re: Swerve

Firstly, cakennewbie, glad your onto the road of recovery. I’ve suffered from depression, and have family members and a close friend who are working through depression on a daily basis. Not easy at all.
White sugar, too many processed foods, which contain high levels of sugar, and too many carbs in our diet on a continual basis, I believe contribute to the decline in our overall health. Physically and mentally. I truly believe that good nutritious food feeds our bodies and our brain. Obviously, poor diet alone does not create mental illness. That is way too simplistic. But I have noticed in my close friend with depression problems, that a poor diet lacking fruits, veg, unprocessed grains, and zero exercise, definitely makes there depression worse. Seems the very thing our body craves sometimes…sugar, leads to our physical detriment.
Now as for swerve, not heard of it. I can say unequivocally…stay away from both Splenda and Truvia. Splenda was invented as a fertilizer…toxic ingredients. Went to a nutrition seminar, and what I learned about Splenda, and other so called “safe sweeteners” was shocking!! Truvia says it’s natural, but it’s not…also, dangerous chemical additives. My son has frutose intolerance. I didn’t keep anything ending in the word “tose” in the house, still don’t. That’s frutose, sucralose…which is Splenda…Truvia. You really have to do your homework.
Like Teri, I use natural sweetners. Honey, Agave, but mostly organic stevia and organic sugar. Stevia is a natural plant, can’t get any more basic than that. But I stick to organic, because I know it hasn’t been processed. As for icing, I saw a blog post on FB about no sugar icing. Combo of powdered stevia, cornstarch and either milk or it’s equivalent…rice/almond/soy milk. Can’t remember the actual amounts. You would have to play around with it. Of course as Teri stated, it won’t taste like your traditional icing. But that’s ok, it will still be good.