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Original poster

To be cross there’s artificial sweeteners in most drinks now?

90 replies

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 12:58

I’m starting keto so cutting down the carbs considerably but I don’t want to up the artificial sweeteners either. I like lemon squash but all the brands seem to use sweeteners that aren’t great for you. Like diet drinks do. Is there a low carb so no sugar squash that uses a better sweetener? I’ve been told by a dr to cut down caffeine and artificial sweeteners. I hate water and don’t drink it plain. Help!

OP posts:
Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 15:09

I think sweeteners are horrifically bad for you so I avoid all except stevia if its unavoidable. I buy Rocks squash for dh and the dcs.

iamtheblcksheep · 02/09/2024 15:08

I buy natural fruit juice and water them down like a cordial. It doesn’t taste the same but it takes the edge off the water and is so much better for you than sugary sweeteners

MissEsmeWatson · 02/09/2024 15:07

Oh OP, it's a nightmare avoiding artificial sweeteners! Asda do a blackcurrant and an apple & mango that are safe from them, Rocks are okay too but pricy. I think Waitrose have some, I don't live in reach of one unfortunately so I'm not sure about that If you're on Facebook look for the SOS (save our sugar) group, they're quite helpful.

Hillarious · 02/09/2024 14:57

Because of all the drinks with sweeteners, we now buy the Polish Lowicz fruit syrups in the supermarket. Very nice, but they do have sugar, so no good for the OP. Nice for us though, with sparkling water.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 02/09/2024 14:47

FiveTreeHill · 02/09/2024 14:37

Bovril?

In all seriousness squash is a sweet drink, there's no such thing as a squash without sugar or sweeteners. Especially if you don't want lemon, cucumber, mint water or fruit tea

Lots of flavoured sodas are low in sugar and no sweeteners like fever tree sodas or dash water, London essence sodas. They still contain some sugar but quite low, you will either need to drink water, or accept some sugar

Oooo hot marmite is the one!!!!

Spoonful of marmite stirred into hot water. Delicious. Guessing its like a vegan version of bovril.

FeralWoman · 02/09/2024 14:46

If you check out YouTube for reviews of AirUp the overwhelming verdict is that it doesn’t work for most people.

FiveTreeHill · 02/09/2024 14:37

Bovril?

In all seriousness squash is a sweet drink, there's no such thing as a squash without sugar or sweeteners. Especially if you don't want lemon, cucumber, mint water or fruit tea

Lots of flavoured sodas are low in sugar and no sweeteners like fever tree sodas or dash water, London essence sodas. They still contain some sugar but quite low, you will either need to drink water, or accept some sugar

Skyrainlight · 02/09/2024 14:32

Totally agree, I hate artificial sweeteners and never drink them.

VikingLady · 02/09/2024 14:26

I can't buy any ice pops for the kids any more, they ALL have sweeteners. My kids have sensitive guts and I don't think a hot summer day would be improved by a raging torrent of diarrhoea.

I feel like such a hippy mum when I make our own ice lollies. But it means no cheap treats when we're out.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 02/09/2024 14:23

Can't you just down a glass of plain water as if it's "medicine" (which it kind of is really as we need it to survive!)

Dp won't drink plain water either and it drives me mad

Truthfully, I can't understand people who won't just drink plain water. You don't have to like it but were all adults aren't we?

That nasty stuff they make you drink when pregnant for the GD test is far worse 😂

KnittedCardi · 02/09/2024 14:18

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 14:04

Was looking for something with maybe xylitol from birch trees. Natural sweeteners. It’s in gum so can be made into commercial food and drink.

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Why is that different from Stevia? It isn't. Still natural, but processed.

Dan Pellegrino Classic is the one you need for old fashioned sugar content.

Belvoir Cordials are standard sugar. Love the Ginger one.

CherryValley5 · 02/09/2024 14:10

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 14:04

Was looking for something with maybe xylitol from birch trees. Natural sweeteners. It’s in gum so can be made into commercial food and drink.

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With the added benefit of giving you diarrhoea!

FeralWoman · 02/09/2024 14:10

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 14:04

Was looking for something with maybe xylitol from birch trees. Natural sweeteners. It’s in gum so can be made into commercial food and drink.

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You know that it can cause gas, bloating, farts and diarrhoea? Surely a few grams of sugar is better than having those side effects.

Xylitol is toxic and potentially fatal to dogs even in tiny doses. The less of it the better.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 14:04

FeralWoman · 02/09/2024 13:53

What would it actually contain if no sugar and no artificial sweeteners? That’s kind of the two options to make something sweet.

Show quote history

Was looking for something with maybe xylitol from birch trees. Natural sweeteners. It’s in gum so can be made into commercial food and drink.

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 14:01

Yes sweeteners in savoury food is bad. I’m now having to really read the labels on everything.

OP posts:
FeralWoman · 02/09/2024 13:53

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:45

lol yep! I really thought there would be a squash out there. That’s why I asked for help. There’s a real gap in the market. Thanks everyone.

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What would it actually contain if no sugar and no artificial sweeteners? That’s kind of the two options to make something sweet.

Livinginaclock · 02/09/2024 13:51

GettingStuffed · 02/09/2024 13:23

Stevia isn't an artificial sweetener. It made in a similar way to sugar. Sugar comes from cane or sugar beet. Stevia comes from a leaf.

What's worse than artificial sweetener? Sugar in savoury foods. I've noticed bread is getting sweeter.

Stevia gives me the shits.
I drink water or tea.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:50

I was really shocked looking at the sugar in the Tesco high juice. 11.6gms per glass.

To be cross there’s artificial sweeteners in most drinks now?
OP posts:
Pinkywoo · 02/09/2024 13:50

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:45

lol yep! I really thought there would be a squash out there. That’s why I asked for help. There’s a real gap in the market. Thanks everyone.

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But all squash has either sugar or sweeteners? Some of the Asda ones (including blackcurrant) don't have sweeteners but they do have sugar!

BogRollBOGOF · 02/09/2024 13:49

Stevia is like drinking washing-up liquid 🤢
It's disgusting and sneaky stuff

MigGril · 02/09/2024 13:49

I've taken to drinking elderflower cordial, it's an acquired taste, but at lest it sweetener free. Either that or if I don't want sugar I got for peppermint tea.

Sainburys used to still do some of the high juices with sugar but even they can be hard to come by now. As I'd really liked the blackcurrant, do M&S or Waitrose not still do any?

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:46

I’m looking at the air up. It might be the answer. Thanks.

OP posts:
CookiePookie · 02/09/2024 13:46

Perhaps you would like an AirUp? I enjoy mine - plain water 'tastes' like the flavour pod. My DD bought me one for my birthday; it does make me drink more 'plain' water!

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:45

HarrietHillbilly · 02/09/2024 13:38

So to summarise, you don't want sugar, you can't have sweeteners, and you don't like the taste of any of the suggestions for drinks without either sugar or sweeteners?
A bit tricky...

lol yep! I really thought there would be a squash out there. That’s why I asked for help. There’s a real gap in the market. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
MigGril · 02/09/2024 13:44

Bjorkdidit · 02/09/2024 13:29

Stevia tastes revolting and it's ridiculous that they can put it in drinks that are labelled 'no artificial sweeteners'.

OP you want PLJ aka pure lemon juice. Available in many supermarkets (Google suggests Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Ocado) and Holland and Barratt.

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Err that's because Stevia is a natural sweetener and not a artificial one, so the label is correct in the fact that there are indeed no artificial sweetners in the drink 🙈.

Other sweeteners are chemical based and not plant based so are artificial.

I'd prefer to have Stevia than the chemicals to be honest but am fed up of the fact that virtually everything has aspartaine in it now and it's so hard to avoid.