Sugar Substitutes

Low Carb Sugar Substitutes to Keep Your Sweet Tooth Happy

I have discovered many delicious low carb sugar substitutes that you can enjoy guilt free and use to help satisfy your sweet tooth. These are excellent options to help keep you on track with your low carb diet.

Types of Sugar Substitutes

I use two types of sugar substitutes:

1. Sugar Alcohols such as Xylitol and Erythritol occur naturally in fruits and vegetables. They do have some carbs but much less than the carbs found in sugar.
2. Novel Sweeteners such as Stevia or Truvia combine a number of sweeteners and can vary in sweetness and carb count.

Sugar Substitutes to Avoid

Although natural sweeteners such as honey, molasses and fruit juices are also sugar substitutes they will actually raise blood sugar levels which are counter productive to a low carb diet. I personally avoid artificial sweeteners such as aspartame as they have been tied to several negative side effects both physical and mental.

Health Benefits of Sugar Alcohols

I like to use Sugar Alcohols as they are suitable for low carb diets and look and taste much like sugar. Although the carb count for these sweeteners is higher, when following a low carb diet like Atkin’s they are subtracted because sugar alcohols do not increase your blood sugar levels. This is why sugar alcohols such as Xylitol and Eyrthritol are safe for both diabetes and hyperglycemia. As well, Xylitol actually has many positive health benefits including:

• Xylitol is an anti-microbial which prevents the growth of bacteria and helps boost your immune system (sugar actually feeds bacteria and fungi).
• Xylitol enhances alkaline which promotes a healthy metabolic system.

Although Xylitol can cause minor bloating, gas and diarrhea, your body becomes accustomed to processing Xylitol quickly and these symptoms will soon disappear. Eyrthritol is absorbed by the small intestine so does not cause the same tummy upset as Xylitol.

Novel sweeteners such as Stevia are calorie free and .5 carbs per ½ teaspoon, which is suitable for low carb diets, diabetes and general weight loss. Truvia, another Novel sweetener has 2 carbs and 5 calories per 1/2 teaspoon.

Flavours of Sugar Substitutes

I have done quite a bit of experimenting with sugar substitutes looking for delicious alternatives that will work well for a low carb diet. Sugar alcohols, such as Xylitol and Erythritol work very well. Xylitol is a great product with a taste very similar to sugar. You may find Xylitol a little pricey but once you taste it I think you will find Xylitol’s benefits outweigh its negatives. Erythritol is just as great, but it is actually even more expensive than Xylitol. However, Erythritol does not have the initial side effects of Xylitol such as diarrhea.

Novel sweeteners also work quite well. I did find Stevia has an after taste so I usually use other sweeteners with it such as Xylitol, Erythritol or Truvia. Truvia has a wonderful taste, however it is higher in carbs but you use half the amount of truvia compared to sugar.

I recently developed my low carb Dreamy Pumpkin Dessert. Why not give it a try and see how you enjoy your first taste of sugar substitutes?