Sugar free foods.

[Northerner]

My understanding is that some sweeteners are 'right-handed' in molecular terms but this means that they cannot be absorbed by the body, only 'left-handed' ones can - hence the problems with the 'plumbing' if you have too much of them. As such, the carb content is largely irrelevant as they never convert to glucose in the bloodstream 🙂

 

[robert@fm]

My understanding is that some sweeteners are 'right-handed' in molecular terms but this means that they cannot be absorbed by the body, only 'left-handed' ones can - hence the problems with the 'plumbing' if you have too much of them. As such, the carb content is largely irrelevant as they never convert to glucose in the bloodstream 🙂

I think the basic sugars themselves are the opposite of this; they're chemically identical, but glucose (slightly less sweet than sucrose) is the right-handed form and fructose (slightly sweeter) is the left-handed form. (Joined together they make the symmetrical sucrose molecule). This probably has something to do with the extra problems fructose causes.

 

[DeusXM]

My understanding is that fructose actually gets converted into fat around the liver first before your body can use it, which means that fructose can cause some serious issues with insulin resistance and cholesterol synthesis.

Also, protein can be converted to glucose - the only macronutrient you can eat without it directly raising your blood sugar is fat.

 

[TED THE BEAR]

Thank you all so much again for your input. Well I guess it is horses for courses as they say. I only know that, since having sugar free products from Sugarnono. I have felt a lot better, I have more energy, and although I will never loose much weight due to the steroids I have to live on, I have lost some which has to be a bonus. Not all the products have sweetners in e.g. the xmas pudding is sugar and sweetner free. I think its all about things in moderation too. I have found that I am starting to lose my taste for sugar now which is brilliant. A bit like when I gave up smoking I think I am weaning off it, and no longer crave chocolate at night, or puddings. The sugar free chocolate when I do treat myself tastes a lot nicer too. Thank you all again.

 

[DeusXM]

Not all the products have sweetners in e.g. the xmas pudding is sugar and sweetener free.

It's not, it just doesn't have any added sugar. I looked at the ingredients and it's still absolutely full of sugar in the dates, raisins etc. plus the flour. Granted, it is probably lower in sugar than a standard Xmas pud but this just emphasises exactly what I've been saying all along - just because something is described as no added sugar or sugar free does not mean it is inherantly safer/better for people with diabetes to eat.

I had a look at the Sugar No No website and I have to say that personally, I wouldn't touch the chocolate as it has as many carbs as regular chocolate and thus would cause my blood sugar to rise in exactly the same way.

 

[HOBIE]

Thank you all so much again for your input. Well I guess it is horses for courses as they say. I only know that, since having sugar free products from Sugarnono. I have felt a lot better, I have more energy, and although I will never loose much weight due to the steroids I have to live on, I have lost some which has to be a bonus. Not all the products have sweetners in e.g. the xmas pudding is sugar and sweetner free. I think its all about things in moderation too. I have found that I am starting to lose my taste for sugar now which is brilliant. A bit like when I gave up smoking I think I am weaning off it, and no longer crave chocolate at night, or puddings. The sugar free chocolate when I do treat myself tastes a lot nicer too. Thank you all again.

Hi Ted the bear , you do feel better when your blood is in better shape. I feel clogged up when blood sugar is high. Keep at it 🙂

 

[TED THE BEAR]

It's not, it just doesn't have any added sugar. I looked at the ingredients and it's still absolutely full of sugar in the dates, raisins etc. plus the flour. Granted, it is probably lower in sugar than a standard Xmas pud but this just emphasises exactly what I've been saying all along - just because something is described as no added sugar or sugar free does not mean it is inherantly safer/better for people with diabetes to eat.

I had a look at the Sugar No No website and I have to say that personally, I wouldn't touch the chocolate as it has as many carbs as regular chocolate and thus would cause my blood sugar to rise in exactly the same way.

When I say sugar free I am ref ering to sugar itself not the natural sugars you would find in fruit. It wouldn't be a Christmas pudding if it didn't have fruit in.

 

[TED THE BEAR]

Hi Ted the bear , you do feel better when your blood is in better shape. I feel clogged up when blood sugar is high. Keep at it 🙂

Thanks Hobie I will.