Need Help: Low-Carb drink w/o artificial sweetener?

[*JoGo*]

I was recently diagnosed with insulin resistance and put on a low-carb diet. Well, lifestyle change, so I do not become diabetic. I LOVE LOVE LOVE sweets, but honestly, the most difficult and frustrating part has been finding drinks.

Aspartame/ Splenda gives me headaches and a funny after-taste.
I've also tried Stevia. blah.
And two other sweeteners that come from Stevia, one started w/ an R, the other Truvia.
All taste awful.

I also do not like coffee, especially black and unsweetened.
And tea sweetened is wonderful, but without? ick.

I need help here. I know it's not a MAJOR life-ending problem, but right now, it's a pretty big deal to me. PLEASE help. I love water. I drink water all. the. time. but I'm to the point I'd rather be thirsty than drink any more water EVER.

 

[LMulligan]

Do you like seltzer? I know it isn't sweet but it comes in a variety of different flavors. Maybe you could liven it up by adding one or two pieces of thinly sliced orange or strawberries. You could also add sliced cucumber and fresh mint leaves to water and let it sit in the fridge for a bit. Drain the fruit/herbs out and the "essence" will remain.

Good luck!

 

[momof1princess]

you might also try crystal light. i know it's pricey, but wal-mart has a generic version that is more reasonably priced. DD13 has a good friend who is diabetic, and i make CL whenever she comes over. there's also a new water additive called mio, you just add a few drops to your water, and it comes in several flavors. i haven't tasted it, but have seen it advertised frequently. i'm not sure if it is sugar-free or not, but it's worth checking out.

 

[redlight]

Club soda?

 

[BillSears]

Water? Maybe with some fresh lemon slices.

If you want something sweet then you'll need to go with the artificial sweeteners. You could try some koolaid drink mixes and add just a small amount of artificial sweetener and see how that works out for you headaches.

 

[Swalphin]

I love La Croix sparkling water it comes in a bunch of different flavors lemon, grapefruit, berry. I just picked up their newest flavor at the store Coconut, it is my favorite so far. It taste great without that awful artificial sweetener taste and no calories! It comes in brightly colored cans and is on the water aisle.

I know you are done with water and there sure is alot of water in my post, but the bubbles and the flavor make a difference.

 

[Christine]

I understand your issues but I think you need to accept the fact that you're going to need to go without.

I have all sorts of issues with artificial sweeteners, plus, I am of a mind that for people that have trouble with insulin resistance and weight gain, while zero calories, they do as much harm as sugar. Having said that, I REALLY think you need to stick with water.

Like you, I just don't want to drink ANYTHING if it's not sweetened with sugar and, bad for me, I don't even like water.

So, I only drink water, water, water, and I allow myself just ONE glass of sweetened (not SWEET) tea a day (for me it is in the form of my hot tea in the morning).

I'm not sure if you are even allowed to do that, but it's all that gets me through.

 

[MIGrandma]

I used to drink Diet Coke, but really didn't like the artificial sweetener so gave it up a few years ago and now I mostly just drink sparkling water (Faygo). It has zero calories, zero carbs, zero sodium. Mostly I just drink it plain, but sometimes add a slice of lemon or lime. I've tried the flavored ones but just don't like them. I will drink club soda with lime when I'm out. Rarely drink pop/soda anymore. I drink iced tea (unsweetened) with lemon too. And I like the Wal-Mart Great Value flavor sticks (like Crystal Lite) to add to regular water as well. I like low sodium vegetable juice (Wal-Mart's Great Value brand, similar to V-8), and coffee. I used to use the flavored creamers (chocolate raspberry is my favorite) but mostly gave them up except I do indulge on weekends.

 

[Nette]

I'm mostly a water drinker (I also consume lots of club soda/seltzer... but I count that as water), I don't like to drink my calories, but when I was pregnant I wanted something different so badly. I found a mixed berry tisane (iced) tea. It was sweet without being sweetened. Sort of tastes like koolaid. I get mine at The Steeping Room here in Austin, but I know there are other brands available.

 

[disney1990]

Try the new coconut waters. They are really refreshing and fairly low calorie.

 

[cybrkitn]

you might also try crystal light. i know it's pricey, but wal-mart has a generic version that is more reasonably priced.

Crystal Light has aspartame and the generic brands will either have aspartame or Splenda in them as well; both artificial sweetners the OP said she cannot have.

I cannot take asparatme either b/c it upsets my stomach. Splenda I can have, but in food only. For some reason though, drinks sweetened with Splenda are very bitter tasting and also gives me an upset stomach


OP, I understand the frustration. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with DS8. It was very hard for me to find drinks. I couldn't have the diet sodas due to the aspartame and I couldn't have even a little regular soda if I wanted to.

You may want to try having unsweetened iced tea in small quantities at first. I know you said you didn't like it ("ick" is what you mentioned). I was that way, too, when I was a teenager. But after awhile of having it, I got used to it to the point where I love it. There are flavored teas out there that you may want to try so that the tea has some flavor for you. Plain tea after awhile will taste bland if there is no flavor to it. I've also had that problem with water, too. I had to drink so much when I was pregnant that I was starting to get a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Magic Mom]

Keep drinking unsweetened iced tea. Try different flavors. I really like Celestial Seasonings Peach Iced tea. You don't like it now because you are so used to sweet tea, but your taste can change.

 

[TriMom]

Iced green tea with Tru Orange packet in it. Tru Orange is dehydrated orange juice so no artificial sweetners. The drink is not sweet, but it is flavorful. Good luck

 

[shortbun]

I a few months, your taste will change. While you wait, try using Stevia packets-not the whole packet, just to add a bit of sweet and like others have said, slice lemons and limes. I love lime LaCroix.

Also, hard to get but excellent and NO sweetners-nada: http://www.talkingrain.com/Products/SparklingWater

We LOVE Talking Rain Sparkling water!!! We joined Costco just to get it then they stopped carrying the Sparkling water and began carrying other products of theirs. Now, I order it and have it delivered. Call around and see if you can find some locally.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I understand your issues but I think you need to accept the fact that you're going to need to go without.

I have all sorts of issues with artificial sweeteners, plus, I am of a mind that for people that have trouble with insulin resistance and weight gain, while zero calories, they do as much harm as sugar. Having said that, I REALLY think you need to stick with water.

Like you, I just don't want to drink ANYTHING if it's not sweetened with sugar and, bad for me, I don't even like water.

I could write a very similar post!

I am not that big on sweets...
But, boy was I hooked on sweet drinks.
Water just didn't have that sweetness that we get hooked into equating with 'quenching'... but is NOT.

Add to this, the fact that the thought of tap water, with all the toxins (fluoride, chlorine, aluminum,) and natural contaminants from low quality public water supplies... literally turns my stomach...

I still allow myself a sweet tea or soda occasionally... but now I drink TONS of cold bottled spring water. You know what... NOW, after one sweet drink, I realize that is just not even thirst quenching... it is too much, it is not what I need, and I go right back to my cold spring water!!!!

Be STRICT with yourself... or a few days/weeks...
Cut out all sweet drinks except for on small one per day...
(even cut that completely out for a short while, if necessary to get un-hooked)
Give it some time...
And, before you know it, you will have broken the 'habit'.
I promise!!!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I love cucumber water. LOL. Peel and slice a cucumber and put in a picture with ice and plain ole water. A great alternative to lemon (which I don't care for).

 

[Brier Rose]

We recently found Crystal Light PURE. It is sweetened with a blend of real sugar and Truvia. DH is a Type 2 diabetic, and doesn't care for artificial sweetners either, but he really likes this mix with the blend. It has no artificial flavors, no preservatives, 15 cal and 3g of carbs per serving. So far it has had no effect on his blood sugar at all!

http://www.kraftbrands.com/crystallight/Pages/default.aspx#/pure-flavors

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I am going to agree with the PP who said to keep trying unsweetened tea. I also got used to it. A couple of months ago I was given sweet tea and about gagged.

I drink water, unsweetened tea, and milk. I will occasionally have a fountain diet coke when I am out, but I have almost stopped diet coke.

 

[powellrj]

I am going to agree with the PP who said to keep trying unsweetened tea. I also got used to it. A couple of months ago I was given sweet tea and about gagged.

I drink water, unsweetened tea, and milk. I will occasionally have a fountain diet coke when I am out, but I have almost stopped diet coke.

I agree, I got use to drinking unsweet tea and almost gag when I get a sip of sweet tea. There are so many wonderful tea flavors out there to try. I love Tazo Passion Tea iced and many of the Celestial seasonings ones. The same with diet soft drinks, they are almost too sweet now.

 

[*JoGo*]

Thank you for the replies

I've tried making flavored iced tea, I must not be letting it steep long enough before adding the cold water and ice. I will keep trying.

I LOVE water. I am just sick of it right now. And especially when we go out to eat. Before I had to give up the carbs/ sugar, I MOSTLY drank water. But when we would go out, I would have a fountain Dr. Pepper and occasionally I'd run out on the days I worked (2/week) and get a fountain Dr. Pepper. A 12-pack of pop would last me at least 2 weeks.

I've had to accept a lot of things in the past few weeks. I haven't accepted it all gracefully, but I have done it. I am frustrated. Eventually I'll get over it.