Question about sugars

  • I'm trying to lower my carbs (mostly sugars). But I like my fruit juices and teas I buy from the local co-op. They are all sweetened with cane sugar though, sometimes organic. I just can't drink nothing but water all day, and it seems too much trouble to make my own juices and such. Any ideas on how to lower my sugar? Just drink less juice and tea?
  • You probably answered your own question. Maybe you could cut back on the sweetened teas and juices by having half a serving mixed with water. Or drink the water first and then a few sips of your favorite drink. Is your fruit juice sweetened with cane sugar, too? I buy 100% juice with no added sugar. They are still high in sugar though so I really restrict the amount I drink. I try to eat the fruit instead with the added benefit of the fiber.
  • Or you can try a sugar free fruit drink.
  • Sometimes I drink Bolthouse Farms juice. Some of them are no-added sugar. They still show high sugar, but I'm assuming that's just from the fruit. And I'm not sure the co-op sells sugar free juice. I can check though. I don't like artificial sweeteners. I only use Stevia and agave.
  • Especially in the summer I am a huge devotee of iced tea. I make a big pitcher that I go through every day or two. The possibilities are endless. My current favorite is a lemon sliced into the pitcher. 6 to 8 black tea bags steeped in a cup of hot water (making a "concentrate"). Pour warm over lemon slices to extract oils. After it cools, top up the pitcher with water. I do a similar one with peach flavored herbal tea and orange slices. You may want to google "agua fresca"- the fruit waters of Mexico. The calories are not too bad and they can be made with minimal sugar or something like agave nectar. Another way to get "fruitiness" into your water or tea is to simply slice up or squish the fruit and let it steep in the water. You get a faint fruit taste for little calorie investment. Good luck.