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Step 1
Many sugar-free foods contain sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and mannitol. These are carb-based ingredients that contain at least half the calories of regular carbohydrates, but they still count as carbs and may have more calories. Read the labels.
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Step 2
Sugar substitutes such as aspartame (Nutrasweet) and sucralose (Splenda) do not contain calories or carbs. Sodas with these ingredients are calorie free, but other foods containing these substitutes may be high in calories and carbs from the other ingredients. Check your labels.
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Step 3
Of all the artificial sweeteners, Splenda is one of the most tested sugar substitutes and the least controversial. You can bake with it, unlike the other sweeteners.
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Step 4
Learn to read labels on sugar-free and no sugar added foods. Check the carbs and calories. You may be better off having a small portion of the real food.
Comments
chiawana said
on 8/24/2008 Yes, it's the carbs that are the real culprit in sending blood sugars through the roof. Once you start reading labels you see just how many carbs are in sugar free and low sugar products. Sometimes the products with sugar don't have any more carbs than the "diet" products.
Melanierose said
on 8/7/2008 Great article very informative.
xtraordinary said
on 8/6/2008 This is a really important topic, not only for diabetics, but people who are doing certain diets are able to eat sugar free candies. Thanks for the great tips! 5*
LilacGirl said
on 8/6/2008 What a terrific article, very good information.
desolator144 said
on 8/6/2008 Something else to know is sugar alcohol is a really powerful laxitive in decent quanities. For example, if you eat an entire bag of "sugar free" jelly bellies, you're not gonna be a very happy person later.