Sugars

[tamakun]

So, at work, we have sugar packets, in white and brown varieties.

Amazingly enough, it has only recently come to my attention that brown sugar has more calories per teaspoon, and that brown is not "healthier" due to it being "less refined" - it's actually white sugar with molasses added, effectively making it more refined. And sugar (molasses) added to sucrose, on top of that.

There is, apparently, "healthier" brown sugar, which is effectively unrefined sugar. I've seen stevia around the office as well, I wasn't aware that apparently that's a healthier sweetener. I'll have to keep that stuff in mind if I want to cut down on my sweet tooth.

In the meantime, I'll stick to honey.

Comments

[sarcasm-hime.livejournal.com]

I've started using Xylitol, which is a different kind of sugar made from corncobs (!) and birch bark (!!) and is apparently molecularly different enough from regular sugar that your body doesn't process it the same way, making it virtually calorie-free and safe for diabetics.

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

I think I've heard of that one before, but never seen it around. I take it it's good for a sugar substitute? I think I take in a lot of sugar with my tea, and I drink a lot of tea...

[sarcasm-hime.livejournal.com]

Yeah I've been using it in my tea for awhile. Got it at the health food store.

[bassbeast.livejournal.com]

Try cane sugar. It's completely unrefined and quite delicious. I'm always weary about things like Splenda and whatnot. I look at something like Olestra or Aspartame and kinda shudder.

Out of curiosity, how much sugar do you put in a typical cup of tea? I found that by cutting back on my sugar intake, it helped me feel a lot calmer and really helped me with my gym efforts.

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

I put in two packets, so roughly two teaspoons.

At home, I put in a "swirl" of honey in the oversized mugs (which are double a normal mug's size). I'd say I go through one of those big containers of honey in a week (1kg) - and after realizing that my head hurts. O_o

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

I've been using agave syrup. It's been working for me.

I tried stevia, but found it had an aftertaste that was unpleasant.

Cane sugar is another good option. I was using that for a while. (I was glad I'd already switched when I found out how white sugar was whitened. It's not vegetarian. *grumble*)

I might check out this Xylitol.

[scruloose.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say that brown sugar is "more refined"... Molasses is the stuff they take out when refining sugar, so adding it back in gets you a bit closer to unrefined... in a way.

But yeah, cane sugar or "raw" sugar is un- or less refined.
I've been using the PC Organic sugar, but I've been noticing that Just Us! sells fair trade organic sugar now, and I'm tempted to switch.

I don't know anything about alternative sweeteners, except honey and maple syrup.
(and no, I don't think maple syrup would work in tea... most teas, anyway!)

Mmmm, honey!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

I take it this "Just Us!" place is a local store?

And what's the difference in the PC Organic Sugar? Are the crystals less uniform, or is it merely a different process?

[scruloose.livejournal.com]

Umm, Just Us! is an all-fair-trade coffee company, started in Nova Scotia, but I think they might sell nationwide now... Ask for it in places that sell quality coffee, perhaps? Or health-food stores, maybe. I thought it was pretty awesome when they started branching out into chocolate and sugar, because that's two more products that are notoriously built on slave labour.

The PC Organic sugar... I haven't actually done my homework on it, but it looks and tastes like what I've always called "raw" sugar. Largish grain, blonde colour. Probably at least fairly unrefined.

[scruloose.livejournal.com]

The

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The <a href-"http://www.justuscoffee.com/">Just Us!</a> website.

Huh, and they're a co-op, too. Neat.