Search the Community

it varies. General rule is if you are stalled lay off the sugar alcohols

Sugar alcohols were ok in moderation but wow can they stall weight loss. Bummer

I ordered some online last night Vicki. Anyone have trouble with protein bars stalling them? I know sugar alcohols can be bad news from being a professional Atkins dieter lol.

I quit caffiene about 6 weeks and I kept some around (like a bottle of diet coke), so when the headache hit I would take a swig and tylenol. Like an alcoholic needing "hair of the dog". It took about a week. I swapped over to caffiene free diet coke and kept cutting back and finally quit the carbonated beverages 8 days ago... I think it would have been easier giving up "crack" or something like it, I had this need for it. I quit smoking 5 1/2 years ago and I think giving up the carbonated beverages was harder for me. I was drinking probably 6 - 8 Diet Cokes a day. I feel like my appetite has lessened, just a tad... not enough to call off surgery, but enough to leave food on a plate.

i'm three months post op and there hasn't been a day i;m not thinking about my eating constantly but i've had 50 years of wrong choices, yo-yo dieting and binge eating, isn't it natural that it will take some time to get used to making the right choices? but it looks harder than it really is. without the constant feeling of hunger you can make better choices. i'm sure that once we reach our goals and we level out everything will start to come more naturally. A friend of mine - 8 years post op - told me she doesn't need to think about her eating but she still needs to watch out for her trigger points - in her case alcohol. I guess there's still no fix for emotional eating (or drinking). Good luck with your surgery and i'm sure you'll do whatever you need to.

Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe bars - 180 calories, 20g of protein, 17g of carbs (2g of fiber, 4g of sugar alcohol). Protein calories to total calories is only 44% so 56% of calories is "other stuff". Not great considering their shakes average 85% of their calories from protein. But the bar is over the top good and when you're on the go, you can't beat the convenience of a bar. They come in a lot of other flavors but this one is just too good and since I probably eat one or two a month I don't need a lot of variety.

The bariatric foodie just reviewed Quest bars .. If you have FB you can like her page. They do have sugar alcohol called something else I can't remember but anyway wanted to let you know thaf date of surgery 02/21/12 surgery weight 340 lbs. current weight 146 lbs

Is it for pain control or recreational? If its the latter you might want to talk to your psyche consult about what you get out of it and if you can get to a place where it isnt really a benefit anymore. I'm not judging either. Ive had to make the same decisions about whether I want to keep alcohol in my life post op. These aren't easy decisions. At least your choice is calorie free!

So, I did see my doc about this - she practices alternative as well as traditional medicine. She started me on a product called Gaba Ease - intended to reduce the "adrenal response" - ie panic chemicals from our body. Well, I took 3 doses, and it wasn't until the 3rd dose that i figured out it was making me worse. I had a temporary but very very scary reaction - twice I was driving down the road and had to pull over because i thought i would faint - both times happened about 20 minutes or so after taking a dose. I felt like I couldn't breath and I actually considered calling 911 while i still could. It passed fairly quickly, but it wasn't good. The last time it happened I felt ill for hours and when I met a friend for a big hike he actually told me I looked a little green. I regained my strength and we hiked just fine... but it was several hours of suckage. Their theory is that i had a paradoxical response - meaning the herbs did the exact opposite what they were supposed to. My personal theory is that since my blood pressure is normal/low - that I had a sudden blood pressure drop. We won't find out because she decided it was not wise for me to continue that. She switched me to HTP 5 but I admit I haven't taken any - it is like I am afraid of feeling worse I guess. I hate green tea, but am willing to try it. I have posted about this before, but coffee is my primary "addiction transference" substance. I figure it beats alcohol, gambling, wreckless sex and maniacal shopping etc. but my coffee consumption got crazy wicked high over the summer. I have been cutting back over the last month or so and am moving toward going decaf/no coffee in preparation for my plastic surgery. I did that before my VSG too because last thing i need is to go through withdrawals while recovering from surgery! I am probably consuming 1/4 of the caffeine that I was a few months ago and yet my anxiety is actually amped way up. I eat pretty clean otherwise - mostly meat,seafood greek yogurt, cheese, green veggies and Protein drinks. I will note another small thing. I had let my weight creep about 5# above goal early in the summer - I think i hit 163. I am down to 155 and dropping (intentially) and I can't help but wonder if some of this goes back to the food reduction, the letting go of the weight. I have been doing the 5:2 thing - but I don't notice higher anxiety on fast days, it is just that in general I am eating less. Our bodies are complicated and I am guessing that I am experiencing something that has both physical and emotional components - just as I believe my overeating and obesity had both. the point of my original post really is that i am surprised that this is showing up so late in the journey, but I do see it as another aspect of myself that "needs work" and that I continue to work through as part of my transformation. The biggest difference between the new me and the old me? I am talking to friends and family about it, I am not trying to hide my discomfort and unease. I am being a genuine person and when I was obese I think i often tried to bury many of my inner struggles and i just don't do that anymore and I feel proud of myself for that small victory.

As a recovering addict/alcoholic, with over 15 years clean... I can say its very simple, not easy at all, but simple: when you get sick and tired of being sick and tired, the pain is greater than even the tiniest pleasure or comfort you get from food(or whatever it is we use to 'feel better')... you have the shame, guilt that adds another 100lbs onto your spirit... You want to go to bed and not wake up tomorrow....you have that moment you look in the mirror and don't recognize yourself, dont like what you see....but know deep down where that shred of hope and belief in yourself...that somehow the person on the inside who you believe in, you once were, you dreamed of becoming is still in there, and is crying out for one more chance at change, wants out of the self made prison.... THATS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE READY, and you will be willing to do whatever it takes to change. Whether its food, cigarettes, drugs, overspending, booze, sex, co dependency.... Addiction is addiction....period. Sure, drinking oneself to death or smoking crack, doing pills etc is more obvious, more harmful...way lower bottoms to hit. But, I have found that focusing on the substance, or the "what" we are addicted to is irrelevant... Its addiction. We are powerless over the ADDICTION , & it makes life unmanageable. Addiction is not limited to drugs, cigs, food, booze, etc.... We can always trade one for another, and unless we grasp what addiction or having an addictive personality is about, that will make life unmanageable too. Its emotional, spiritual, physical.and mental. For me, the 12 steps in the "A" programs work (oa, na, aa, etc).. The principles in the steps WORK. Never been to OA...not always thrilled with my own fellowship... My experience with those (incl me long ago) that have said this isnt for me usually werent entirely ready or thought they could do it on their own, or control it. But the same steps and principles, support, meetings, etc I have learned from and practiced for the last 15 yrs that have successfully kept me from using/relapsing....and gave me another shot at life... Are working for me in this journey too.... Rehab was a tool to start me off on the right track 15=yrs ago. It was up to me to continue to do what i needed to do to stay on that path, change, grow, heal...let go of past crap, live differently, make new habits etc.. Change people, places, things....even now. This surgery is a tool for me to get on the right track...because I know and accept I cant do it on my own...like you said food is everywhere, we need it to live...and its easier to.cheat or "relapse" on a cupcake.(or 10) than it is on a drink or drug. Not as much to lose.... Or is there???? Why OA is kinda unrealistic, imho. However, support groups, or a 12 step group that doesnt focus on specific substance, etc are essential, for me. Self sufficiency is a lie. We need each other, people who "get" it...the real it ... Addiction is a feelings disease. I can empathize with someone who shared about pretending to order food for a couple people in the drivethru, when in reality it was all for them... I never did that, but I can look at the behavior, the shame, guilt, feeling of degradation and despair it caused, and relate 100%.. I never thought I was a food addict, but the reality is that I am.. I like and want whatever makes me feel good, takes me out of whatever reality I dont wanna deal with, or need to numb. I usually eat well, yet if over emotional, stressed, etc...i tend to say "f" it, and eat whatever. I wont trade my clean time/sobriety for anything....but you can be sure Id break an eating plan or goal for a box of HoHos or pizza/wings in a second.... Until I realized that was keeping me trapped in a cycle of failure.....just like i was using. I ended up losing myself again, in a fetal position, crying every day... Once again looking in the mirror, saying WTF are you doing ??? You got clean, did all this work on your self with the steps, therapy, go to meetings drinking crappy coffee...have changed your life, in so many ways... To stay stuck again...to hide the beautiful person you are behind all this fat?? Settle again for just enough to get by, not being all you want to be?? (Thats my key...hiding behind the weight, more afraid of success than failure... Something inside still not feeling worthy...) And that was my "bottom" that led to this... So approaching it just like i did the drugs/booze and getting "clean". A lot of recovering people get this surgery...i have at least 6 friends in my network, and met another 5 or 6 at the NA world convention .."randomly" a few wks ago....and its not random. I got my approval on 8/29 while at that convention.... My HP (God for me) put people in my path all weekend that had had WLS, and where it came up in conversation....out of 18000 peeps there... My friend i was there with doesnt get it, questions my decision...and it was affecting me a bit....but BAM, there were peeps who got "it", lived it, were in the process who I just met that built me back up... So, there is something to giving it over to some power greater than ourselves, regardless of who or what that is. Sorry....long. Addiction is just something i understand all too well... Luckily, I also am continuing to learn what recovery, change, growth, etc is even better. thats my two cents....or ten cents, lol.

*** You really hit the nail on the head. You get it. I suppose I was thinking I had to be perfect (I,mistakenly, sometimes see things in black and white) in my diet, traveling this journey, thinking that I HAD to be 100% perfect. **** Fighting addiction is lifelong and with food, it doesn't have to be perfect. I guess I am human and CAN do this! Just like many of you. My therapist is a recovering alcoholic with 23 years clean, so she gets it a lot, but stumbles with the food issue because alcoholics recover by not picking up a drink, ever and with food, we HAVE to eat. It's more intense than that, but you get the drift. *** I've learned something new again, thank you all!

sugar free hard candy is a saving grace. It makes you feel bad.. but they are low calorie .. They have sugar alcohol which burns off in your body. Had this same issue last month on Pre-op diet. -Debbi

I feel like the longer I have my band the less I understand it... A little background info: Banded 2/6/13 with a 14cc band Surgery = 4cc 5/14/13 = 0.5cc 5/23/13 = 3cc 7/10/13 = 0.8cc Before my last fill I was experience some tightness in the mornings. Since it is almost like I don't have a band at all. I have only experienced one "stuck" episode and this was sometime between my 3cc fill and my last fill. I have never been one to throw up and I can only remember doing it twice. Once from nerves and the other alcohol. Which makes me wonder...is this why I am not experiencing more stuck episodes. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to have stuck episodes, but I also feel that I am overeating and eating to fast. I don't eat as fast or as much as I used to, but I know its more than a cup per serving. My concern is not so much weight loss related as it is damaging my band or stretching my esophagus. For those of you who are in the green zone...Does it take your hunger away or just your desire to eat? I only ask because I don't really want to eat most of the time, but my body is telling me I need to. Since surgery I get extremely sharp pains in my left shoulder if I let myself get to hungry. It also seems like my hunger comes on all of a sudden. One min I feel stuffed and the next I could chew my arm off... So this leads me to wonder if I should get a fill or not. I assume the tighter I get the more likely I will be to damage my band from over eating. However, will being closer to the green zone assist me with not overeating?!? I know the band will not physically keep me from over eating, but assist with the desire to over eat. Does that make scene? Ugh... If you can understand my ramblings and feedback would be greatly appreciated. *Sigh*

I subscribe to Dr. Sharma’s blog where he is currently talking about weight regain and all the reasons it happens. Today’s topic happened to be about Mental Health and regain. To quote him: We found substantial evidence for the role of mental health factors both in failure to lose adequate amounts of weight or to regain any weight lost. Out of the sixteen studies included in the review, all studies that examined this factor, implicated uncontrolled mental health issues as an important cause of weight regain. These included, binge eating disorder, depression and addictive behaviours (alcohol and drug use)…… Overall, patients with two or more psychiatric conditions were approximately six times more likely to either lose no further weight or regain weight than patients without psychiatric problems. Of course this sent me searching for Eating disorder screens and this is the one I took. NEDA. Thankfully I didn’t have one, but if you do, the news is not all doom and gloom. To quote him again, Interestingly, one study found that completion rates of behavioural modification therapy increased to 91% when performed post-operatively, compared to 14 % when done pre-operatively. So if you’re sleeved and struggling, get thee to a shrink and maximize your chances for success. Link to the study abstract HERE Happy Monday to one and all!

For most of my life I have always had trouble with digestion. I struggled with diabetes since I was 14 yrs. old. In my 20’s my diet consisted of primarily coffee and nicotine and I wouldn’t eat dinners until late at night due to working 60 hour work weeks. When my husband was deployed in 2003/4 it was shortly after the birth of our second daughter that my health took a turn. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer that was not progressing but it was advised that I have a full radical hysterectomy to be safe. The surgery went fine and I recovered well and it was a few years before I started to notice that something wasn’t right. We had been transferred to WA state in 2006 I was 130lbs, healthy, exercised often. By 2007, I was almost 200lbs, constantly lethargic, couldn’t eat, and I noticed a large lump growing on my throat. Like a goof, I was worried it was throat cancer so I went to Madigan Army Medical and I let the military version of fast-food style medicine run rampant. First doc said it was lupus, 2nd doc said it was a reaction to my hysterectomy, and finally the third doc noticed my t4 was in the dirt and started treating me for hypothyroidism. After discovering this condition and doing a bit of research I tried many different forms of dieting, exercise programs, along with medications in order to attempt to lose the weight that was rapidly gaining yet unable to lose. At this point, with knowledge of the gastric bypass my mother had, I attempted to ask for assistance for approval for a gastric bypass. I was told, you’re not fat enough for that( I was 170lbs) and you just need diet and exercise (which I was doing). Later, in 2010 we were again PCS’d to Kansas. And my husband was yet again deployed for another year. My struggles got worse but I couldn’t give in because we had children to tend to, bills to pay, and a husband to support overseas. After a very bad series of infections and drastic shifts in weight ( going from 140 to 170 back to 140 then up to 200lbs within months of each) my husband demanded I go to the doctors. I had a team of different doctors in a few months’ time. I again started trying for the gastric bypass with the approval finally from my PCP. I chose an office for bariatric surgery that was closest to me and attended their seminar on the different procedures they offered. Filled out the paper work, did a psych eval, 6-months of medical assisted diet history, and finally had my paperwork submitted to the insurance 9 months later. The first attempt with Tricare at the time was denied. Again, I wasn’t “fat” enough. But we appealed due to other medical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, positional sleep apnea, and gallstones. It would take another 6 months. During this time I had an episode where I had to have emergency surgery to remove gallstones that were measured just shy the size of a quarter that had been blocking the bile duct to my liver. Originally , the surgery was supposed to be laparoscopic, but due to complications they opened me up to discover severe liver damage and sent me to KU Medical center (254 miles away)where they diagnosed me with End Stage Liver disease , stage 4 Non-alcoholic Cirrhosis. It was at this point that the hematologist said that if I had been approved the years before for a gastric bypass, most likely I would not have this much liver damage. He quickly referred me to their bariatric surgeon for a gastric sleeve due to the success rate of completely stopping Cirrhosis in Nash patients at the beginning of this year. So here I am, towards this surgery still in Pre-Op status. I go on 9/26 to finally meet with the surgeon to discuss I guess when we will do the surgery. I have already had my EDG, Blood work, etc. So here’s to hoping it is soon. At this point I would just like to get it over with. There is no way to avoid a transplant, but this surgery could at least prolong it for a good while and hopefully improve my health in the meantime. I am so worried that he will also say that I’m not “fat “ enough for the surgery due to my BMI being at 27% but I have been told regardless of my weight I need this in order to increase my chances of the cirrhosis not spreading. Crossing Fingers! And that is my story………

Post-Surgery Weight Regain: Mental Health Regular readers will appreciated the importance of mental health factors both as a promoter of weight gain as well as an important barrier to weight management. It is therefore no surprise that in our systematic review of weight regain after bariatric surgery, published in Obesity Surgery, we found substantial evidence for the role of mental health factors both in failure to lose adequate amounts of weight or to regain any weight lost. Out of the sixteen studies included in the review, all studies that examined this factor, implicated uncontrolled mental health issues as an important cause of weight regain. These included, binge eating disorder, depression and addictive behaviours (alcohol and drug use). In fact, there was a linear relationship between the number of reported psychiatric diagnoses and the magnitude of weight regain. Overall, patients with two or more psychiatric conditions were approximately six times more likely to either lose no further weight or regain weight than patients without psychiatric problems. At least one study reported that 80 % of patients identified pre-operatively with an eating disorder, and who did not receive any treatment pre-operatively, had recurrent feelings of binge eating at 6 months post-operation. In addition to binge eating, some researchers describe a new sub-clinical disorder described as “grazing” (consuming multiple small meals with feelings of loss of control with eating), the incidence of which appeared to increase after surgery and was associated with an increased tendency for weight regain. Interestingly, one study found that completion rates of behavioural modification therapy increased to 91% when performed post-operatively, compared to 14 % when done pre-operatively. Nevertheless, it probably makes more sense, when possible, to address mental health issues prior to undergoing surgery. In summary, our review finds ample evidence that a wide range of mental health problems can lead to maladaptive eating, which if unregocgnised and untreated will prove a persistent impediment to surgical weight loss. This is why extensive mental health assessments and interventions both prior to as well as following surgery should be a routine part of bariatric care. If you have experienced specific mental health issues to be an important factor in weight gain after surgery, I’d like to hear about it. @DrSharma Edmonton, AB Karmali S, Brar B, Shi X, Sharma AM, de Gara C, & Birch DW (2013). Weight Recidivism Post-Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review. Obesity surgery PMID: 23996349

You're right, it is an addiction. I'm glad I stopped and I'm saving money. I was a sugar and carb addict, too. And alcoholism runs in my family. 5 out of 7 in my family are or were alcoholics and substance abusers - three of them are dead (two died in their twenties). That is one very big reason why I am following my team's rules about no alcohol for one year. I have always had to be super careful to limit my alcohol. I've seen what it can do. Sorry for my mini rant. :-)

I don't see any sugar alcohols in them ... There is 1 gram of sugar date of surgery 02/21/12 surgery weight 340 lbs. current weight 146 lbs

I gave up craft beer. I tend to smoke when I drink and only like one ot two cigs. And when I'm drunk and in the right company I've smoked weed too. That being said, I'm looking for a different life. I want to do this surgery so I can be healthy, not be in PAIN, have energy, be athletic, feel good about myself, and look good for once in my life before I'm too old. All of the things (besides the flesh sacrifice of the stomach) the over indulgences of alcohol, laziness, food, drugs , ect... will ALWAYS BE THERE! They aren't going to stop making any of these things any time soon. There will ALWAYS be cheesecake and fried chicken and pop. Just because you don't or shouldn't indulge right now doesn't mean that you never will again. Do your body the favor and give it a chance to thrive and heal. It's a temple. I'm not judging because I've taken my temple to the hood and have had bums living in it too long lol! And it's easy for me to speak not because I'm still presleeve. I know that this os only a hell I can imagine and I haven't been through it yet so I hope I can have the strength in my conviction. Good luck and even though you can smoke and it hasn't hurt you yet, you know it hasn't helped. Later in life vices will be there waiting for us all. Just my 2

My surgeon's rule is that you should end up with at least 64 ounces of fluid each day, but it doesn't matter whether that is from water, broth, protein shakes, tea, juice, skim milk, etc. As long as it isn't alcohol, soda, or something with a high carb count (we are restricted to 60 carbs per day).

I think we have all felt that way. My doc had me eating egg before I left the hospital. I am 1 month out and I can eat anything. I do have to eat slow and that I am having trouble with. So many years of eating big bites is a hard habit to break. I popped a ritz cracker with chix salad in to my mouth and chewed alittle and swallowed like I used to. Big mistake!! hurt for atleast 10 min. That taught me a lesson. My dic also said it is not possible to hurt, stretch your sleeve. Another mistake I made was I had a margarita then 30 min. later I ate. Food came right back up. I don't think I will try alcohol for a bit longer!!! Live and learn!!!

Hey Michael, once I had the surgery I stayed on plan for three or four months. No alcohol. Then I introduced a glass of wine every now and then. After a while I had a glass of scotch every now and then. Now 6 months out and 110 lbs lost, I just returned from a week long motorcycle trip with the guys. I drank alcohol everyday including beer and ate anything I wanted. I did gain a couple of pounds and now I'll have to get back to the plan and stay away from bad food and drink again but you can hang out with the guys. It's just like everything else. Moderation.

I am new to GBT, in the research stage. I have had a LapBand in me since '07, unfilled. I am well educated about what the diet is for the Band, but am currently eating whatever I feel like. I've been told to try RNY by several people. I have about 130#'s to lose to be an average weight. ** I have yet to find someone who admits they are deeply addicted to food and the action of doing it, for coping reasons. Sure, people say they understand, or feel the same way, but they don't. ** I suffer from Chronic Depression, a Dissociative Disorder, PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder. In therapy, on meds. Normal to the people who are not in the therapist's office or home to see the real me. I, am addicted to food to cure the bad and celebrate the good and more. I am terrified to the point of flaring up my relatively controlled disorders. I can't afford to do that. ** I am the mirror of an alcoholic, the narcotic addiction sufferer's, a cigarette smoker, though I don't do any of those things. What I DO do is feel and live the torture of giving up my "high". I have been to OA but I won't comment on that, I tried to tackle my addictive disorder with my therapist, but she doesn't "get it" all. I come here, to you, hoping against all hope I can read those words that really hit the spot, here on GBT. I know many of you suffer from emotional/addictive/habitual and binge eating. Come to me. I need to understand why I won't take care of this body I'm in. I hate it. Tell me how you got yourself to adhere to such a limited diet. Tell me how you came to love yourself enough to succeed in RNY. I am of an alternative religion, please don't tell me to give it to God. I have to do this, me, myself and I. I am responsible for what I've done to myself and I am also responsible to overcome my addiction. But YOU did it, tell me how. Tell me anything.....

I told my mom (she went with me for the surgery), my sister, and my closest friend... only because I knew she would be very suspicious about my eating/drinking changes. I don't plan on telling anyone else. As far as what do I tell other people? I tell them I am doing high protein/low carb, and exercising. Also, if I am at a BBQ or something (which has happened recently) and there's nothing for me to eat, I tell them I'm on a diet and I had a protein shake right before I got there. It's usually true. As far as alcohol, I have used migraines as my excuse for not drinking lately. My feeling is that it is nobody's business but mine, and I don't want to be known from here on out as the "girl who had weight loss surgery" in my extended group of friends. I believe it's a totally personal decision if you want to tell people or not. I decided not to tell, and although it's only been a month, it's working out fine so far.

Im not out to start a fight on here...just something I am somewhat passionate about. What the FDA passes off as safe is down right scary...Just because a product has natural on it or says real fruit..doesnt matter...it is the process in which it is made...read this if you care to- may explain it so you can understan it better....also the stevia so to speak at walmart is not the same stevia you buy at a health food store...health food stores only have the "real" stuff....just sayin Is Nectresse Truly A Natural Sweetener? » The makers of the artificial sweetener, Splenda, recently released a new sweetener, Nectresse, which is being marketed as a natural, zero calorie, healthy alternative to artificial sweeteners and sugar. Is it really natural or is it just tricky marketing to target health-minded consumers? We’ve done some research to help you make an educated decision. The Nectresse website claims that the product is 100% natural and made from monk fruit. Monk fruit is an Asian melon that releases its sweetness when heated and is 150 times sweeter than sugar. The process to create Nectresse is described on their website as the following: The monk fruit is picked fresh from the vine. The fruit is then crushed to access the sweet extract. The crushed fruit is then soaked in hot Water to release its sweetness. The monk fruit-infused water is filtered and dried to create monk fruit extract. The extract is then blended with other natural sweeteners to create NECTRESSE™ Sweetener. It sounded good up until #5. They do not disclose what other natural sweeteners are used. We learn from this that there are other natural sweeteners AND other ingredients. So what are they? The first ingredient, which is always the most abundant, is erythritol. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol frequently derived from corn, which we know to be one of the largest genetically modified crops in the United States. There is no claim as to whether or not GM corn is used, but we will note that typically if it is NOT genetically modified, they make it known. The second ingredient in Nectressed is sugar, another ingredient that is typically derived from a genetically modified crop (sugar beets) and is also refined. Monk fruit is listed as the third ingredient, which we discussed its role earlier. And the last ingredient in Nectresse is molasses, which is a sugar and typically a derivative of genetically modified sugar beets. Besides monk fruit, the other three ingredients look to be derived from genetically modified crops and two of the ingredients are refined sugars. The company can legally claim under the FDA guidelines that Nectresse is zero calories per serving because erythritol is the most abundant ingredient used and is a sugar alcohol. Clearly, Nectresse is far from being a natural product due to the extremely high possibility that its ingredients are derived from bioengineered crops and sources. Monk fruit is very much a natural product, but paired with 3 other GM bi-products, Nectresse can hardly be thought of as natural. Monk fruit can be up to 200 times sweeter than sugar because it contains natural antioxidants that have a very strong, sweet taste. The antioxidants in monk fruit, known as mogrosides, contain zero calories. Therefore, monk fruit is a healthy alternative to artificial zero calorie sweeteners. However, Nectresse is an impure version of monk fruit that is just one more example of the food industry’s ability to tap into the health-minded community of consumers. Don’t be fooled by this sly marketing attempt! I recommend Stevia or Xylitol if you are searching for a zero calorie sweetener. You can find these sweeteners in the Vitamin or baking aisles of your local health food store. Both products can be purchased in individual packets or canisters. - See more at: http://360yourlife.com/featured/is-nectresse-truly-a-natural-sweetener/#sthash.JMjB7k5y.dpuf