Dietetic, Low Fat, Low Sugar Chocolate. This is such a joke.
By kbkbooks
@kbkbooks (7022)
Canada
October 25, 2007 10:55am CST
These days, we can now buy all variations on chocolate. There are "lite, low fat" versions of our favorite chocolate bars. There are NO SUGAR artificially sweetened chocolate bars. The lite bars are supposed to make us feel less guilty about our binging. Because they are 1/3 to 1/2 less fat than regular chocolate, we can eat 33-50% MORE, right? As far as the NO SUGAR bars which are artificially sweetened, usually with xylitol or sorbitol, and sometimes with fruit concentrates, are meant to be more aimed towards diabetic people. My friend who has been a diabetic now since she was 8, over 30 years, says these sweeteners can be more dangerous to diabetics than eating regular sugar! Some have side effects like diarrhea or rashes. I don't think anyone really knows if they cause cancer or not...some say yes and some say no. Personally, I am not a diabetic, but if I were I think I would avoid these substitute treats. I am a fan of diet soft drinks, but of course they have to be taken in moderation like anything else. The "fake" chocolate will not be on my shopping list, though.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@emarie (5442)
• United States
25 Oct 07
I actually found one low sugar (diabetic friendly - my husband is diabetic and so was my father so I'm prone to have it) Chocolate which is actually really good and not too sweet. Chocolate is actually has a spicy bitter flavor and the amount of sugar and cream in the recipe is what give it the taste we all love.
certain people who are prone to reactions against artificial sweeteners should stay away from them. My husband gets migraines when he eats certain sweeteners. But Splenda is one that is good, looks and tastes like real sugar and doesn't harm my husband.
I do believe in Moderation and I love Hershey's Chocolate the most. But they make these low fat and sugar free for those who don't know how to moderate them selves and need 'someone else' to take care of them. This isn't all people. Some just don't want to feel too guilty and get sugar free things. Its how people work and how the companies make money.
1 person likes this
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
It sounds like you are taking good care of both your husband and yourself. Like I said before, everyone reacts differently to the different sweeteners. I have a few friends who have MS and for a while there was an email going around that said it was thought that Nutrasweet might cause or aggravate MS. At that time, I was seeking a diagnosis for my arthrosis, which some people thought might be MS, but it turned out not to be. While I was thinking it might be I laid off the Nutrasweet but it didn't really make any difference in the way I felt.
It's absolutely true that the candy companies are going to do everything they can to make money, just like any other industry. I think the food industry is notorious for this. We have chemicals that emulate fat, sugar, carbs and even vitamins. When you put substitute chemicals in your body for the first time, you can never be sure if you will get a reaction or how long it may take (it could be years) to see the reaction. Even the scientists who work with these substitutions in research and development may not be aware of all the possible side effects.
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
25 Oct 07
I have an intolerance to sugar. Some of the sugar free items do cause diarrhea. Especially, in the chocolate department. I'd rather go for a "no sugar added" product. Some of these products can be really good.
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
I understand that some people, diabetic or not, do not tolerate sugar well. There are many people who don't tolerate the artificial sweeteners well either. I know some of that stuff is good. Like with anything else, we all have to find out what our bodies tolerate.
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