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Expert Q&A
Would you like to find out which super foods could really boost your energy or how you could fight the afternoon slump? Drop Angela your questions today and join us again soon for the answers!
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Your Questions Answered...-
1. Janet Brown asks: Some of my favourite recipes call for sugar by the ounce. How do I convert Canderel measures into ounces?
An ounce is 28.4g which is just a shade under one and a half level tablespoons. As Canderel is equivalent to sugar on a volume not weight basis, this is how much Canderel - i.e. one and a half teaspoons for every one ounce of sugar - that your recipe demands. If it is in grams, use 2 teaspoons (1g Canderel) for every 10g of sugar required.
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2. Mrs Ashley asks: Is Canderel bad for teeth?
No, Canderel contains sweeteners that do not have any adverse affect on teeth. Maltodextrin, a form of complex carbohydrate, is used as a carrying agent for these intense sweeteners in the granular version of Canderel, but this has a lesser effect on oral health than sugar.
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3. Steve McKeogh asks: The European Food Safety Authority give an acceptable daily intake of Aspartame as being 40mg per kilogram of body weight. How much Aspartame is actually in 1 teaspoon of Canderel?
One teaspoon of Canderel granular contains 8.5mg aspartame. Approximate amount of Canderel granular that needs to be consumed to reach the ADI level is as follows:
For 70 kg adult : 220 (tsp) a day
For 20 kg child : 62 (tsp) a day -
4. Betty Khan asks: Have you got a recipe for a low calorie cheese cake?
We actually have a fantastic Lemon, Lime and Ginger Cheesecake in our exclusive recipe pamphlet. You can get your hands on one of these now for free simply by signing up to the Daily Pleasures Programme. This has 225 kcals per generous slice - it’s impossible to get a super low cal cheesecake, but this is as good as it gets, and it is very good, I promise! Watch out for similar sweet treats in the Canderel Kitchen every month.
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5. Lydia asks: I work permanent nights and walk around for about 7 hrs per shift. What should I eat to keep up my energy?
I would aim to combine slow release carbohydrates and protein for the best chance of maintaining your energy at a fairly steady level. Some suggestions for ideal foods you could take into work are chicken or tuna wholegrain sandwiches with lots of salad, a prawn and pasta salad, yoghurt and fruit, or a handful of dried fruit and nuts.
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6. Andrew Walsh asks: Is Canderel suitable for coeliacs?
Yes coeliacs can happily use Canderel as it contains no wheat or gluten derivatives at all, in either the tablet or the granular (powder) form.
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7. Pat Jones asks: My husband had advanced prostate cancer and sugar is now banned from his diet but he loves his cakes and biscuits. Do you have any advice on how he can still enjoy sweet treats?
There are a number of sweet treats that you can make using Canderel in place of sugar - just have a look at the Canderel Kitchen section of this website to feel inspired!
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8. Linda Bailey asks: If I switch to Canderel will it help me to lose weight?
Yes, it can certainly help as part of a calorie-controlled diet, because in one teaspoon of Canderel there are only 2 calories compared with 20 calories in a teaspoon of sugar. But obviously you’ll need to be replacing sugar-sweetened treats with Canderel-sweetened ones, not just adding extra sweet treats to your diet willy nilly! Unfortunately, you’ll still be getting calories from the flour and other ingredients, so though Canderel will help reduce calorie intake, Canderel-sweetened foods are not completely calorie free (wouldn't that be nice!)
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9. Peter Amos asks: I work in a home with Diabetics and would love some recipes for low sugar treats. Can you tell me where to find these?
You’ve come to the right place as we have a range of recipes on this website which are a great, sugar-free place to start. Please look in the Canderel Kitchen section and come back often, as new recipes are being posted every month!! Most recipes can also be adapted by replacing the sugar spoon for spoon with Canderel (for weight guides visit the range section of this site) so it’s fine to experiment too!
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10. Helana asks: I've recently injured my knee meaning that I can't go to the gym. I normally go to the gym 3/4 times a week, so my body is very used to exercise. Since my injury I've put on weight but haven't changed my calorie intake. Any advice?
Basically your energy expenditure (how many calories you burn up) has gone down, so you are no longer in energy balance (using up as many calories as you use). Whilst you are injured and can’t exercise, the way to redress the balance is to eat reduced amount of calories - say 150-200 fewer - a day. That’s equivalent to cutting out a couple of chocolate biscuits, half a sandwich or something similar.
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11. Mohammed Wahid asks: How can I control sugar to be healthy?
You could start by analysing how much you already eat, by looking at labels. It’s recommended we don’t have more than about 90g of added sugar a day. If you find it really difficult to control cravings for sweet foods, you can maybe manage the cravings better by making sure you eat small regular meals, including a combination of slower releasing carbohydrates such as whole grains, pulses, pasta, brown rice, noodles etc. and protein (lean meat or fish, Quorn or tofu). When you fancy a snack go for some delicious naturally sweet fruit (sprinkled with Canderel if you like). These strategies together should help manage a sweet tooth and control your sugar intake.
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12. Jane Howard asks: I know that it is not possible to use Canderel to make jam but is there a way of cooking up a version with less sugar?
According to the National Centre for Home Food Preservation in America there are a few methods for home-producing lower sugar jam. The first method is to use specially modified pectin labelled "light," "less sugar needed," or "no sugar needed." There is a snag however in that these seem not to be readily available in the UK - you may need to trawl the internet to get some.
Another method is using regular pectin with special recipes. These recipes are formulated so that a gel forms without needing to add the usual amount of sugar. Again, if you look at healthy eating cookbooks and sites on the internet you may find such a recipe.
A long-boil method can also be used to make no- or low-sugar jams. The fruit pulp is boiled long and slow until it thickens (though not quite as much as normal jam) and resembles a spreadable preserve. You could add Canderel to these runnier spreads after they have cooled down.
