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POLL: Your Sweetener of Choice?
Hello everyone! Here's some background before I get to my question(s):
A co-worker of mine is very much into all of the organic, reduce/reuse/recycle, natural-type philosophies and is also very much into TCM, accupuncture, etc. She became pregnant 15 months ago and refused to have the "usual" prenatal screenings/procedures (ultrasounds, amnio, other scans/tests). She had a home-birth with a midwife and now has an adorable, healthy boy. The other day, out of the blue, she gives me a bottle of Organic Blue Agave nectar (they sell this stuff in 2-packs at our local Costco). I had heard of agave (tequila!), but didn't know it was also sold as a sweetener. She goes on to tell me that she noticed some sugar packets on my desk one day and told me that Blue Agave is much better for me because of its low glycemic index and she swears by it and always uses it.
After a bit of Google-ing, I now know that this stuff is praised for its low GI by some, but others are also against this stuff, claiming it's a highly refined form a fructose, it contains more calories than table sugar, and some species of agave contain natural steroids that are contraceptive and known to cause uterine contractions, leading to miscarriage. Yeesh. That doesn't sound good. Do I really want to use this stuff? What is "safe" these days?!
So now I'm curious about what you use and swear by:
[Poll]
Re: POLL: Your Sweetener of Choice?
I used to used Splenda, but not I've cut out all artificial sweeteners from my diet, including from yogurt and gum. I have, um, a lot less gas now!
When I do need to sweeten something, I just use regular old sugar, though that is very rare for me. I drink my morning tea with nothing added, typically, unless I'm drinking green tea, which is a little bitter for me. Then I'll add a tiny bit of sugar, but even that's very rare. I don't drink coffee or soft drinks....I mostly drink water. I do use sugar when I bake, though.
When I need it, I use regular sugar-in-the-raw, honey or white sugar. I have tried agave at the health food store, but hadn't heard about those scary side effects!
Cutting back on sweeteners has also adapted my tastes so now I don't need things to taste so sweet. I also try to steer away from low-cal yogurts and diet drinks/foods because they contain a lot of the fake stuff. I really don't miss my former Splenda days and haven't gained weight (other than from the pregnancy) since going with the caloric stuff (a few years ago).
I rarely use sweeteners but when I do, I use splenda. I just like the taste better. DH & I use sugar in the raw if we need sugar.
Yes, I've heard of the downside of using stevia and don't use it or buy products sweetened with it over regular sweeteners.
I don't sweeten my drinks but for baking, I use honey, maple syrup, evaporated coconut sap (it's really expensive, though!), unsulfered molasses and like Hanyi, sometimes brown sugar or cane sugar if the recipe calls for it.
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I clicked straight up white table sugar....BUT, it is organic sugar and not bright white. What is funny is that other sugars that claim to be all natural (Sugar in the raw) actually add things for color. If you think your sugar is natural because it is darker, it could be because they add molasses (which is often chemically preserved with sulfites).
The organic sugar I use does a have a bit of a grassy taste if you just taste it plain. If you have ever gotten a chunk of sugar cane (like the bamboo looking cane), it has a bit of that taste. In my mind, that's about as close to the source as you can get.
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I do the EXACT same thing!
Maple Syrup is one thing that I cannot get enough of, especially growing up in eastern Canada. We had those grade school trips to the farms in the winter time, tapping for the maple syrup and then pouring a bit of it on clean snow...yum!
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I also use raw sugar sometimes.
I guess I feel like even though plain ole white sugar has it's downsides, I'm not sure that it can really be worse for you than all of those chemicals in the fake stuff (even though regular white sugar is super refined, I feel like it just can't have as many chemicals as Splenda, etc.). I've never tried agave, although I have heard of it being used as a sweetener before.
good poll nicole-i should also add in that sugar is sugar whether you consume it in honey form, sugar, etc....
i have heard mixed things about agave also, and frankly i am not that fond of it-i have a cup of detox tea everyday and i use liquid stevia that i buy at whole foods as a sweetener-if i am out of it or it is not available then i use honey or sugar. I am allegic to equal, especially if it is disolved in hot beverages so i do not use any artificial sweeteners and i never drink diet soda or diet beverages so not applicable. For dessert if I am baking I use regular sugar but always cut down the amount. Frankly if i am going to eat dessert I am going to just flat out enjoy.