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This is from the Wednesday, August 27, 2003 The Washington Post Food Section.
Can You Out-Smart Sugar?
Wednesday, August 27, 2003; Page F04
Sugar = calories.
It's a fact that many are unwilling to accept.
Back in the good old days of artificial sweeteners, the choice was simple: pink or blue packets. Now the decision-making process entails weighing the relative risks of 16 calories per teaspoon of all-natural sugar versus 0 calories per packet of chemically produced alternative sweetener.
And things have gotten even more perplexing in recent years. Conflicting research on the potentially dangerous side effects of articial sweeteners aside, there has been a proliferation of sweetening alternatives that are purported to be -- or might easily be mistaken as -- all-natural.
There's a lot to consider. (Flavor, anyone?) Here is a breakdown of the sweeteners we've most commonly encountered in local markets:
• Stevia Plus Fiber*
Lure: "Nutritional supplement . . . Don't Sweeten Your Coffee, Supplement It"
The package screams all natural and boasts a sweetness up to 30 times that of sugar.
How sweet it is: Strangely, we found stevia to be slightly sweet in some beverages -- tea, lemon water, dairy and soy milk smoothies -- but rather bitter when stirred into coffee, sprinkled over fruit and yogurt or tasted on its own. We have yet to yet to try a baking recipe supplied by stevia manufacturers. Because of the very complex reactions that occur during baking, stevia powder can not just be swapped for sugar in recipes; we'd have to trust those supplied by individidual companies.
What is it? Glycosides extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. Stevia was used as a sweetener by native Americans throughout South America for hundreds of years; the Paraguayans in particular revered it for its purported medicinal qualities. There are several brands of stevia products; the most common brand we saw in stores is made by Wisdom Herbs.
Owing to the high fiber content of some stevia products (stevia is sometimes combined with a natural plant-based fiber), it can clump slightly if you are not diligent in stirring.
About $6.99 per 50 packets; also available in bulk and tablet form. For more information, see
• Splenda
Lure: "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar"
Marketed as a sugar-based, no-calorie sweetener with a sugar-y flavor.
How sweet it is: Regardless of its source, Splenda has a slightly fake, but undeniably sweet, flavor not unlike Equal, whether incorporated into tea, coffee, fruit, cereal or anything else.
Despite advertising claims to the contrary when it first hit supermarket shelves, we were unsuccessful when baking with Splenda. We haven't tried since.
What is it? Dextrose, maltodextrin and sucralose.
About $4.29 per 100 packets; also available in bulk granular packages. For more information, see www.splenda.com
• Ideal You*
Lure: "The Sweet, Healthy Way to Stay Trim!"
The packaging promises a product that is calorie free, full of fiber with an added boost of calcium.
How sweet it is: The packaging didn't mention the ugly large granules of light brown sweetener, nor its entirely unpleasant, oddly off flavor and fragrance, perhaps best described as yeasty or malty.
What is it? Beneo (made of inulin, a natural vegetable fiber), calcium carbonate, lemon extract, grape extract and natural flavors. Each packet contains 10 percent of the RDA for calcium.
$9.99per 35 packets. For more information, see www.idealyou.com.
*Note: Statements made by Wisdom Herbs and Ideal You have not been evaluated by the FDA.
-- Renee Schettler
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
Can You Out-Smart Sugar?
Wednesday, August 27, 2003; Page F04
Sugar = calories.
It's a fact that many are unwilling to accept.
Back in the good old days of artificial sweeteners, the choice was simple: pink or blue packets. Now the decision-making process entails weighing the relative risks of 16 calories per teaspoon of all-natural sugar versus 0 calories per packet of chemically produced alternative sweetener.
And things have gotten even more perplexing in recent years. Conflicting research on the potentially dangerous side effects of articial sweeteners aside, there has been a proliferation of sweetening alternatives that are purported to be -- or might easily be mistaken as -- all-natural.
There's a lot to consider. (Flavor, anyone?) Here is a breakdown of the sweeteners we've most commonly encountered in local markets:
• Stevia Plus Fiber*
Lure: "Nutritional supplement . . . Don't Sweeten Your Coffee, Supplement It"
The package screams all natural and boasts a sweetness up to 30 times that of sugar.
How sweet it is: Strangely, we found stevia to be slightly sweet in some beverages -- tea, lemon water, dairy and soy milk smoothies -- but rather bitter when stirred into coffee, sprinkled over fruit and yogurt or tasted on its own. We have yet to yet to try a baking recipe supplied by stevia manufacturers. Because of the very complex reactions that occur during baking, stevia powder can not just be swapped for sugar in recipes; we'd have to trust those supplied by individidual companies.
What is it? Glycosides extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. Stevia was used as a sweetener by native Americans throughout South America for hundreds of years; the Paraguayans in particular revered it for its purported medicinal qualities. There are several brands of stevia products; the most common brand we saw in stores is made by Wisdom Herbs.
Owing to the high fiber content of some stevia products (stevia is sometimes combined with a natural plant-based fiber), it can clump slightly if you are not diligent in stirring.
About $6.99 per 50 packets; also available in bulk and tablet form. For more information, see
• Splenda
Lure: "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar"
Marketed as a sugar-based, no-calorie sweetener with a sugar-y flavor.
How sweet it is: Regardless of its source, Splenda has a slightly fake, but undeniably sweet, flavor not unlike Equal, whether incorporated into tea, coffee, fruit, cereal or anything else.
Despite advertising claims to the contrary when it first hit supermarket shelves, we were unsuccessful when baking with Splenda. We haven't tried since.
What is it? Dextrose, maltodextrin and sucralose.
About $4.29 per 100 packets; also available in bulk granular packages. For more information, see www.splenda.com
• Ideal You*
Lure: "The Sweet, Healthy Way to Stay Trim!"
The packaging promises a product that is calorie free, full of fiber with an added boost of calcium.
How sweet it is: The packaging didn't mention the ugly large granules of light brown sweetener, nor its entirely unpleasant, oddly off flavor and fragrance, perhaps best described as yeasty or malty.
What is it? Beneo (made of inulin, a natural vegetable fiber), calcium carbonate, lemon extract, grape extract and natural flavors. Each packet contains 10 percent of the RDA for calcium.
$9.99per 35 packets. For more information, see www.idealyou.com.
*Note: Statements made by Wisdom Herbs and Ideal You have not been evaluated by the FDA.
-- Renee Schettler
© 2003 The Washington Post Company