I am new to clean eating and wonder

[48yearolddebutante]

about sugar.
I know it's not good but what about organic sugar? Seems to me like it's the same as regular sugar but I don't know.
What about sugar-free chocolates?

I need something to keep me going! I thank anyone who can answer

also..what about sardines (yum)

 

[SirenSongWoman]

I always say if you're going to be bad, be bad... in moderation. This will probably be tough until after new year's, though . I don't think we fully understand the repercussions of ingesting artificial sweeteners and believe it's best to avoid those altogether.

A lot of people here use agave nectar as a sweetener. Like sugar, it's not low in calories but, unlike sugar, it's not processed and it's not fake/potentially hazardous like all the artificial no-cal sweeteners. I've never used it but it's been discussed here enough that I have learned that what makes it a good choice is that it causes no blood sugar spikes. Hope I helped.

I look forward to learning everyone's feeling about sardines because I have no clue.

 

[coloradomama]

Like Stacey said, if you're going to be bad, do the real thing and do it in moderation. Have a small piece of good chocolate and it will be far more satisfying than a piece of sugar free chocolate. And beware of sugar alcohols that are in sugar free foods as they don't agree with a lot of people.

 

[Gayle]

also..what about sardines (yum)

Sardines are a good thing...good source of omega-3's, calcium, vitamin D, protein...eat 'em up!

 

[48yearolddebutante]

thank you for those answers and a very happy sardine lover here

 

[kathryn]

Nutritionally, organic sugar is no different from non-organic. It is, however, more environmentally sound. Raw sugar hasn't been processed so much (regular 'white' sugar going through about 7 filtering processes, which remove any nutrients it had to begin with).

SirenSongWoman mentioned agave. There are also other sweeteners like rice syrup and barley malt syrup that are less processed (still sugars, but they also contain more nutrients--though no sweetener really has a nutritional punch, except perhaps blackstrap molasses---it has to be 'blackstrap'--which is a good source of iron. It's what's removed from white sugar in the processing).

 

[Pearlstrand]

Agave nectar does not spike your blood sugar the way most sugars do. It is sweet (though it has a different taste), and I mix it into the much-discussed Greek-style yogurt that I eat every day.

I have to say, however, that cutting back (and eventually eliminating) sugar in your diet can help reduce your cravings for sweet things. You may lose the sweet tooth (figuratively, not literally!).

Honey, while a form of sugar, has properties that are good for you (something about reducing the incidence of sinus infections -- I forget the actual mechanism).

Sardines? Hate 'em! Salty, fishy, ugh!

Good luck with your clean eating.

 

[pebblesus]

I tried weening myself off the sugar! Not easy..

I started by cutting back on my daily Iced Mocha's (mmm .. I haven't actually had one in almost three months now. I switched to regualr iced coffee's.

Now Im down to iced coffee with a packet of Stevia. I watch the sugar in food I like regularily and try to sta away from things with high amounts (cut back o nthe milk too).

Things like honey are natural sweeteners, but are still calorie-dense like sugar. Id opt for sweeteners that do not mess with your blood sugar as that seems to be the biggest problem for most people.

If you have a sugar addiction then Id agree that indulging in a little once in a while in moderation is much saner idea.. the whole low sugar maple syrup for my proteinpancakes did NOT work lol!

Sardines? I love 'em too.. I like octapus, anchovies, kettle fish, mackerel-- you name it-- right out of the can! However do keep in mind that they are packed with sodium which can be a big problem too.. if you can't bare to drain them then Id have the in moderation as well-- and drinks LOTS of water with them

 

[Brighton]

My Christmas present to myself this year was a sub to Clean-Eating magazine. I am in LOVE!

Anyway, here's some info about sweeteners from an article in the latest issue:

Sucanat: A minimally processed derivative from sugar cane, sucanat can replace refined sugar in equal amounts in recipes.

Maple Sugar Flakes: They add flavor at half the calories of refined sugar and may be used in place of white sugar in equal volume. For a finer texture, whirl maple sugar flakes in a food processor.

Agave Nectar: Mainly extracted from the Mexican agave plant, use agave nectar as an alternative to other liquid sweeteners.

Honey: Naturally sweeter than granulated sugar, honey may be substituted for up to half the sugar in a recipe. But reduce oven temperature by 25 degrees to prevent overbrowning of baked goods.

Stevia: A half-teaspoon of stevia powder equals the sweetness of a cup of sugar, but with negligible calories. It's best used diluted with water or added to another liquid sweetener, but it's not the best fit for baking.

Hope that answers some questions-- I know it did for me!!! Happy eating, everyone!

 

[48yearolddebutante]

this is wonderful information, thank you all. I guess a good piece of chocolate once per week will be my goal for now until I can get rid of the desire.

Anchovies...OMG, I LOVE anchovies....