Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

[journey00]

I'm on extended induction, I want sweets. My total daily Splenda count is "3", from what I understand (eg: 3 splenda packets, 1 Diet Rite). If I can go over that count with Stevia, then that's what I want. What do u guys use? Stevia or Splenda? What is the total daily count for Stevia??

[Sherri]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

Hello Journey, I use Stevia because It's a natural sweetner that is derived from a shrub that grows in Central and South America, it is virtually calorie free. It will not increase blood glucose levels.It is also heat stable to almost 400 degrees F.As far as I know it doesn't have a carb count.

[Elizellen]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

Many of us here interpret the '3 servings a day' rule to mean just that - 3 total servings of whatever sweetener we use, so it would not matter whether we were using a 'carb-free variety, still only 3 servings max a day.

[not2late]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

And that 3 servings rule doesn't change from Induction through Pre-Maintenance....

[sadie147]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

Hello Journey, I use Stevia because It's a natural sweetner that is derived from a shrub that grows in Central and South America, it is virtually calorie free. It will not increase blood glucose levels.It is also heat stable to almost 400 degrees F.As far as I know it doesn't have a carb count.

It doesn't have a carb count if you use the pure stevia powder or liquid, but will if you use the packets that have fillers to dilute the strength.

Stevia tastes much different from splenda, i use splenda for some things but not everything. I don't like the taste of it in tea/coffee etc, but i do find it works with when mixed with other sweeteners for baking.

I'm currently growing it in my backyard as well, it's an herb and very easy to grow. you can boil it down to a liquid concentrate and it works very well if you can get past the green colour .

[Tack Candy]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

I love sweets (ahem, lovED sweets). The trick is to kill that desire to eat them. Sounds awful for those of us who live for something sweet but isn't that one of the battles we fight on a "diet"? With Atkins (if you follow the plan) you will no longer want sweets. Well, yeah, sweets are tasty, I am not gonna lie, but I don't have the uncontrolable urge to swing into the 7-11 for a cookie if you know what I mean. I was OBSESSIVE about them. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to have the control I have...and it isn't hard (once your body goes into Ketosis).

So, rather than look for ways to include sweets try to live for 2 weeks without them and see if your opinion of doughnuts changes.

Good luck!
Candy

[Kawispice]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

I use Stevia in liquid form and I use as much as I want, in fact I sometimes have to cut back because the food is too sweet.

Does not seem to effect anything, cravings etc


It did change my taste for sweets though.

At the end of June I got a box of the very best Belgium chocolates as a gift from the parents of my students. This is the type of chocolate that costs its weight in gold, 24 karat gold... it is the very best chocolate made... I resisted it for two weeks... then yesterday, I gave in. I had a small bite.

Yuckk! I don't like sugar (chocolate was made with sugar) anymore. It tastes funny to me, unpleasant, not a nice kind of sweetness at all. Stevia tastes so much better. I made an herbal tea with Stevia to kill the chocolate taste. I can't believe it, I actually don't like the taste of sugar any more... but I still love the taste of sweetness.

[journey00]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

Thank you all very much for your replies. This board has been my lifeline.

[chewtoy45]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

It doesn't have a carb count if you use the pure stevia powder or liquid, but will if you use the packets that have fillers to dilute the strength.

Are you sure about the powder and liquid having no carbs? If so, great. I can go back to using the liquid rather than the packets I get at Trader Joe's, which have 1 carb per. It's hard limiting myself to only 3 packets a day especially since I love it in herb tea and would like to be able to drink more throughout the day.

[VGrace]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

Stevia. I can handle a couple of packets of Splenda but after that it makes me sick.

[sadie147]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

Are you sure about the powder and liquid having no carbs? If so, great. I can go back to using the liquid rather than the packets I get at Trader Joe's, which have 1 carb per. It's hard limiting myself to only 3 packets a day especially since I love it in herb tea and would like to be able to drink more throughout the day.

Yes if it's the pure powder, and has no fillers. the liquid is usually pure as well.

the packets usually have fillers to bulk them up.

that still doesn't mean you should have more than 3 servings a day however as Elizellen posted, that is a general rule for sweetners and not just by carb count.

[chewtoy45]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

How many drops of liquid equal one serving?

[sadie147]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

That's tough to say, since it's 2x300 times sweeter than sugar, it would depend on if it's diluted with water etc. pure stevia powder is difficult to work with since it's so sweet.

I don't use it anymore for my coffee, but when i did, i considered 1 cup of coffee to be 2 servings, since i take 2 sweeteners in my coffee.

[mystic]

Re: Stevia or Splenda? which is better?

I was happy to see other people had equated the use of Splenda to headaches. I started with Splenda when I started Atkins so I didn't know what the heck was the source of these sudden headaches. When I read here, that others were having that problem, I was surprised and relieved. I ordered some Stevia now.