There is lots of buzz behind putting less sugar into our diets to promote better blood sugar control. With the increasing number of sugar alternatives out there, one can say it is a good time in history to be diabetic. I am experimenting myself with getting more sweetness out of the items I able to digest by using alternatives to having sugar in my diet and cutting back on the refined carbs. Still, I am skeptical about the variety of some of the stuff that’s coming out on the market as I have to consider the long term affects of what it might do to me.
The product I am trying out for my first time is Truvia. According to Marks Daily Apple, Truvia is a wonder product that shows real promise although little is known about its long term effects on the human body. But it does not raise blood sugars in diabetics and its also a non factor in elevating blood pressure. A true miracle product for diabetics if ever there was one.
So now I check the sweetness chart to see how much of this wonderful stuff converts to the sugar I use. The truth is, like most of the sugar alternatives out there, while it does sweeten, Truvia’s short fall comes in the form of not being to add texture and volume to some recipes. Well, I just learned on some You tube video about how to add vegetable glycerin, another baking substitute to make up for some of that. Then there’s the advice I get from my neighbor to add a little powdered milk to make up for some of that volume. Does that have some form of sugar in it? I’m sure it does, but nevertheless, I count the carbs and I’m still ahead of the game.
To be on the safe side, I still hold to the axiom that all things that are man made should be taken in moderation as I plan to definitely do with my Truvia and stick to making sure I stay on the strict and the narrow with my carb counts and blood sugar measurements to see how everything affects my regimen. Still. I would love to hear from you guys who have tried Truvia and know the truth: Is it as good as they say? Are you concerned about the long term effects? Is it a wonder food that means salvation for us diabetics? Inquiring minds want to know now.
E, king of nye
Filed under: Diabetes in the News, Diabetes Recipes Tagged: | add vegetable glycerin, joy of low glycemic, Truvia
Truvia is a brand of stevia–it’s a stevia product. “Stevia” is the name of the plant from where the sweetest part of its leaves are extracted. So, is stevia safe for diabetics? The short answer is “yes” ! In fact, stevia has been used in South America ( I think in Paraguay and Brazil) to treat diabetes for many years. It can lower blood sugar levels, but shouldn’t effect normal blood sugar levels and can nourish the pancreas–it has 0 calories, 0 carbs, and a 0 glycemic index! These, of course are the attributes of pure stevia. Most brands use ethanol, methanol, solvents, and enzymes druring extraction, and nutrients are removed from the leaves due to bad extraction (there are many other nutritional benefits besides the ones described abov).
I am not an expert about Truvia, and I have never tried it, but I understand it has erythritol, which I believe is a sugar alcohol, blended with the rebiana ( the stevia extract) They (I think the Truvia people) claim that erythritol is natural because it comes from other natural produce foods we eat. I’ll let you determine that for yourself.
I use SweetLeaf Sweetener stevia. It’s the only brand that uses only pure water during the entire extraction process, so the nutrients remain and retains the 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 glycemic properties. The only thing its blended with is soluble inulin fiber, (in their powder) which is a digestive aid–and good for diabetics (and anyone else). I’ve used it in baking chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and cranberry orange muffins, and they turned out well! You do need to add another ingredient to make up for lost bulk. It helps me to have a cookbook full of recipes using stevia! They have changed there website recently, but hopefully there still is a conversion chart showing amounts of stevia for given amounts of sugar, as well as yummy looking recipes at http://www.sweetleaf.com
Good luck!