question about splenda, xylitol, sugar alcohols...

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Ok - so I bought a bag of xylitol today from one of the health food stores around here. I've HEARD that xylitol is a better alternative...

Being though that xylitol is a sugar alcohol and I know that SOME don't do well with sugar alcohols - IS xylitol better than splenda?

How do I count the carbs?

what I bought was "Xylosweet" - there's 4 g carbs & it says 4 g xylitol under that - and from what i find online xylitol is a sugar alcohol.

please help!! thanks!!!

i also bought liquid stevia - how do i use it when something calls for splenda and i want to use the liquid stevia?

[Desertthorn]

I was reading Dana Carpenters 500 LC meals and she was talking about when to use what. Of course I can't find it right now, it's buried someplace, but she said she loves Steiva with yogurt and uses Sugar alcohol for something and splenda for something else. I will try to locate the article for you.
Just go easy on the sugar alcohol as it can really upset your stomach. Someday Ill tell you about the bag of sugar-free jelly beans I ate. Not a pretty site.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

I'm thinking, too - i bought the wrong stuff. From what i'm reading now, Erythritol is the better option.

oh well - i've got it now so i will use it very sparingly and look for Erythritol next time.

sucks, though, that the xylitol was $10 for the bag.

[sadie147]

Though considered a sugar alcohol (i think) I still think xylitol is a better choice than many other sugar alchols, and you may as well try it since you have the bag. Though you can get digestive issues from it, If you stay within your daily allotment for sweetener you should be ok.

I find it tastes a bit more similar to stevia than to splenda, it has a 'cool' taste to it and no aftertaste.

I've used it in the past without issue..but the cost keeps me from buying it too often

[Lyssie]

About the stevia part.. I just bought the liquid stevia a couple weeks ago, and have switched over to using it more in my greek yogurt, coffee and tea. I use about 5 drops with half a packet of sweetener in a large cup of coffee.. if that helps with figuring out how much to use in life? I haven't tried to use it with baking.

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by Lyssie

About the stevia part.. I just bought the liquid stevia a couple weeks ago, and have switched over to using it more in my greek yogurt, coffee and tea. I use about 5 drops with half a packet of sweetener in a large cup of coffee.. if that helps with figuring out how much to use in life? I haven't tried to use it with baking.

I have baked with it and like to mix it with other sweeteners and go mostly by taste, I find on it's own I'm not crazy about how it comes out when baking..though I too don't mind it in my coffee/tea. Like most sweeteners it seems to be better when mixed...with at least one other. I've never figured out a ratio...i've relied mostly on taste of the batter etc before baking. Not very scientific lol.

[Lyssie]

Yeah, people think I am strange for always mixing sweeteners.. I don't think it sweetens very much on it's own though, and has an "acquired" taste. Perhaps that is just me though.

[pipee_pl]

i have the erythritol- i try to limit the fake sugars as much as possible but i will have a spoon of it when i make a capiccino (sp?) or something like that. it is not as sweet as splenda and isn't fake tasting like aspiratame- i have never tried stevia so i can't compare.
i haven't had any cravings with the erythritol- that i know of anyway- on the package i bought they claim that pregnant women and children are safe to eat it?

[steady as she goes]

if you use xylitol AND stevia, it makes for the best sweetness, I've found.

I've been using erythritol more often because it's a 0 on the glycemic index, but xylitol actually has some health benefits. I personally don't think splenda has been tested thoroughly enough, and when I eat too much of it, my hands tingle. scary!

i also find that xylitol gives a tiny bit of a honey taste when baked, which I really like.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

so it'll be ok to use the xylitol in place of the splenda - correct?

But I should also probably get a bag of Eryithritol instead?...

as far as recipes that ask for sugar and/or splenda - which one is better to use then, xylitol or erythitol?...

also - IS xylitol 1 g carb per tsp or per tbsp?...