadone for heroine by replacing a known trigger substance? In my opinion, if you aren't diabetic, you are better off limiting the frequency and quantity of the sweetener and when you do use it, use Succanat or Rapidura (real sugars recommended by Dr. Mary Enig) or even coconut sugar... Just my opinion though.

[Adream]

Originally Posted by Melle

I'm now wondering if it would be good in recipes, since it comes in so many flavors.

I have to find this! Just looking at the English Toffee and the Vanilla Cream gives me all kinds of ideas!

[Diorskin]

Originally Posted by Zer

"Our gum base is a mix of chicle, natural gums, rubbers, resins, and waxes."

And there is more at the site to explain about carnauba wax and resins, all part of Glee gum's natural ingredients.

Sugar is a trigger for me. It's about more than the carbs of a bit of gum. For me, a trigger can tilt my whole world, blow a month's worth of careful carb dodging. So, be aware.

Thanks Zer. I wasn't sure what it was about. I really like the idea you put out about cinnamon bark! Very creative thinking

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by deb3

Has anyone tried Zevia? Sodas made with Stevia. They're pricey, though, and you have to order on -line. I'm thinking just doing away with them all together is the best bet. Anyone have any suggestions for making Stevia less bitter?

Zevia sounds good but I gave up sodas completely over 6 years ago. Not going to go there again. If I was still drinking sodas I'd be interested.

A bitter taste is a sign you're using too much Stevia.

I don't care for the Sweetleaf liquid flavored Stevia.

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

I had DH look for a copy of "Sweet Misery", for me. Not only did he find it, but he found "Sweet Revenge" and "The World According to Monsanto".
He watched just a few minutes of "Sweet Misery" and said, "I don't think you'll ever eat it again, after you watch this". I think I'll watch the first one, this afternoon.

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by Adream

I have to find this! Just looking at the English Toffee and the Vanilla Cream gives me all kinds of ideas!

I think it would be great for cooking. I can't figure out how they get all of the FLAVOR into just a few drops. It is HIGHLY concentrated.

[DiamondDeb]

I've used powdered Stevia for baking before when making protein bars. It just takes a little experimenting to see how much you need.

[KrisA]

Originally Posted by Melle

I think it would be great for cooking. I can't figure out how they get all of the FLAVOR into just a few drops. It is HIGHLY concentrated.

Makes me suspicious that they're using some kind of chemical for flavoring. Sorry. Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I'm a little shakey about the food industry and big pharma and the frankenfoods they create!

Do you remember what the ingredients are?

k

[xamier]

Originally Posted by heidihoopi

Be sure to read this too.

snopes.com: Aspartame -- Sweet Poison?

Thanks heidihoopi:
I was about to post this link and you beat me to it.

[cleochatra]

Originally Posted by KrisA

Makes me suspicious that they're using some kind of chemical for flavoring. Sorry. Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I'm a little shakey about the food industry and big pharma and the frankenfoods they create!

Do you remember what the ingredients are?

k

I'm paranoid about this, too! This is why I'm growing my own.

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by KrisA

Makes me suspicious that they're using some kind of chemical for flavoring. Sorry. Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I'm a little shakey about the food industry and big pharma and the frankenfoods they create!

Do you remember what the ingredients are?

k

It says, "A proprietary blend of all natural flavors". I also found this blurb, on their site:

Finally, you can supplement your food and drinks without the chemicals or calories of alternatives! SweetLeaf Stevia® offers a variety of products made from Stevia, a naturally sweet plant that is 30 times sweeter than sugar. SweetLeaf Stevia is also completely calorie-free, all-natural, and has a zero glycemic index—the perfect sweet alternative to help you lose weight and stay healthy. Cook and bake with SweetLeaf's complete line of Stevia products like SteviaPlus, SteviaClear, SteviaTabs, or one of our line of Liquid Stevia Flavors. Stir it into your coffee or tea, sprinkle onto a bowl of cereal, spice up plain yogurt—SweetLeaf Stevia uses are endless! To get more Stevia ideas, check out our delicious SweetLeaf Stevia recipes!

[gina1]

i stopped aspartame as of today and i also feel more clear headed no dizzyness and no pain in my knee. i even have energy. iI EXERCISED TODAY! thats big because i've been to tired to lately. are there other names we need to look for? or does this only go by the name of aspartame?

[cleochatra]

My personal experience and research overrides Snopes.com (for me). I think snopes is great for some things, notsomuch for others. I no longer view them as the authority just as many teachers won't allow wikipedia.org as a resource for reports. It's another resource, but not the definitive in right/wrong.

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by gina1

i stopped aspartame as of today and i also feel more clear headed no dizzyness and no pain in my knee. i even have energy. iI EXERCISED TODAY! thats big because i've been to tired to lately. are there other names we need to look for? or does this only go by the name of aspartame?

Aspartame and Equal are the only names that I know of. I think there are some generic brands out there, but they will list "aspartame" as the ingredient.

[Margot 65]

Originally Posted by Melle

Aspartame and Equal are the only names that I know of. I think there are some generic brands out there, but they will list "aspartame" as the ingredient.

Nutrasweet is another common (brand) name used for aspartame

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by Prozak

Nutrasweet is another common (brand) name used for aspartame

OMG! I forgot all about that...it sure is!

[Diana]

Originally Posted by Diorskin

Good question Diana! Maybe someone knows. I am going to look around Whole Foods and see whats available. I think I recall Glee gum is natural but it probably has sugar in it.

Originally Posted by Zer

Cinnamon bark softens as you chew on it. Makes a great 'gum' that dissolves completely and never ever loses its flavor. It's a perky flavor too. Cinnamon has thermogenic action, boosts metabolism, so MAYBE chewing on a bit of cinnamon bark will kick up a lazy metabolism as well as freshen the mouth of anyone who elects to gnaw on cinnamon.

I think I'll continue to chew my gum... LOL I had a boss who chewed cinnamon sticks.... EWWWWWWW!

[Margot 65]

Originally Posted by Melle

OMG! I forgot all about that...it sure is!

LOL as my hubby would say, you can blame you lack of clear thinking on the 'dumb pop' LOL

[cleochatra]

These are all of the things in my kitchen yesterday which had aspartame in them. I either returned all unopened items to Wal-Mart or listed them on craigslist at a huge discount. I got $35 back for just some of the things I returned (and returned some splenda items as well).





(blue stuff to left)

[Margot 65]

Wow Cleo!

Good job!! I can't wait to hear your update in a few days/weeks/months

[ummrashid]

I WAS a diet soda junkie and I realized more than the sweet I needed the fizz, so I have changed over to drinking Perier sparkling water with a squirt of lemon ....it takes care of the need for fizz.
Also I noticed that if I make a REAL effort to eat clean and stay clean my desire or feeling that I NEED something sweet goes away( this doesnt always work, expecially near TOM)....
I have been using Splenda and davinci syrups, I will try and omit it and see how things go as well, but not now, I can only fight one battle at a time. I hope anyone who has had any bad things happen to them by any of this stuff feels better soon, I know for me its real easy to drop one bad habbit for another.
Cleo after Opsie'ing 2 bathces of Opsies, I made a batch today with some vanilla and 6 packs of splenda they taste like nice vanilla cakes Just when I thought I found a way to pacify my sometimes sweet tooth, Oh well Im going to have to cut those out too pretty soon. please let me know if you figure out a way to oopsie without the splenda, I tried the stevia but it was too bitter for me.

ok, sorry if I rambled its almost 11pm here

[ummrashid]

is agave nectar low carb? how safe is that?

edited. To answer my own question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nutrition Facts
153-0614
NOW
Amber Agave Nectar
17 oz
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon (21g)
Servings Per Container: about 23


Amount
Per Serving % Daily
Value*

Total Calories 70

Calories From Fat 0

Total Fat 0 g 0%

[COLOR="Red"]Total Carbohydrates 16.5 g 6% [/COLOR]

Sugars 16 g

Protein 0 g



*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

[Adream]

Originally Posted by ummrashid

is agave nectar low carb? how safe is that?

edited. To answer my own question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nutrition Facts
153-0614
NOW
Amber Agave Nectar
17 oz
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon (21g)
Servings Per Container: about 23


Amount
Per Serving % Daily
Value*

Total Calories 70

Calories From Fat 0

Total Fat 0 g 0%

[COLOR="Red"]Total Carbohydrates 16.5 g 6% [/COLOR]

Sugars 16 g

Protein 0 g

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Apparently the glycemic load of Agave nectar is 1.6. Here are some websites with further information:

Glycemic Index of Sugars. Agave Nectar is low Glycemic

Agave nectar is a sweet alternative for diabetics - Brief Article | Eurofood | Find Articles at BNET.com

The Benefits of Agave
Agave nectar has a consistency close to honey, but thinner and easily dissolved, something like a combination of maple syrup and honey. It’s high in fructose, or fruit sugar, so it naturally absorbs into the blood sugar at a much slower rate than other sweeteners, making it useful for many diabetics and people who are hypoglycemic. As it is a natural, unprocessed product, it retains vitamins and minerals that are absent from highly processed sweeteners. Lower in calories than sugar, and very low on the glycemic index, agave nectar is will not raise blood sugar levels as will other sweeteners, including honey and maple syrup.

Bill Dollinger, who directs the Washington, D.C. office of Friends of Animals, relies on exercise and agave nectar to avoid diabetes medication. Bill regularly enjoys agave nectar in smoothies and creative desserts such as homemade vegan ice cream. Bill discovered agave nectar through the Dining with Friends cookbook. “I’ve been hooked since the first time I tried it,” says Bill. “It’s absolutely delicious.”

Agave nectar can be used as a regular sweetener in baking, tea, coffee, or iced drinks, or poured on pancakes and waffles. Normally, three quarters of a cup will replace one cup of sugar in a recipe. As it is a liquid, you might need to reduce the liquid content in the recipe as well.

Excerpt from: Friends of Animals | The True Story of Agave Nectar | Summer 2006

Agave nectar has worked very well for me - I don't use a large amount, just a small amount with a bit of Stevia in the flax muffins, ricotta desserts, and custards. It's given the food a nice sweet taste (not overly sweet, just right), and I've lost weight. So far, so good!

[pooticus]

Some studies show agave nectar readily glycating hemoglobin and other cells. This is not good in my opinion, especially if you have any metabolic issues (like insulin resistance). From my memory it's even worse about doing this than honey.

[thestreets]

For gum, I suggest SPRY(they have a whole range of flavors). It is sweetned with only xylitol(naturally occuring sugar alcohol that helps prevent cavities.)

[Zer]

Originally Posted by pooticus

... In my opinion, if you aren't diabetic, you are better off limiting the frequency and quantity of the sweetener and when you do use it, use Succanat or Rapadura (real sugars recommended by Dr. Mary Enig) or even coconut sugar... Just my opinion though.

Some new words for me, so I googled to see what I can learn today about Rapadura - essentially pure dried sugarcane juice, in the form of a brick, said to be rich in dietary iron.

Now what is coconut sugar or Palm sugar - not derived from the coconut 'fruit' itself, but made from the sap of various palm flowers? Yes, "produced from the sweet, watery sap that drips from cut flower buds" is what it says. What amazes me is how resourceful people are at finding a food or creating a food that can be cooked up and packed or stored to flavor dishes that would be monotonous without seasoning or sweetening. Human resourcefulness in discovering edible foodstuff is awesome. As we look for more natural sweeteners, we wade into some really basic ancient and primitive foods. Can we trust these? Maybe so, in moderation, as a way of balancing a salty dish or a sour dish. Thanks for the lead that led to this most interesting google. I'm about googled out for now.

[Zer]

How do we get Netrition to stock some of these interesting products? Anyone know? Is there a way to suggest adding stuff to Netrition's already full line? Maybe there's a thread? If not, maybe there could be a thread?

Originally Posted by thestreets

For gum, I suggest SPRY (they have a whole range of flavors). It is sweetened with only xylitol (naturally occuring sugar alcohol that helps prevent cavities.)

I've heard really good things about xylitol improving the condition of teeth. With my ancient teeth, I'm keen to find a way to improve or whiten teeth that still serve me pretty well. Not as white or pretty or straight as I'd like, but they still work well. I see people who lack good teeth and hear how they have to work to puree their food. Yikes! Our teeth are well worth preserving. I just wonder if xylitol will affect my gut as maltitol (a lethal sugar alcohol, far as my gut is concerned) does. *gurgle*

[Margot 65]

yes, Xylitol being a sugar alcohol, can have that effect on some people.. but the small amount used in the gum might not be an issue as opposed to eating it in say SF chocolate.

My dentist told me to let my kids chew it.. as I am opposed to flouride treatments, so I let them have free reign on the stuff until I re-checked myself about the aspartame in it.

I was also told to chew it while pregnant, it is supposed to have all kinds of health benefits according to some online resources

I say give it a try... start out with one piece and see how it goes (but look for the kind without any other types of artificial/substitute sweeteners)

[fawn]

Originally Posted by cleochatra

I'm too lazy to be anything but honest, and too scatter-brained to keep track of fabrications. All you get from me is 100% loud Milwaukee, Wisconsin-born truth.

This is what we enjoy about you.....well one of the many.
I'm glad you're feeling better and I'm really glad you gave up the aspartame. We need you.