BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Low Carb Very important question to me - need advice

I am now focusing on eating more pure foods, organics, etc. I no longer buy fat free, low carb, etc. It created a lot of stomach problems for me. I am feeling much better, more energy AND have lost 14 pounds. I do not count calories because I am full eating much less food.

On sugar alcohols, I suppose it's like the question of whether all people get severe diarrhea from them <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Some people claim everybody does. In my experience, very few people do. So maybe the basic thing is that everyone should determine for themselves how sugar alcohols affect them, and eat them accordingly <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

SkinnyDipr - it's definitely best to eat whole, natural foods. If you eat low carb, i.e. buying broccoli, salmon, chicken, etc. you will have very few problems. If you eat low carb by buying a ton of sugar free Nestle Crunch bars, then definitely you'll run into stomach problems <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In a way you *are* counting calories by eating things that are low calorie - i.e. healthy natural foods. If you ate the same amount of junk food, i.e. the same volume of food but containing *higher* calories, you wouldn't have lost the weight. So you're counting calories in your head, by choosing foods that are naturally lower in calorie and healthier for you. Which is of course good!

I have to disagree on one little point... Maltodextrin. I've read over and over again that powdered Splenda is cut with it where the liquid version isn't. Maltodextrin will spike your insulin level, thus cause cravings for some people.

I generally find I have no problems with any of the sugar alcohols but do try to avoid maltodextrin and have even purchased the liquid version of Splenda on-line since we can't buy it in the stores.

That's very interesting! I'll have to do some experiments and see if I can find a difference! Thanks <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The maltodextrin and dextrose in splenda have a very high glycemic index. In the context of a packet or two in a cup of coffee, I don't think the glycemic load will be sufficient enough to cause blood sugar spikes/ensuing cravings. If someone is going to bake with splenda, though, yes, liquid splenda is definitely the way to go. The maltodextrin in granular splenda based baked goods can really add up. I've been using liquid splenda for two and half years- love it. Not only is it carb free, but up until the release of the Walmart of brand of granular, it was the cheapest form of splenda you could buy (based on a per cup sweetening equivalent). It's still only pennies more than Walmart's brand and quite a bit cheaper than the name brand stuff.

hmmm...I have not noticed a change in blood sugar levels with splinda and i test 8 times a day...i bake with it as well as use it in ice tea... just goes to prove to each there own!!

FreeBubbles2 - Wow, I can't even *imagine* testing 8 times a day. I have low blood pressure and it's hard to even test once, never mind 8 times. Kudos to you for going through that.