Hi all I just started today after advice from an American woman who lived in Turkey and worked in Russian while I was on a plane in the Russian far east. I figured it must be fate because I have tried everything else. I just wanted to know if you can or cannot have aspartame and why, sucralose/splenda or saccharin? I can't really stomach muesli without some sweetener. Where/how do you buy fructose?

Thanks!

Penny

First off, if you haven't already, make sure you read the book that corresponds to the program you plan to follow.

Second, make sure you check the nutri info on your museli...sweetened or not, it's extremely high in carbs and doesn't have as much fiber as most people think.

As for sweeteners...many folks have mentioned stalled weight loss on aspartame and there are a lot of folks in the low carb community who truly believe it is unsafe. Splenda/Sucralose is believed to be safer (because it's made from modified cane sugar), tastes closer to the real thing and is "heat stable". Saccharin is safe and heat stable too, but has an aftertaste. Fructose is safe, but even though it's safe for diabetics it has just as many calories as sugar, so it doesn't really qualify for LC.

For more info check out an article on this site:

http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips006.html

Brian

Thank you Brian, that clears up some of the confusion. I guess that means no more diet coke! But diet rite cola uses splenda so I can have that I hope! Congrats on you weight loss.

Penny

The Montignac book, Eat Yourself Slim and Stay Slim has a detailed section on sugar and sugar substitutes. On the whole, the Montiganc Plan avoids ANY artifical substitutes and suppliments.

Penzster, the plan you have choosen to follow does not have as many high carb forbidden foods, as some of the other plans people follow on this board. Muesli, if choosen corrently, can be perfectly acceptable on Phase 1 of the Montignac Method. Make sure the muesli contains no sweetners of any kind (inc. sugar, honey, molasses). It must also not contain any puffed rice or corn. You can mix it with skimmed milk and if you like, some sugar free jam or low GI fruits to sweeten.

Despite debates about the safety of artifical sweetners, Montignac links artificial sweetners to a distruption in your metabolic rate, and trick the body into thinking you are eating regular sugars. Exactly what you are working to avoid on this diet plan. In addtion, anything made from modified cane or corn sugars are "bad" on Montignac (i.e. no Splenda / Sucralose)

Not only are fizzy drinks bad, even diet ones, but any artifical sweetners should be avoided too - not just becasue of the sugar / sweetner contents, but also because of various other things, caffeine, phosphoric acid etc.

The fact that you are put off by museli without sweetning, is part of a diet - you are working to avoid sugar cravings!. Maybe if you can't stand museli right now, how about eggs on wholemeal toast? There are plenty of breakfast options.

Your ONLY option is Fructose, if you have to sweeten foods.
Fructose can be bought at healthfood stores, and organic food stores.

I'd recommend you read Eat Yourself Slim.... and Stay Slim. Its very helpful when sorting out these problems.

Good luck
Spang

Another newbie type question. What do you all think/know abt liquid sweet n low? Is it zero carb since there is no filler? I have tried to find some threads on this but have had no luck!

personally, as I'm following the Montignac plan, he tells us not to eat any artificial sweetners at all.

This is based on the possiblity that when you digest them, it could trick the body into expecting sweetness and therfore carbs - and hence your blood sugar level will rise more than normal, and then a hypogycemic reaction.

The only acceptable option to Montignac is fructose (definitely not to be confused with high fructose corn syrup).

However, I'm sure people following other plans will probably disagree with me!

SPang