Coconut Bliss Ice Cream
Do you know about Coconut Bliss ice cream? It’s sweetened with agave. It tastes good and isn’t as sweet as some of the other brands of ice cream out there. After seeing it at Whole Foods I decided to give it a try. I don’t eat it often but when the chocolate cravings get really bad I’ll often give in and get a pint. That is, until recently.
When I first went off sugar, I would end up eating the whole container every time I got this stuff. Then I’d feel terrible. What I didn’t realize was that it was the agave that made me feel so lousy. My shoulders would get tense and I’d feel all twisty. It wasn’t a coincidence. It happened more than once (more than three times, in fact).
Two weeks ago I had a sore throat and got the idea that some nice cool comfort food would do me good. Gwenn picked up some Coconut Bliss ice cream and I ate a bit. So did she. In small doses I feel fine but they have to be really small, like 5 spoonfuls. That was about how much I ate a week and a half ago. There’s always a catch to eating something that’s chocolate—you’ll want more!
Two nights ago I was craving something chocolaty. The idea of eating ice cream came into my head (surprise, surprise) and I went to the Little Green Grocer to get myself a pint of Dark Chocolate. I don’t eat the whole thing at once like I used to. I’ve had too many bad experiences to do that to myself. However, I did eat about 1/3 of the package. That night I felt fine but the next morning I could feel the effects of the agave on my body. I know it’s the agave because this happens every time I eat anything sweetened with the stuff. I feel heavy and tight in the muscles. It’s odd, distinct, and uncomfortable. The sensation is different than what I get from eating plain sugar. I don’t like it.
The problem was that I left the ice cream in the freezer and so I finished it tonight. Big mistake. Now my stomach is upset and acidic feeling. I’m worried I’ll wake up the same tomorrow as I did the other morning. It has to be said; I’m going off Coconut Bliss for good. It’s just not for me.
That’s not to say the product isn’t a good one. It made for an excellent borderline replacement food for a long time. It was decent in a pinch when the going got tough. If you can find it locally, try it and see how you feel. It’s certainly an alternative to Ben and Jerry’s or Haagen Dazs. In the end it was the agave that killed it for me. I’ve had one too many bad results. Next time I crave chocolate I’ll get a Larabar or try something new altogether.
Comments · Coconut Bliss Ice Cream
I was using agave syrup as a sweetener until I began seeing more and more negative reviews and articles and concluded it was not for me.
Trust your body’s reaction and maybe not the hype associated with agave advertising. There are other natural sweeteners like brown rice syrup or raw honey that may be better alternatives in small quantities.
DavidVanadia
Apr 01, 2011
Most definitely!
Mary
Apr 07, 2011
I agree with the above. I’d go with a little white sugar over agave. Brown rice syrup, definitely.
I’ve been using some coconut palm sugar in baking, also, but I cannot find good info on it outside of the manufacturer’s site. I feel like I get less of a negative hit from it, but I’d love to know more about it, chemically, if anyone has any information.
Good luck on the sugar resolutions, all!
Anisa
May 06, 2011
Have you tried Francois Pralus Le 100% chocolate bar? If you are off sugar it’s very good. You can find it at Pastaworks and Cacao
DavidVanadia
May 07, 2011
I haven’t tried it Anisa. Is it sweetened?
digby
May 17, 2011
I make my own ice cream and only sweeten with a little stevia. A nice trick I learned is to add an ounce of vodka (or other complimentary liquor) to the heavy cream and egg base, and the ice cream stays scoopable. I made rum raisin last week, using only two tablespoons of raisins with the rum for the six half-cup servings. My spouse liked it a lot.
Luis
Jun 17, 2011
What you’re doing here is very admirable. I, myself, have started doing no sugar (again) a week ago. I have to say that the only way to truly do it is to do truly do it. No agave, no honey no sugar-free dessert, none of it. The addiction becomes physical but only after it is emotional (mental). We have to break free from the ideas of eating something sweet altogether, or having a slice of cake. I don’t know if anyone has read Suicide By Sugar, but it’s fantastic and it proves that we cannot handle more than 8g of *added* sugar at a time. That includes anything added to a product to make it sweet: even fruit juice sweetened breads and pastries. Personally, I can only beat sugar when I banish it completely. If I try to have a small donut every three months, or cake at special occasions the whole addiction spirals again and I’m in the same mess.
DavidVanadia
Jun 24, 2011
I agree. A small easily amount leads to larger amounts!
Alyson Geller
Apr 24, 2012
Is there a connection between sugar and over tight muscles? I have chronic shoulder tightness and wonder if my tendency to sugar it up is related. Hmmm ...
DavidVanadia
Apr 24, 2012
Hi, Allyson. Chronic muscle tension can be a sign or <a >symptom of hypoglycemia</a> but it can also be a result of many things. The best way to know if it’s sweet related is to cut out sugars for a month or more and see how you feel.
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I realized I had a sugar problem back in 2003 after a weekend-long binge on raw chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate covered pretzels. As a result, I began trying to quit sugar but kept failing. Finally, I figured out a way to stay off sweet junk food for good.
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