Here's a unique question, I think I am trying to cut out large amounts of sugar from my diet, as that's where the empty calories are coming from. I am sensitive to some sugar substitutes, haven't narrowed down which ones lol. Are there any sugar free or low sugar products that don't depend on replacing the sugar with a chemical substitute?

I think the best substitute is Stevia. You can find it at health food stores. I recommend you buy the most expensive one that says PURE STEVIA with no aftertaste. I bought a cheaper one before and couldn't stand it! Now, I have a very high quality one. It's SUPER sweet, so you only need a tiny bit, so just get the best one.

Stevia is a great choice. You can get it in powder or liquid form. Use it very sparingly, or it will taste bitter. DH loves this stuff.

I don't like sugar substitutes - splenda tastes wretched to me, so I just do unsweetened stuff. Flavored seltzer water to drink, or unsweetened iced tea. Might be an acquired taste, but you will find things taste much different when you don't pair them with a sweet drink.

Stevia is a wonderful choice if you want to go calorie free-like in tea and coffee.

If you don't mind a few calories, but want to go with something that is healthier than sugar (such as in baking-revamping your recipes to make them healthier, etc.) there are lots of options:

Maple crystals
Maple syrup (pure)
raw honey
agave
brown rice syrup

Just check your health food section!

I'm on the HCG diet and the Stevia is what the doctor adamantly suggests if we want to sweeten anything. I'm using two packs of it in a quart of Lipton unsweet tea, and it makes it taste sooo much better.

What is Stevia - is it like a sweetner?

Yes, but it is a natural sweetener, plant derived. It isn't chemical. You can get it in various forms (little packets, liquid, etc.) in the health food section of the store...or in some major stores in the sugar/sweetener section.

You can also try researching Tagatose.
Its 92% as sweet as sugar with 38% the cals.

My personal favourite is Splenda, it's made from sucralose which is derived from plain ordinary sugar. As fiberlover showed, it's not to everyone's taste but it certainly does the trick for me!

I just requested a free sample of Stevia. The lady I spoke to is in a city very near me, so it will be here soon! Can't wait to try it!

Sucralose is made from chlorinated sugar, by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups in the sugar. Splenda is made from sucralose and genetically modified maltodextrin and dextrose.

Yea, I'd avoid Splenda too and stick to Stevia. It's definitely the "up and comer" and the only one available right now without chemical additives...

Has anyone tried wheylow? Good? Bad?