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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. Blossom Archer asks – Is Canderel suitable as a sweetener for people with diabetes?
Yes it’s suitable to use Canderel sweetener, as it has less of an effect on blood sugar levels and the fact that it’s lower calorie than sugar may also help in maintaining a healthy weight. Just replace sugar with Canderel granules spoon for spoon in your favourite recipes and why not try using Canderel tablets in your hot drinks? For some suggestions on recipes using Canderel, why not visit the Canderel Kitchen?
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2. Mr Paul asks - Is the new Canderel Yellow suitable for people with diabetes?
Yes, Canderel Yellow is completely safe for people with diabetes and has been proven so in scientific studies. For example a study reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2003 found that sucralose had no effect on any of the measures of glucose control assessed, and no tendency towards a loss of blood glucose in people with Type 2 diabetes, even when doses of approximately 3 times greater than the maximum estimated daily intake were consumed. So it’s an ideal sweetening agent for diabetic diets! Hope this puts your mind at rest.
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3. Patricia Davis asks - Please can you tell me if there is any sugar in a packet of cocoa powder? I have diabetes and have to watch my sugar intake but I love a drink of cocoa and wondered if it is safe for me to drink if using Canderel to sweeten it?
Provided you buy pure cocoa powder, and not hot chocolate powder, it will not contain added sugar and should make a suitable drink for you if you make it using Canderel. It’s good to hear your positive feedback on Canderel and hope you now enjoy adding a nice cup of sweet cocoa to your drink repertoire!
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4. Paul asks - I am a Type 2 diabetic, can I safely use Canderel in my tea/coffee without it affecting my glucose levels?
Yes, you can use Canderel in your tea or coffee without it affecting your glucose levels. In fact people with diabetes, as well as slimmer’s, are the main users of Canderel for the two main reasons that a) it is low calorie and b) it has no effect on blood glucose control. I hope this is reassuring!
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5. Annika King asks - I recently read an article that said grapefruit might help people with diabetes, is this true?
You’ve probably read about research at Scripps Clinic in San Diego, America, which found that regular consumption of grapefruit lowered levels of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. In turn it surmised that this might help to reduce the risk of developing diabetes, or help to control symptoms in people who already have diabetes. An active dose is reckoned to be 3 glasses of grapefruit juice, or three grapefruit halves, a day, but it must be stressed that this is very early research and not a recommendation to start consuming these rather large quantities of grapefruit every day. More worryingly, grapefruit interacts with many medications (and could affect how much insulin you need if you are an insulin-dependent) so never eat large quantities of grapefruit without checking with your GP.
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6. Mary White asks - I am a diabetic, can I make cakes with Canderel? If so, what is the ratio I should I use to replace sugar in the recipe?
Yes, you can make cakes with Canderel, and I would suggest using Canderel Yellow Granules which have been formulated with a special blend of ingredients for superior cooking and baking and can be used to replace sugar without compromising on taste. All you need to do is either replace sugar with Canderel Yellow spoon for spoon or use a tenth of the required weight of sugar in any baking recipe for great results. You may need to add a little baking powder to get maximum rise out of your cakes. Do bear in mind, however, that though your cakes may be sugar free they will still contain high levels of carbohydrate from the flour, which could affect your glucose levels.
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7. Elmin asks: I love making waffles but am diabetic and I’m looking for a syrup for that I can have on them. Any suggestions?
The only syrup I have heard of with a low GI (i.e. releases slowly and therefore does not cause your blood sugar to rise too swiftly) is agave nectar, which is extracted from a Mexican plant and available from some specialist health food suppliers. I can’t vouch for its taste, but it’s worth a try. Alternatively, why not sprinkle over some Canderel?
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8. Gail asks: I’m diabetic type 2 and am new to using Canderel to sweeten drinks. Now I’d like to start cooking with it so can you suggest some recipes for one and a conversion chart for sugar to Canderel.
On a volume basis Canderel has the same sweetness as sugar, so for example where you used a cup or a tablespoon of sugar in a recipe you would also use a cup or a tablespoon of Canderel. On a weight basis, you only need to use a tenth of the weight of Canderel – so if a recipe called for 100g sugar for example, you would only need to use 10g Canderel. You’ll find plenty of low calorie recipes inside our Canderel Kitchen or if you’d like to cook just for one then simply divide the ingredients of larger recipes by the number of servings to avoid making too much food.
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9. Richard Atkinson asks: As a diabetic is there a limit on how much Canderel I can have in a day?
There are no special limits for people with diabetes as Canderel does not affect your blood glucose levels like sugar can. For adults in general the Acceptable Daily Intake of Aspartame, which is the main sweetening agent in Canderel, is 40mg per kg of body weight each day.
Set by the EU scientific committee for Food the Acceptable Daily Intake (or ADI) is a scientifically derived estimate of the amount of a food additive that can be routinely consumed every day over your lifetime without health risk. As Aspartame is needed in such small amounts in Canderel, a lot would have to be consumed every day to reach this amount. For a 70kg (roughly ten stone) adult this equates to around 110g Canderel granules (220 teaspoons), 154 tablets or 87 sachets of Canderel Vanilla daily.
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10. Sam Jackson asks: I have diabetes and wondering what are the best foods to eat to keep my blood sugar steady?
There are three main elements to keeping your blood sugar steadier – eating small regular meals, eating lower GI carbohydrates (those that release sugar slowly) and making sure you include adequate quantities of lean protein in your diet. The first point is self-explanatory, whilst the second can be achieved by eating mainly starchy, preferably whole grain carbohydrates rather than the refined or sugary type. If you do fancy sweet foods, a way to keep them lower in calories is to substitute the sugar with Canderel sweetener. On the third point, proteins are filling and again help to slow the rate at which sugar enters the bloodstream. Opt for lean meat, fish, beans and pulses.
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11. John Stevenson asks - Can I use Canderel for making my own jam and would it be ok for people with diabetes to use?
Sugar can cause surges in your blood glucose, which can make your diabetes harder to manage. So it’s great to know that if you really enjoy having some sweetness in your diet you can do so more often by using a sugar substitute like Canderel. As a replacement for sugar, Canderel is virtually calorie free, making it easier for you to manage your calorie intake and your weight if you need to.
Whilst Canderel can be used to sweeten a very diverse range of foods and recipes, it is not always suitable for making jam, as the very high temperatures involved in making preserves can reduce the level of sweetness. However many of our consumers find that they have been able to substitute sugar with Canderel in their favourite jam recipe, so why not give it a try?
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12. Molly asks - I have diabetes and have been advised to include nuts in my diet, but which nuts are the most nutritious for me?
All nuts are nutritious, but it is best to try to eat a variety of types and ideally not the salted version. Do remember that nuts are fattening in high quantities though. A small handful around 5 times a week is all you need to bring benefits, which include a lowered risk of heart disease.
