Natreen vs. brown sugar vs. honey

Joseph Watson3 said:Look, you're acting like I used Wikipedia as my main source when the data actually comes straight from the European Commission. That’s a pretty cheap shot in an argument. Besides, unlike half the garbage sites out there, Wikipedia at least cites its claims—or puts up a [citation needed] tag since it isn't an official authority—so if you get burned by a fact, that's on how you chose to use it.

Fine.
But just because the European Commission is the one pumping out the numbers doesn't mean those numbers are actually right.

Over the last few months, I’ve been trying to overhaul my eating habits—just trying to live a bit healthier, you know? I started actually reading those nutrition labels on everything and keeping an eye on calories, and that’s when I realized something kind of ridiculous: brown sugar is only about 20 calories less than regular white sugar. So, honestly, I just gave up on it—I wasn't even sure if the rest of the ingredients in the brown stuff were any better anyway. As for things like Natreen and whatever else is out there... yeah, I’d never touch that. I've read way too much about how nasty it can be, though I’ll admit I don't quite get why diabetics use it—plus, the taste is just off to me. I don't drink tea that often, usually just one or two coffees a day, and I’ve come to the conclusion that those two or three little spoonfuls of sugar aren't going to kill me—they just make my coffee actually enjoyable. ☕

Hands down—honey is the absolute best sweetener out there!

I used to worry about losing all its good stuff if I stirred it into hot drinks... But honestly? Who cares? Even if it does lose a little bit of potency, it’s still lightyears ahead of any processed sugar. From what I've gathered, white and brown sugar are basically just two different ways to be unhealthy. Honey is a legit healthy choice! You just have to be picky about which kind you grab, since certain types can totally change the flavor profile of your drink...🙂

Wow, you guys really served up a "salad" of different topics here!
Anyway, fair enough.
Generally speaking, I’m looking for some ways to spice things up—I try to eat almost everything with very little salt or sugar (in any form, really). That’s why I’m asking... though, honestly, I don't think anyone is going to get hurt from a little white sugar if they use it sparingly...
I was just curious which of those three options is actually the best. I've heard people claim Natreen isn't healthy at all, but nobody ever actually explains *why*... everyone just repeats what they've heard!

Emily Hayes said:I wouldn't touch Natreen even if my life depended on it. 🙂

BUT WHY?!

Can someone actually explain the reasoning here—without just saying "that's what I heard"??

Raymond Gray2 said:Honey is hands down the best sweetener!

I used to worry about it losing its benefits if you stirred it into hot drinks... But who cares? Does it matter? It’s still miles better than any sugar out there (white and brown are both garbage—at least that's what I hear), and honey actually counts as a healthy option! You just have to pick the right kind, since most of them mess with the flavor of your drink...🙂

I'm with you!
And for anyone freaking out about honey causing weight gain? Total lie. I've been eating massive amounts of it for 20 years, sweetening everything with it, and I'm still stuck at 110 pounds.
Go for local stuff from a farmers market. Most of the stuff in the grocery stores has had all the good, healthy nutrients stripped right out of it.

Dried raisins! They’re honestly amazing in tea. Some people use them to sweeten their coffee, but they totally change the flavor profile for me, so I just snack on them on the side instead. They are, like, super sweet—just one single raisin is enough to sweeten up an entire salad.

Lisa Nelson96 said:BUT WHY?

Could someone please provide an actual explanation for WHY, rather than simply stating, "that's just what I heard"??

this strikes me as the clearest explanation

Just so we are all on the same page—despite everything being said here, whenever I decide to sweeten a drink, I still opt for artificial sweeteners. My reasoning is quite simple: I suspect a stroke brought on by obesity might actually claim my life long before I ever have the chance to develop cancer from Natreen. 🤣

Lisa Nelson96 said:BUT WHY?

Can someone please explain the actual REASONING here without just saying "that's what I heard"??

Look, artificial sweeteners absolutely wreck me. Like, seriously. They give me stomach cramps, make me throw up—I feel like I'm dying for a minute there. So yeah, I'm staying far away from them.

Personally, I stick to fructose, blackstrap molasses, honey, or barley malt.

Lisa Nelson96 said:BUT WHY?!

Can someone actually explain WHY without just saying "because I heard it somewhere"??

Because I read it in that book by Elaine Hollingsworth called "take control of your health".

😁 😁

Amy Hill92 said:this seems like the clearest explanation

Let's be real—despite everything being said here, whenever I decide to sweeten a drink, I’m sticking with artificial sweeteners. I figure a stroke brought on by obesity will probably take me out long before I ever have to worry about getting cancer from Natreen. 🤣

Despite? I read the same thing above and reached the exact same conclusion: sweeteners aren't exactly a risk worth losing sleep over.
🙂

Sarah Edwards38 said:It’s simply because I read it in that book by Elaine Hollingsworth, the one titled "take control of your health."

😁 😁

Elaine RULES!

She really is a true health Crusader. If we all followed her lead, we’d probably all be hitting 120 years old, no problem.
For those who haven't picked up her work yet—and I honestly can't recommend it enough—she basically runs what I consider to be the premier wellness center in the world, or at the very least, the best one out in Australia.

As for the folks who insist on sticking with artificial sweeteners just because they think it's the "lesser of two evils," well, they're in for quite a shock when they dive into her research on excitotoxins and all the other junk people are constantly loading themselves up with—stuff like soy, most of those common vegetable oils, and similar garbage...

Kate Sullivan22 said:that black sugar (not brown, I mean the pitch-black stuff),

Where can I find some?

Lisa Nelson96 said:But why?

Can someone actually explain WHY, without just saying "that's what I heard"??...

J. Roberts, M. D., F. A. C. P., F. C. C. p: "Aspartame disease is an ignored Epidemic" – that's like 1,000 pages of pure research... 700 references...Thousands of people with diagnoses...

http://www.dorway.com/dblog/ The main landing page... features plenty of doctors and experts...

So, how did aspartame even hit the market...
I can't make heads or tails of this link. It’s just a dead end... looks like nothing there at all. Here's the timeline by year... see below... I can't believe I have to say this again... just look at the facts. It’s all right there if you actually bother to check. People act like they know what they're talking about, but they don't. They just repeat what they hear. It's exhausting...

Check this out... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0630081825.htm Deceptive body sensors...

Hey.

I was actually just wondering where you were today!
It feels so strange not seeing you around this thread 😁

Joseph Watson3 said:In spite of it? I read the same thing above and reached the exact same conclusion: sweeteners don't pose a risk worth worrying about.🙂

It ultimately comes down to personal choice, doesn't it? For me, the persistent suspicion that certain ingredients in artificial sweeteners might be linked to specific types of cancer is certainly enough to warrant saying "in spite of it." From a strictly scientific standpoint, research hasn't established such a link—period. But on a personal, private level... when I choose to use them, I am choosing to use them "in spite of" those lingering doubts.

Lisa Nelson96 said:Where can I actually find this?

If you were looking in a place like Whole Foods, for instance, you would likely be searching for muscovado sugar; it is typically sold in opaque packaging and possesses a soft, yielding texture when pressed. A half-kilogram portion usually runs about $5.00.

jadesailor14 said:I was actually just wondering where you had disappeared to today
how you weren't part of this discussion 😁

Well, he popped up once he realized there was a bit of a need for some actual enlightenment regarding artificial sweeteners around here. 😁

I’ve always felt that if you tell a bright person something once, they get it; if you tell someone a little less sharp twice, they might catch on; and then there are those who simply won't listen at all—but I suppose that’s just their prerogative.

It's worth mentioning, by the way, that Rockefeller was recently honored as the top chemistry student of his class. So, please don't go thinking the man is just making things up as he goes along. 🙂

I have a honey allergy, so I can only enjoy it in very small amounts. For my coffee, I prefer brown sugar—specifically cane sugar rather than beet sugar, since they say it's a healthier option. My doctor advised me to stay away from artificial sweeteners entirely, claiming they're quite harmful to the body and that any natural sugar is a much better choice.

True, but how much artificial sweetener are we actually talking about when people claim they're harmful?
I mean, I don't think having, say, two packets of Splenda a day—just for my morning coffee—is actually going to kill me... Between everything else we deal with—stress, processed food (let's be real, our diets aren't exactly diverse), pollution, hectic schedules, and lack of sleep... are we seriously convinced that two little packets of sweetener (and honestly, not even every single day) are going to cause cancer?