Truvia - I hate you!

[ari'smom]

So I recently purchased some Truvia via an insert coupon. I didn't save a ton of money - $1 off the $5.99 price. But I am trying to get away from using sugar in my coffee (again lol.) I've used various other "natural" sweeteners including Stevia, so I thought Truvia would be the same as that.

Well I noticed right away I was burping a lot more than usual. Then the other day I started getting heartburn, something I haven't had since I was 7-9 months pregnant. Then this morning I woke up with the most horrible feeling in my chest which is basically trapped gas. I am still trying to get it out with Maalox tablets, doing a duck walk (courtesy of an internet article lol) and lying on my stomach on the bed with the top part of my chest hanging over.

I am pretty sure it is the Truvia because there is nothing else new that I've been eating or drinking. And when doing a search for Truvia and gas I came up with lots of other people saying they had the same problem, as well as others, and that it isn't even 100% stevia. Then I realized it was made by Coca Cola and had an incredible "duh" moment. So I'm not sure who I'm more upset with, Stevia or myself for not investigating it further before buying it. :P

Anyway, I guess it is back to the aspartame until I can get to the store to buy some real "natural" sugar alternative. I had good luck with xylitol that I bought awhile back from Hannafords. I also buy it in gum form because supposedly it helps kill the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities - something like that. And it tastes okay. I'm not as worried about the calories in sugar as I am something Dr. Oz said recently about sugar addiction, something I'm sure is the case with me.

So thanks for nothing, Truvia and Coca Cola. I don't throw out very much, but this barely used can/jar is headed for the trash heap. Buyer beware.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Trivia is made my Cargill not Coca-Cola
Cargill: Products & Services - Our Brands - Consumer Product Brands

Sorry it is giving you gas. I have not tried it yet. For some reason I like Equal in my coffee the best.

[GJohnson39]

Sorry to hear about your problems with Truvia - what a horrible ordeal.

I have worked to reduce the sugar and salt from our diet over the past couple of years by limiting the amount of baked goods I allow in the house, home baking using recipe substitutions, and making sodas and juices a "once in a while" thing. I have not, however, been willing or able to give up coffee, and that means I have to have a sweetener of some sort around.

I have been using Truvia in my coffee for about 6 months. I don't seem to have any problems (knock wood), but i find it very sweet and now use a much smaller amount than when I started. I do not care for the taste in anything other than beverages - metallic and as I said before, very sweet. I don't have access to "real" stevia, so it is the best alternative I can find.

[xmas tree]

I use Truvia all the time in bran muffins and cookies. We have no problems with it. I guess the problem is when you start using it , to find the right amount to use in various drinks and foods.

[ari'smom]

From what I've read the people who seemed to have the problems with it the most already had some kind of GI issues to begin with, which is the case with me. *sigh* So I guess it is more of a random thing. And yes it is so painful today. I can't wait to get this out of my system and wish I had thought about it more when the symptoms were less bothersome. :P

@GJohnson, depending upon where you shop, there are usually some other alternatives available. If not in the health food or diet section, then in the sugar section itself. There was a stevia sweetner that came out of a little dropper bottle that I used to use and I'm pretty sure I got it from the supermarket, also the xylitol sweetner. I've also tried agave but that I got from the health food store. I wonder if drug stores would carry that sort of thing, or a GNC?

Anyway, I dont' think I read that anything in the Truvia is dangerous per se, but isn't really as natural as the marketing is saying. But then again, what is anymore? :(

[ari'smom]

This is the first ingredient listed on the Truvia package. Erythritol - What is Erythritol The truvia website says they use it as a bulking agent for their table top variety, which is what I bought. This site says it shouldn't cause intenstinal upset in amounts less than 80 grams, but I definitely had way less than that. Maybe a teaspoon total per day over the last week. Unless it built up? Who knows.

[ari'smom]

Still, erithrytol isn't from the stevia plant at all.

[Shy2481]

I threw mine out because i don't think it tastes good.

[uummm]

I have found Agave in my regular grocery store (and walmart), I think it is something that is becoming more popular. It is all a catch 22...I personally can't have artificial sweeteners they give me headaches, and I didn't even realize it until one day I thought i am going to cut out all artificial sweeteners and use regular sugar. Then I noticed I didn't get headaches nearly as often! Yes that means no diet soda, and honestly I don't have regular soda but maybe once a month (my kids on the other hand totally different story). I bought Agave (which is not cheap) and a few weeks later saw something on TV that said that Agave raises blood triglycerides-I am more worried about heart/cholesterol problems for my hubby than sugar.

You are better off just trying to cut back on sugar period (including artificial)-you will find that when you do have sugar you will not need nearly as much. I had sweet tea for the first time in several months and found it way too sweet-I had to cut it with unsweet tea and then it tasted fine. You will find it is that way with a lot of things. I just figured out why to me things tend to taste salty where to my husband they do not. My dad had high blood pressure when I was growing up so my mom cut way back on salt, I don't use a lot of salt when I am cooking so to me it is normal. My husband on the other hand...one day i was making a comment about being afraid I will make something too salty. His reply was "Valerie never ever have you come close to using too much salt!" You can always add it is my thought but you can't take it away.

I did find a soda made with Truvia and I have to say it was pretty good, but EXPENSIVE! I found it at a Grocery Store (Earth Fare) that doesn't sell anything with HFCS, Artificial sweeteners or Trans Fats-I don't shop there regularly, I had a coupon to trade in a 2ltr of diet soda for a free 6pk of this soda.

In full disclosure, I use International Delight, Bailey's or Coffee Mate in my coffee the full sugar version. I have probably 3 servings a day (one big coffee cup with about 1/4c of non dairy creamer). I try and pick and choose my battles and subscribe to the 90/10 philosophy be good 90% of the time with what I put in my body. It seems to work for me.

[ari'smom]

I think the reason I wanted to try cutting out the sugar in my coffee was something Dr Oz was saying on GMA about sugar addiction. In looking it up further it sounded like so many little annoying things that I have going on, plus pretty much the inability to restrict how much I'm eating. I've never had a problem with my weight until maybe the last five years. I'm still not super overweight, but I do have a problem with sugary things if they are around - I literally cannot stop myself.

Anyway, I figured as with any addiction, removing it as completely as possible would be my best option, and I was right. After taking it out of my morning coffee it was much easier to go several hours without eating. Where before I would feel sick, get shaky, headaches, and so on. And then I find I'm not really craving sweets or carbohydrate stuff at all, even if it is around. So it's really more about that than anything. Somehow not starting the day off with that initial dose of sugar really seems to make a difference in what I want to eat the rest of the day.

Of course it would be great if I could just take my coffee without any sweetener lol, but that may be unrealistic. Right now I just want this big ball of air out of my stomach. It really does hurt! :(