I've been awake since 5:00 a.m. due to these lovely hot flashes, so I started doing some research online.

While reading about Stevia, I found another sweetner that sounds acceptable for low-carbing: Lakanto

Do any of you here use this? Have you had any experience with it?

It sounds promising, but would like to see if anybody has tried it, baked with it and if it's indeed safe to use while eating LC.

For those who aren't familiar with this, here's the information I found:

Lakanto is a delicious, healthy and completely natural sweetener from Japan.
Lakanto tastes just like sugar, is just as versatile… without any of the health damaging properties!

Lakanto has been safely enjoyed in Japan for over 10 years and is recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Health for obesity, weight loss and blood sugar problems including diabetes. Lakanto is given to patients in over 9,000 Japanese hospitals!

Delicious, Healthy All Natural Sweetener
Zero Calorie, Zero Glycemic Index
Perfect for Diabetics, Weight Loss and Children
250 Servings Per Bag
No Additives
Use like sugar in a 1-1 ratio
Ideal in baking, Tea & Coffee
Doesn’t feed Candida

Sounds really good ... but I can't find a CARB count on it. Also, it's pretty expensive.

So ... whatcha think?
Diana

It seems to be Japanese erythritol.

http://www.export-saraya.com/lakant...nto30stick.html

Probably cheaper to get it domestically.

Hi Kristine: First I need to say ... your sheperd (if it's yours) is GORGEOUS!

I grew up with them ... my father trained them, can't have one now, live in a subsidized apt.... but man how I miss them!

OK .. back to the Lakanto. I know it's erythritol .. this is what they say:

Erythritol is found in mushrooms and wine. That's good, right?

I did find it sold in the USA at
http://www.shop.bodyecology.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BE021

It's $39.00 buckaroos there! WOW!

It also says:

If you consume large quantities of sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and maltitol, you may experience diarrhea due to its laxative properties. This is caused by the sugar alcohols reaching the large intestine.
In contrast, since over 90 percent of Lakanto’s main ingredient erythritol is absorbed by the small intestine, little reaches the large intestine. As a result, the amount of intestinal gas that is produced is lower than the average sugar alcohol.

I still can't find a carb count on it.

Did your hot flashes get more intense with the LC WOE? Last two days...or I should say nights...mine have been amazing. And not in a good way! LOL!!

Jen

[QUOTE=diana55]I've been awake since 5:00 a.m. due to these lovely hot flashes, so I started doing some research online.

YES!!! HELP!!

I was wondering if it was just me ... cause in the last few days they've been horrible and I'm not able to sleep ..or I sleep very restless.

I was having them mildly, and then all of a sudden, WHAM!

What do you think, in the LC eating could cause this? Any clue?

It's very miserable, wish I knew how to help myself.

Try Organic Zero. Same thing better price.

http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/...ganic_ZERO.html

Hmmmmm? So if this is so great, and it looks as if it is, why don't more folks here use it instead of Splenda and such .. that have proven side effects and use chemicals?

I think it's because it's just cheaper and easier to use the other sweeteners for most day-to-day things like coffee or single-serving treats. I've never seen erithritol in stores, though if I did, I'd grab it. It's the sugar alcohol that's the least absorbed, and least likely to cause the tummy troubles.

The sugar alcohols seem to behave better in certain baking applications. If you're browsing the Kitchen forums, you'll see our kitchen chemists recreating all kinds of neat desserts and baked goods using sugar alcohols and polydextrose.

...and yup, that's my GSD. We adopted him from the shelter. You must have seen a lot of cool shepherds growing up!

Hi Diana,

Sorry about the side thread here everyone.

I think the increase in the severity of hot flashes is due to a boosted metabolism. I was even experiencing a lot of sweating and being hot when doing housework this week.

I've done this WOE before and I remember the hot flashes getting better. So over time, it should clear up.

Maybe a new thread on this would be a good idea.

Jen

I have looked and looked for erythritol in UK since reading a lot of good stuff about it - I have even badgered www.lowcarbmegastore to start selling it but no luck yet!

It seems not to be available to the retail customer here.

If anyone has been able to find it in UK please do post where and what brand name so I can buy some.

Erythritol has a pronounced cooling effect in the mouth-it's used in a lot of sf mints and gums. I find it is good mixed with Splenda Quick Pack or Sweetzfree in chocolate dishes. I don't like it in baked things with lc flours or Carbquick. I also like it in cheesecakes as long as it is mixed with another sf sweetener.

Lankato goes for $40 at my local health food market. I'm seriously wondering if they've sold a package, yet. It's just erythritol sweetened with Lo Han Guo extract (which incidentally sells for $20 for 2 oz. right beside it) to compensate for the 60% sweetening power of erythritol by itself. Netrition sells erythritol for $6 a lb. It's great for baked goods/anything that needs the textural properties of sugar. Really low carb, too.

Thanks guys.

So I guess it's much safer than the other artificial sweetners, but costs more. I still would rather pay more and be safe, and looks like the Organic Zero is close and costs less. May have to try some.

Also: I've been reading that Coca Cola is working on the possibility of using Stevia in their products, only it's been altered slightly for no bitterness or licorce aftertaste. It would be very cool if they did, and other companies followed!

The name that they'll be using for Stevia will be, Rebiana.
Read about it here:

http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=7221

Huggles,
Diana