Whole Foods - Some Product Reviews
I am a Whole Foods Junkie. 
There is little I enjoy more than heading into this wonderful little market and getting lost in the beautiful and vast array of organic and wholesome products. I have come across three products in the last week that are worth mentioning.
My first one: Z Sweet
It is an artificial sweetner called Erythritol that is in the sugar alcohol family. If you ever indulged in a cup or two of some ice cream sweetened with sugar alcohols like sorbitol or maltitol, you’re probably already familiar with the effects of such a seemingly carefree treat! That’s right. Gas. Horrible. Wretched. Putrid. Gas. And if you took a third helping… God help you. 
Not that I would know anything about this or anything.
*Darts eyes*.
Yes, my friends! Sugar alcohols are the only sweetners that I have ever tasted that mimic the taste of sugar closely enough for me to be fooled! But they also contain a decent calorie punch, and the gastronomical effects it had on me was definitely NOT worth the sweet treat. But Erythritol is different! It is one of the few sugar alcohols that do not carry those horrible side effects as it digests in a different way than its other relatives. Better than that, it TASTES like sugar!! It completely ROCKS in the few things I have put it in… the one exception to this being hot chocolate. It tasted really foul in there, for some reason. So if you ever on the lookout for a new ingredient to bring some sweetness into your food, I highly recommend Zsweet!
My next product: Xanthan Gum
I completely adore all of Bob’s Red Mill’s product line! But this one was a new one for me! Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide (a multi-stranded sugar unit) that is used to thicken liquids. I LOVE this one because it has 35 calories per spoon, and all of it’s calories come from dietary fibre! YAY!! No more corn starch or flours for me! I have been successful with using it in a few soups and shakes, but be careful! A little goes a LONG way! Definitely a buy-again in my books!
The third one was something I thought would replace the salt in my diet: Nu-Salt.
It has the flavor of salt, the texture of salt, all without the SODIUM of salt! It is a Potassium Chloride instead of a Sodium Chloride. Sounds too good to be true, yes??!!
Umm. YESSSS!!!!
It is vile. VILE I SAY. I had to throw out all the chicken that I made that I trustingly sprinkled with my new best friend. HORRIBLE. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. In a salt survey, it is the only salt (or salt substitute) that scored a negative 1.02 out of a possible 10 points.
LOL!!
April 24, 2008 at 2:22 pm
you rock! I just did my first shot of flax seed…. 1tsp in water….not doing that again… I’ll be using it in something I can chew next time..
April 24, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Hi JJanet!
I work for Zsweet and I came across your blog. I’m so glad you like it! Even though I’ll admit I’m bias to it, I do use it at home and love that it tastes just like sugar. Try it in a smoothie. So good!
Anyway, I know you said it’s artificial but I wanted to quickly mention that Zsweet is actually 100% natural and we have an Organic version too. It’s also zero calories, zero net carbs, and zero glycemic impact.
Before I worked at Zsweet I too suffered the effects of binging on sugar-free maltitol sweetened goodies; 3 peppermint patties to be exact, and I was messed up for two days. It’s definitely not worth it. But I was so happy to find Zsweet because now I can eat sugar free without any side effects and it’s ALL NATURAL!!
Thanks for the mention!
April 24, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Ok, I’m going to have to try the zsweet. My son loves my chicken wings that I make with sugar and oyster sauce (ok, my favorite as well).
April 24, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Maybe Briana should send JJ a case of Zsweet she does have a HUGE following. Hey JJ nice blog keep at it we have a Whole foods but it is too far I like to go to Henry’s instead very similar place.
Big James
April 24, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Thanks, I want my food to taste good not vile. I’m always looking for some good whole foods options.
April 24, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I want to try Zsweet now! Have you been making anymore of your blender concoctions lately?
April 24, 2008 at 8:40 pm
At the risk of sounding like a noob, what is Xanthan Gum for?? What do you put it in??
April 25, 2008 at 3:38 am
Ahh. What a great Idea - that Xanthan Gum would be excellent to make sauces instead of the usual flour, butter & milk base.
April 25, 2008 at 4:47 am
Thanks for the smile and info Janet
April 27, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Great product review! Good to know on the salt. Sounds terrible.
April 27, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Hrm… these reviews would require me cooking. Please review the salad bar and deli section for the ready-made goods, and we can compare notes.
April 27, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Haha… One has to love Whole Foods. I could spend so much at that wonderful shop. Of course, it’s easier and cheaper to go to Vitamin Cottage. Have to agree with Big_James on the notion of Briana sending JJ a case of ZSweet.
April 28, 2008 at 4:34 am
Wow - cool reviews!!! Thanks for the insight!
September 14, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I read a review on amazon.com that said zsweet is great in cold drinks but causes gas in baked goods. I found it interesting that you had a bad experience with it in hot chocolate. Maybe it should only be used in cold stuff. I’m going to buy it tomorrow & try it in a protein shake with Nestle’s Beneprotein (the lowest calorie per gram of protain out there) and an organic, low calorie cocoa powder that I found at Mother’s Market. They’ll be practically no calories in it and I’ll be able to load up on protein w/o eating too much carbs. Hopefully the zsweet will make it taste good.