Dextrose and Glucose Syrup

Let's face it - giving up sugar should not have to mean giving up the sweetness of life.  Most of that sweetness will return in the form of fabulously awesome fresh fruit.  After completing my 10 days of sugar detox, the first sweet thing I ate was a fresh strawberry.  And for probably the first time in my life, this was a fresh strawberry without a speck of added sugar.  It was AMAZING!!  It has so much flavor and sweetness.  I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.  So fresh fruit is definitely the sweet treat of choice at our house. 

But, is there any other way to add a bit of sweetness?  What about birthdays and family events and everyday moments in life like eating 100% plain greek yogurt?  Here is where I pull out my secret weapons:  dextrose powder and glucose syrup. 

Dextrose powder is powdered glucose and glucose syrup is really just a solution of glucose and water.  Both are natural substances free from fructose.  Dextrose powder looks like slightly crunchy powdered sugar.  It has a lower sweetness than white sugar (it would take 1 1/3 cups dextrose to have the same sweetness as 1 cup white sugar).  It blends easily into yogurt and works well in lots of recipes.  You won't be able to create a decent sugar cookie because the texture and weight are different; but, I have made cake, ice cream, sauces, muffins, and even my own version of pancake syrup.

A couple of things to think about:

1. Dextrose and glucose syrup are not artificial sweeteners and therefore still have calories just like regular sugar.  ***I would NOT recommend using dextrose or glucose syrup until you feel like you are really free from your cravings for sugar.*** 
2. Dextrose powder will take a bit more liquid when used to replace white sugar in a recipe.  Try using extra-larges eggs to combat this issue when you can.
3. Dextrose powder tends to brown quicker in foods than regular sugar.  I am still working on finding a recipe for pancake mix that works consistently without ending up with lots of burnt pancakes.
4. Dextrose and glucose syrup found in the USA are almost always made from corn.  At first I found myself concerned about this.  High-fructose corn syrup is very bad and should be avoided.  After reading and researching further, I was able to feel good about using dextrose and glucose syrup in moderation.  Regular corn syrup does not contain fructose (be sure to read the labels); without fructose, one brownie, piece of cake, or bowl of ice cream will be enough.  Really - it will. 
5. Buying dextrose and glucose syrup can be tricky.  These are not items that I have found in my local grocery.  I started by buying mine from my best-bud Amazon.com (see dextrose powder and glucose syrup).  I also think these items might be available at health food stores.  I am lucky because we have a great little store in our town that sells bulk items like various flours, etc., called Beyond Measure.  I talked to the owner, and she was able to order a 50 pound bag of dextrose at a much lower cost per pound.  Hopefully she will be able to stock this item on the shelf for those of you that are interested and live in my area.  Glucose syrup can also sometimes be found where cake decorating supplies are sold.
6. I also have to add that my husband still thinks of this as cheating.  That's his opinion; as for me, I find that it is a great way to keep from feeling deprived and finding yourself wanting to stick your head in a giant cake from the bakery.  Remember, all things in moderation.  (Except leafy green vegetables -- you can never get enough of those :)
7. What about honey, maple syrup, molasses, agave, and other great natural sweeteners?  Sigh.  These items all contain fructose at varying levels.  For me, a true sugar addict, these items still trigger cravings and mess with my brain chemistry.  I am avoiding them completely for now.  That doesn't mean that they aren't great alternatives to white sugar.  It is up to you to decide how strict you need to be with your own diet.

Stay tuned as I add recipes that I have converted to fructose-free.