Do some Artificial Sweeteners stimulate your appetite?

Question: I heard that some artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame, can be counterproductive in that they may have the effect of stimulating your appetite. Is this true?

Answer: Probably not the answer your looking for, but I don't know. The reason I post this inconclusive response is because there is still a lot of ongoing research in regards to artificial sweeteners. No, it has not been conclusively shown in any reputable research study that I am aware of that it stimulates the appetite. But I am also not aware that it has been conclusively shown that it doesn't either. We do know that a couple studies have shown that people that consume artificial sweeteners on a daily basis can still weigh more than their counter-parts. However, this may be for several reasons. It could possibly be that artificial sweeteners make you crave the "real thing" and people end up consuming high-sugar items in addition to the calorie-free alternatives. It could also be because they eat more to "make up" for the fact that they, for instance, drank a diet soda instead of a regular soda. I think we should all be aware of the amount of artifical sweetener we are consuming, but my opinion remains that artificial sweeteners on the whole are safe and are a good alternative to high-sugar, high-calorie foods for those that are diabetic as well as those that are trying to maintian weight and/or maintain a healthy weight.

Is Truvia really chemical free?

Question: Is Truvia really Chemical Free? Is it better than Splenda and the other artificial sweeteners?

Answer: Yes, Truvia is free of chemicals. It is made up of 3 ingredients: Erythritol, Rebiana and Natural Flavors. Let me predict the next question. What is Erythritol and Rebiana? Glad you asked! Erythritol is a naturally fermented sugar alcohol and Rebiana comes from the sweet leaf of the stevia plant (shown here). I would have no hesitation consuming Truvia myself or recommending it to my clients and patients as a way of enjoying sweet foods without consuming all the calories!

Truth about Truvia

Question: I heard there is a new zero calorie sweetener on the market called Truvia. What do you think of Truvia and can you use it when baking?

Answer: Truvia comes from the Stevia plant. More specifically, Truvia is the brand name for the product currently being marketed which comes from Rebiana, arguably the best tasting part of the Stevia leaf. Truvia contains two other ingredients as well - erythritol, a natural sweetener found in certain fruits, and natural flavors, being the other ingredient.

Can you use it in cooking and baking? Technically, yes you can, although it's important to remember that sugar serves as a browning agent and adds structure to foods in addition to contributing to sweetness. Truvia, as the company suggests, is best used when making such items as pudding, pie filling, hot cocoa mix, etc. As for cookies and cakes, I would stick with Splenda. One other important thing to note is the conversion: 1 Tablespoon of sugar is equal to 1 1/4 teaspoons of Truvia (which is the same as 1 1/2 packets).

So, go ahead and make a pie for Christmas dinner with Truvia, then write back to My Personal Dietitian and let us know how it turned out!