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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. Mike Carter asks - I am making a cake using six ounces of sugar. How much Canderel should I be replacing it with?
In weight terms, Canderel is one tenth of the amount of sugar. So, when replacing 60z of sugar, you would need to use 0.6oz (17g) of Canderel. In volume terms 1 tbsp of Canderel is equal to 1tbsp of Sugar, however in weight terms you must remember to divide the quantity of sugar by 10.
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2. Jeremy Cordell asks - What tasty foods can I eat that will help reduce my cholesterol?
You can reduce your cholesterol level by cutting out some of the saturated fats in your diet (butter, cream, pastries, fatty meats) and replacing a proportion of them with unsaturated fats. Practically this might mean eating chicken or lean red meat instead of sausages, burgers or pies, using a reduced fat olive spread instead of butter and snacking on nuts instead of crisps or biscuits. Eating a high fibre diet packed with fruit and vegetables will also help. And having soya products regularly - particularly tofu, soya beans, soya milk etc can also help.
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3. Sophie Nuttel asks - Is Canderel aggravating to any common food allergies?
No, Canderel is not known to aggravate or trigger allergic reactions, and is generally quite safe to be consumed by allergic individuals. The only people who should avoid Canderel are those with the rare, inherited metabolic disease phenylketonuria which results in affected people not being able to tolerate standard levels of an amino acid called phenylalanine in the diet. Canderel does contain this amino acid and anyone with this condition (PKU) will be clearly aware of their condition and the need to avoid foods containing phenylalanine in any reasonable quantity.
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4. Janice Hawkins asks - As a new vegetarian, what foods can I eat to replace the lost protein in my diet?
Any healthy diet for both vegetarians and non vegetarians should include plenty of fruits, vegetables and starchy foods (bread, pasta, rice etc).
It should also include a moderate amount of high protein foods (meat and fish alternatives), such as beans, lentils, peas and chick peas, eggs, nuts, Quorn, tofu and TVP), and only small amounts of fatty and sugary foods.
A decade or two ago, vegetarians and especially vegans were told to carefully mix and match their foods to be sure of getting sufficient high quality protein. But now nutritionists believe it's a myth that non-meat eaters routinely run short of protein. As long as you include a selection of protein sources from beans, pulses, nuts and eggs, you will be getting enough.
Eating 2-3 dairy portions a day will also keep up your protein levels, as well as vitamin B12 and calcium levels too. If you don't eat dairy products, a vitamin B12 and calcium fortified milk replacement, such as soya milk is essential.
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5. Philip Potts asks - I have recently found out that I am diabetic and I was wondering if you have any general tips to keep my condition under control?
Diabetes management can involve dietary and lifestyle changes alone, tablets for diabetes control, or if these two are not effective enough, insulin injections.
On the dietary side, the first thing you'll need to do if you are overweight is try to lose some weight: Evidence shows that a 10% reduction in body weight can lead to on average a 50% reduction in fasting blood sugar levels.
Regular exercise not only aids weight management, but also improves insulin sensitivity and therefore blood glucose control.
As far as diet itself is concerned, a diabetic diet is very much the same as any other healthy diet. This means:
- Eating high fibre starchy carbohydrate foods (e.g. grainy breads, whole-wheat pasta etc.) at every meal.
- Eating at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day.
- Watching your fat intake, particularly intake of saturated fat which should be no more than 20g a day.
- Reducing sugar intake (you can use Canderel instead of sugar in drinks and sweet treats)
- Reducing salt (to no more than 6g a day)
- Making sure your alcohol consumption is safe and sensible
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6. Josh asks - Why is Canderel better for you than sugar?
Some sugar is fine, but if you have a particularly sweet tooth, it's all too easy to eat too much. Frequent sugar consumption increases the risk of dental decay; it can also set up fluctuating blood sugar levels which can lead to sugar cravings and a difficulty curbing hunger in general. Canderel is healthier because it does not have these effects. It is also low in calories, Canderel tablets contain zero calories and 1 teaspoon of Canderel granules contains only 2 Calories, whereas 1 teaspoon of sugar contains 20 Calories.
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7. Simone asks - When dieting what is the best sort of breakfast to eat?
If you are trying to lose weight the top breakfast I would recommend would be a couple of poached or boiled eggs! Researchers at the Rochester Centre for Obesity in America found volunteers who ate eggs instead of bagels for breakfast ate 431 Calories fewer over the next day and a half - probably because eggs are protein-rich and filling. Another good is porridge or baked beans on toast, oats and pulses supply particularly slow-releasing carbohydrates, leaving you feeling energised and with an appetite that's satisfied for longer. As well as avoiding the obvious - saturated fat and calorie laden fry ups, I'd also suggest keeping away from a really sugary breakfast which can give you an immediate boost but leave you feeling in need of sustenance only an hour or so after breakfast. If you really need something sweet, sprinkle Canderel over plain cereal.
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8. Sue asks - What is the recommended calorie intake for a woman trying to loose weight?
It really does depend on the woman's' starting weight and current calorie intake. Basically a reduction of 500 Calories from the current level of consumption should result in a weight loss of 1 pound a week. Most women who are trying to lose weight from a starting place of 10 stone or above are likely to lose weight at the rate of 1-2 pounds a week if they reduce their calorie intake to 1500 a day. I hope that gives you some idea. You should always see your GP before starting to lose weight.
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9. Margaret asks - When using Canderel, is a teaspoon the same equivalent of normal sugar?
Yes, on a volume basis, sugar and Canderel supply equal sweetness. The Canderel weighs a lot less though, which is why it has only one tenth of the calories of sugar per given volume.
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10. Lauren Carrigan asks - Is tofu a good nutritional substitute for meat and if not is there anything better to use?
Yes, tofu is an excellent high protein, low fat substitute for meat. Quorn and eggs are similarly good and you can also get plenty of protein from pulses such as baked beans.
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11. Jessica Thomas asks - Are there any real benefits of eating organic foods?
Organic foods taste better in my opinion and those of many others. With organically produced meat in particular, there are the animal welfare and environmental advantages to take into consideration. But it's less clear cut if there are any nutritional benefits. A number of studies suggest there is no clear difference in vitamin and mineral content, though potentially there could be a higher content of beneficial phytochemicals in organic produce. However with fruit and vegetables at least, the main issue is to eat lots (at least 5 portions a day), whether they are organic or not.
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12. Marjory Milne asks - Can you use Canderel to make a meringue? If so, how?
Low calorie sweetener is of a lower density and volume than sugar so when making meringue the lower volume of Canderel does not allow the mixture to rise. Often when baking other products such as baking powder can be added to the mixture to compensate, however this cannot be added in sufficient quantities for meringue. In this case it is best to use sugar to get the desired results.
