# Table Sugar - Any Non-Nasty Substitutes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286 "2004-06-08T15:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/1 "2004-06-08T15:05:29Z")
I have recently decided that my normal habit of drinking two cups of coffee laden with sugar each morning (and one or two cups later on) may be messing with my blood sugar more than I had previously realized. The last few days, I’ve been avoiding sugar, at least the sucrose kind, and it seems that my energy levels are much more even throughout the day, but I sure do miss sweetened coffee. I’ve always hated artificial sweeteners, and I can taste them immediately… Are there any sugar substitutes out there that taste like sugar and doesn’t have that chemically after-taste, but won’t send my blood chemistry on a roller-coaster ride? Sorry if this has been asked/answered in a previous post… ---
**Author:** ![Tiggrkitty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tiggrkitty/32/17966_2.png) [@Tiggrkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiggrkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/2 "2004-06-08T15:07:25Z")
Have you tried Splenda? It tastes like real sugar and you can bake with it, unlike Nutra-sweet that loses it’s flavor when cooked. ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/3 "2004-06-08T15:13:34Z")
I’d second Splenda. It’s the best of the lot and doesn’t seem to “break down” into some really nasty taste in heat or hot liquids like the others. Some people say it has a chemical taste, but I haven’t found it noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/4 "2004-06-08T15:15:33Z")
> [@Tiggrkitty](#): > > Have you tried Splenda? > > It tastes like real sugar and you can bake with it, unlike Nutra-sweet that loses it’s flavor when cooked. No, haven’t tried anything yet. I wanted to get some opinions first. It seems that every time I’ve accidently gotten a mouthful of anything that had an artificial sweetener, the memory of the taste lingers on and on and on… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/5 "2004-06-08T15:28:04Z")
Split your sweeteners. I usually add one packet of sugar and .5 packet of Equal to my coffee. I also do that at self-serve soda fountains. Half Coke, half Diet Coke. Keeps all the flavor without all the calories. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/6 "2004-06-08T15:46:27Z")
Splenda is awesome. It tastes exactly like sugar, you use it in the same amounts, and is stable for baking. If I’m not mistaken, it IS real sugar that has been altered in some way to be undigestible. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/7 "2004-06-08T15:48:16Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Splenda is awesome. It tastes exactly like sugar, you use it in the same amounts, and is stable for baking. If I’m not mistaken, it IS real sugar that has been altered in some way to be undigestible. So it doesn’t cause blood sugar to spike? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/8 "2004-06-08T15:57:09Z")
[Check it out](http://www.splenda.com/page.jhtml;jsessionid=ILLP3HZYTTONQCQPCB3SUZQKB2IIWNSC?id=splenda/diabetes/main.inc) > [@](#): > > Sucralose, or SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener, the no calorie sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, is not a carbohydrate and has been shown in studies to have no effect on blood glucose control or insulin levels. > [@](#): > > Though you might have heard anything ending in “ose” means sugar and should be used in moderation, sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener, is an OK “ose”. It is not recognized by the body as sugar or as a carbohydrate and has no calories. Sucralose has also been shown not to cause a rise in hemoglobin A1c (a measure of your average blood glucose level over time). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/9 "2004-06-08T16:13:17Z")
Splenda is about the best of the lot. It doesn’t taste QUITE like sugar IMO, but it doesn’t have a nasty aftertaste like so many artificial sweeteners do. Sometimes saccharine or Equal will give me nasty headaches, and Splenda has never done that, so I like it for that, too. However, on the rare occasions when I add a sweetener, I usually use about 3 parts Splenda to one part real sugar. Otherwise it just doesn’t taste right to me. My husband and I are both diabetic, but we keep real sugar around because Splenda is not a perfect substitute. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/10 "2004-06-08T16:23:33Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Splenda is awesome. It tastes exactly like sugar, you use it in the same amounts, and is stable for baking. If I’m not mistaken, it IS real sugar that has been altered in some way to be undigestible. There was a GQ in the last week or so about Splenda. Sucralose is made by replacing three hydroxyl groups with chlorines. I’ve got a post in the other thread that has a link to a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/11 "2004-06-08T16:25:12Z")
Good info folks - thanks. Splenda it will be - I’ll try it tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/12 "2004-06-08T17:08:55Z")
There is also [stevia](http://www.healthy.net/nutrit/kitchen/foods/stevia.asp), which I have tried. For sweetening coffee and tea it is fine, but I don’t know if you can bake with it. I also don’t know about some of the claims in that link, like helping with the release of insulin. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/13 "2004-06-08T17:14:48Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > There is also [stevia](http://www.healthy.net/nutrit/kitchen/foods/stevia.asp), Mrs. Plant uses that stuff. I mistakenly took a large swallow of her iced tea and thought I was going to die the most horrible death imaginable. It reminded me of when I ate cereal as a child, with equal proportions of milk and sugar. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/14 "2004-06-08T17:55:00Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Splenda is awesome. It tastes exactly like sugar,. The hell it does. It doesn’t taste bad, but there’s a world of difference between Splenda and real sugar. IMO, it doesn’t taste a bit better than any of the others–Splenda has a chemical taste while you’re drinking it with no aftertaste, while they taste pretty damn good during with a slight aftertaste. Personally, I prefer Equal and its equivalents (that is the stuff in the blue packet, right?) to Splenda, especially with the price difference. I get the generic Equal–better taste, quarter of the price, no contest. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/15 "2004-06-08T19:13:36Z")
I tried Splenda a few months ago and I thought it was _awful_ … I could tell it wasn’t sugar and it left an after taste (although it wasn’t quite so \*ewwwwww \* as saccarine sweetners ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/16 "2004-06-09T01:50:15Z")
I used to like sweetened coffee way back, but now can’t stand the stuff. Actually when accidently given it and I couldn’t go back to correct it I have just thrown it away. I don’t know if you can make this transition, but this may help. 1st get good coffee, dunkin donuts ranks #1 in my book 2nd get it w/ the heavyest cream that you can get - and ask for extra cream - especially durign the transition. If ou are concerned about the fat content in the cream, use it to get off sugar. Once you just love the taste of good coffee you can try to cut back on the cream and go to milk, if you are so inclined. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/17 "2004-06-09T02:19:34Z")
I remember doing something in school about genetics. Apparently, there’s a salt substitute that tastes “pretty okay and really salty” to some people and “fucking nasty” to others. Maybe the taste of Equal, Sweet-n-Low and Splenda is linked to genetics somehow? ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/18 "2004-06-09T02:22:17Z")
One more vote for Splenda here. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/19 "2004-06-09T02:24:14Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I used to like sweetened coffee way back, but now can’t stand the stuff. Actually when accidently given it and I couldn’t go back to correct it I have just thrown it away. I don’t know if you can make this transition, but this may help. > > 1st get good coffee, dunkin donuts ranks #1 in my book > > 2nd get it w/ the heavyest cream that you can get - and ask for extra cream - especially durign the transition. > > If ou are concerned about the fat content in the cream, use it to get off sugar. Once you just love the taste of good coffee you can try to cut back on the cream and go to milk, if you are so inclined. Great idea. If the non-sugar sweetener doesn’t work out, I’ll try your suggestion. Thanks. I bought some Splenda tonight and I’ll try it in my coffee tomorrow - I’ll report back. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286/20 "2004-06-09T02:26:24Z")
One more vote against Splenda here. Nasty stuff. To me, it does not even taste very sweet; just chemical-y. Suggestion: Try out the various options when you’re having coffee out, to save yourself the problem of buying a whole bunch of something you don’t like. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-sugar-any-non-nasty-substitutes/249286.md?page=2)