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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:
Bjorkdidit · 02/09/2024 13:44

Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:29

Ive tried the lemon juice, the mint, the cucumber etc in the water. Nope not for me. Can’t do sugar.

IF you like lemon squash but can't have sugar due to keto and don't like artificial sweeteners, what's wrong with the PLJ that I suggested?

It's literally unsweetened lemon cordial.

bluecomputerscreen · 02/09/2024 13:43

look at cold brew tea.
you can get fruity infusion types that you can add to your water bottle.
or just get a couple of mint/lemon balm plants for your desk.

TomatoSandwiches · 02/09/2024 13:42

Inulin is a sweet fiber syrup, you could make your own squash with that and lemons I suppose.
Perhaps have a look on amazon for a keto squash, they have a bigger range of keto items in America, they may have some there.

CherryValley5 · 02/09/2024 13:39

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...

This. Personally, I’d just cut my losses and take the sugar. Keto is well known to be an awfully ineffective diet anyway - rubbish for weight loss and bad for your health

bruffin · 02/09/2024 13:38

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.

It is not made the same way as sugar , it is a chemical process that has a patent. It doesnt taste good whatever it is in.

San Pellegrino does a range called Essenza which does not have artificial sweeteners in.

I also like sparkling water with bitters in.

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...

TomatoSandwiches · 02/09/2024 13:36

@Worriedmummy2400 what about fruit tea bags or iced tea bags, whittards do some nice ones.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:36

I’m looking at decaf teas as I don’t like fruit teas or coffee. But I really thought there would be a squash. Why isn’t there?

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:35

No room in the office fridge either for drinks. So can’t do cold drinks.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 02/09/2024 13:35

I have sainsburys soda water with a splash of rocks cordial or sliced fruit, I prefer it very diluted so it's not too sweet at all.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:33

I need something I can take to an office easily too. The sweeteners are responsible for my migraines they think. And I need to loose weight.

OP posts:
bluecomputerscreen · 02/09/2024 13:31

make an infusion from lemon balm leaves?

CherryValley5 · 02/09/2024 13:30

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.

I wouldn’t mind if Stevia was being used, Coke had a ‘green’ stevia version a few years ago which was lovely - unfortunately the vast majority of commercial drink brands now use aspartame as it’s much cheaper.

As for bread, I’ve stopped buying supermarket loaves full stop as they’re UPF. Only good quality baguettes or sourdough in our house now

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 02/09/2024 13:29

Ive tried the lemon juice, the mint, the cucumber etc in the water. Nope not for me. Can’t do sugar.

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 02/09/2024 13:29

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 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.

Almostwelsh · 02/09/2024 13:27

Fevertree flavoured Tonic water are usually made without sweeteners. They do a few different flavours.

Just4thisthreadtoday · 02/09/2024 13:24

@Worriedmummy2400

I can't stand tap water in the U.K. and I can't stand water tepid.

its not ideal, but I buy the Highland Spring 10 litre casks of water. Put that in the fridge, & for me, that's perfect. Try a bottle or two first to make sure you like it. I can't stand Evian or Buxton.

I have the occasional Pepsi Max (with rum) but that's about it.

OppaDoppaDoo · 02/09/2024 13:24

Yes, they are disgusting! Very limiting choices.

eyespartyparty · 02/09/2024 13:24

Dash water cans are nice (raspberry is nicest to me) and sweetener free.

At home we use the soda stream and add a squirt of lime juice from the bakery aisle bottles, or slices of lemon/lime.

For squash, the Sainsbury’s High Juices don't have sweetener, and some of the Waitrose ones.

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.

CherryValley5 · 02/09/2024 13:22

Yes, very annoying. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame give me awful headaches, never mind the fact that they taste disgusting. I’d much rather have real sugar than chemicals that we don’t yet know the long term effects of. I’m pretty much stuck with full fat coca-cola, fruit juice or very specific brands of squash now.

mitogoshi · 02/09/2024 13:21

Just add slices of whatever citrus you like, put on the fridge for a few hours

GellerYeller · 02/09/2024 13:20

I can’t tolerate sweeteners and recently used a self serve soft drinks machine. Full sugar Pepsi with a variety of flavours available to add, cherry, lime etc. But the fruit flavour syrup has sweeteners in?!
If I don’t have fresh fruit to add to water I use a dash of lime juice. The kind you buy for baking. Then loads of ice.

brimfulofpacha · 02/09/2024 13:19

Sweetener is disgusting. It leaves a horrible aftertaste for me and tastes awful while drinking too. Coke is the only proper sugar drink I know of now, even the lovely San Pellegrinoa are made horrible by sweeteners. Plus Coke Zero is really nasty tasting now and I used to be able to tolerate it. When I'm doing keto I use a bit of Rose's lime cordial mixed with sparkling water, if the lime has sweetener it's not enough to make it taste bad to me.

WaneyEdge · 02/09/2024 13:15

gemsgv · 02/09/2024 13:01

Yes it's annoying. Many bars/cafes only sell the diet versions on soft drinks now. Even if the menu says sprite, it tends to be the diet version.

They use sorbitol, a very sweet tasting laxative

There is no full sugar version available in the UK anymore, unless you find one of those American shops. The non-diet version has sweetener. Bottle Green now also have Stevia in some of their drinks, listed as ‘natural flavouring’ so they are no longer safe.

I order Tiessere (sp?) cordials from French Click. Cawston Press, Fever Tree, Dalston, Luscombe and Heartease Farm and the M&S Juicy range are safe for fizzy options.