Thursday, May 28

Poll: Artificial Sweeteners: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

Inspired by a recent comment,* we wanted to ask you all:

Artificial Sweeteners: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

Artificial Sweeteners

Over here, our views fall in the options A-C spectrum, but we're curious to know your thoughts!

* And partially, we'll admit, because we're kind of excited that we've figured out how to actually code a poll.** Oooo, shiny new toy!
** Of course, NOW we need to figure out why the "After the Jump" message is appearing when there is no recipe or nutritional info...
Posted by REC(ession)IPES at Thursday, May 28, 2009
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33 comments:

  1. LOL I like answer H. I try to avoid them, but if the establishment doesn't have raw sugar then I consume them. My favorite is the pink stuff. :)
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  2. I like the way you phrased A but in all actuality I really just take what is available.
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  3. I like Equal and Splenda but I still have not gotten in the habbit of using them regularly
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  4. I don't like fake anything.
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  5. It's not an artificial sweetener, but agave nectar is an excellent, natural sugar substitute. Please check out the related post on my blog:

    http://www.comestiblog.com/weblog/2009/01/agave-nectar-sweet-and-lowglycemic.html
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  7. generally artificial sweetener taste like liquorice, I don't like them, but if there is no choise...
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  8. I try to stay away from them except for in gum (because I use it to curb cravings) and I also use stevia in my coffee.
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  9. Overall, I eat a very healthy diet, but I am highly sensitive to sugar so I avoid it except for special occasions. I love sweetnes, so I can't live without artificial sweeteners. Tried other kinds of supposed natual low-calorie or non-calorie sweeteners, but they cause allergic reactions so I quit experimenting. Can't image what I would do without em.
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  10. I am not a fanatic or anything, I just do not like the idea of artificial, processed, and, or chemically doused stuff. Besides, having had my 2 babies later in life, when you are heavily warned to avoid artificial sweeteners for the safety of the developing fetus, it gives one pause...
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  11. I picked H, but B is pretty close to what I believe. I've read studies that suggest long-term use of artificial sweeteners (and foods that are artificially low-fat) mess with your body's ability to regulate appetite and caloric intake.

    I never use artificial sweeteners in my own cooking. I avoid soda of all kinds (have one maybe once a month). Mostly I drink water and iced tea.
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  12. The negatives of artificial sweeteners far outweigh any positives. Firstly, they taste terrible. If I forced my taste buds to adjust to the taste of artificial sweeteners, I shudder to think how real food would taste. Secondly, most sweeteners have proven to be carcinogens in large quantities. The more products with artificial sweeteners that a person uses increases their chances for cancer. The FDA tests sweeteners at the levels in individual products, NOT the cumulative levels which occur when people consume sweeteners in many different products.
    The solution is to consume less processed foods. Your taste buds can adjust lower levels of natural sugars. Unsweetened ice tea or sparkling water can replace diet sodas. The result would still be lower calories, and a healthier diet.
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  13. I answered G. I know so many people who depend on the artificial stuff to sweeten their coffee, but I'm not a coffee drinker and love to bake. You just can't beat sugar in baked goods. I can definitely tell when an artificial sweetener is in food/drinks.
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  14. I don't care for the taste, I like my sugar natural and real. I guess I am not apposed to it in general...for others, but they are not for me. I have bought a few things that have splenda in it, I think some yogurt drink, and didn't really enjoy it. Never cooked with it though, but I think for baking I would have to say that real sugar is the way to go.

    I am glad you found the cool new toy, it was a fun poll!
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  15. Artificial sweeteners are just what they say...artificial. There are so many wonderful, healthy alternatives to these, it's hard to believe they are so popular. My favorite natural sweeteners are as follows: Lakanto, real maple syrup, Stevia, raw blue agave nectar, rapadura, palm sugar, molasses, raw honey, coconut, or sucanat are my picks for natural sweeteners as they contain the most nutrients.
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  16. What about stevia? How do we feel about stevia? Isn't it a natural bush? My friend is growing one in his back yard!
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  17. Actually I prefer Stevia. I use Splenda when in restaurants, etc. because no one offers Stevia.
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  18. I agree with Comestiblog, and love my agave nectar (and sometimes honey)as a sweetener.
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  19. Artificial sweeteners all taste the same to me...really bad...I am a believer in all things natural and unprocessed and am ashamed to admit I'm not even that keen on stevia as it tastes like aspartame to me, but I will use it to sweeten my green tea.....give me sugar, honey, treacle, brown rice syrup.
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  20. I picked A, which is mostly true except that I am a sugar-free gum addict. My pet peeve is "healthified" recipes online that take a sugary recipe and just replace it all the sugar with artificial sweeteners. I love my real maple syrup, agave nectar, honey, and Sucanat as sweetenters...and fruit can work well for sweetness in baked goods :)
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  21. I don't fancy/like any sweets , so I'll say Leave 'Em!!!
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  22. leave them, as I try not as they are artificial. I would use natural ones. If I want to lose weight, I would rather cut out or lower my sugar intake.
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  23. I LOVE Crystal Light drink mix (and the WalMart and Target kinds) and drink tons of it all the time---and that is artificial everything! But in general I wouldn't use it or go out of my way to use it, I probably avoid it in everything else. So I'm a contradiction!
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  24. I think bromography put it best. I make an effort to avoid them.
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  25. I enjoy a diet soda once in a while but I won't add them to anything.

    Interestingly, Sweet-N-Low in the US is saccharin, which is banned in Canada. Meanwhile, Sweet-N-Low in Canada is Sodium Cyclamate, which is banned in the US.

    Go figure...
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  26. I don't cook with them, I do drink diet soda. I prefer splenda if not then equal. I don't buy either, our coffee treat at the office from Starbucks has lots of little packages left over. I take them home. Waste not want not, I share with family.
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  27. I don't like the taste :(

    And aspartame (for SHAME, Equal)

    Gimme my real sugar and I'll be happy :P
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  28. I actually am not big on sweets on to begin with, I have to be in the mood for them but when I do I try to do all natural sugars. All that fake sweetener stuff is simply terrible for you. It's healthier to consume the real stuff.
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  29. I agree with bromography. Taste is terrible, terrible for you. This is one time when moderation in all things is not applicable.
    Love your blog though!
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  30. Splenda is marketed as having no artificial taste, but YUK. Aftertaste like sucking on rayon!
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  31. The plural of anecdote is not data, but I've lost 130 pounds since January 2008, and I credit this in part to ditching artificial sweeteners. I've found that it's reduced my cravings for sweets and "bad" carbs.

    I also try to limit/avoid HFCS and instead have small amounts of regular sugar. Kashi GoLean is about as sweet as I like my breakfast cereal (6g sugar/serving). My favorite evening snack is hot chocolate made with half a serving of Ghirardelli double chocolate cocoa mix and 1 tablespoon plain, unsweetened cocoa—the taste is less sweet and more chocolate-y. (Sometimes I'll add cinnamon or peppermint extract for extra flavor.)

    The result? I'm much more in tune with the natural sweetness of produce—not just fruits, but also carrots, sugar snap peas, and even broccoli. I also find flavored herbal teas to be a much more refreshing way to get something sweet—and I can go with minty, spicy, or fruity teas.

    All that said, I'm not a total teetotaler on the fake stuff. Once every month or two I'll get a yen for a diet soda ... and give in, and regret it. Also, I'll admit to a weakness for South Beach frozen pizzas for a quick lunch (when I don't have any leftovers on hand), and those have sucralose in the crust ... it's pretty far down on the ingredient list, but it's there.
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  32. Wow, galnoir, congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment!
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  33. leave 'em, they are no good for us!!!

    www.camillecares.com
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