Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

Judith58 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:04:39 GMT

I found the following article on Real Age:

After the FDA banned stevia from commercial food use in the early 1990s, you could only find it sold as a supplement. Until recently. Now, the FDA has cleared it for use as a sweetener in commercially prepared foods and beverages, with the caveat that excessive levels may be toxic. But because stevia is so sweet, you don’t need much. Early research suggests it may even have some benefits to blood pressure and blood sugar.

Is Stevia toxic in excessive levels and if so, how much is excessive levels?

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

johndude — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:47:35 GMT

Please be aware that stevia is being hyped and chemically altered to be sold as Truvia and PureVia: DANGER!!! Theses are completely different from the natural stevia. Studies suggest they could be far worse than HFCS's. Do your research. I am surprised that Dr. Mercola did not mention this.

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

Linja — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:15:09 GMT

Not only is Truvia not made from the complete stevia leaf, it contains erythritol and "natural flavor." Personally I had an unpleasant reaction to Truvia, although I use stevia without a problem.

How can erythritol and xylitol be called natural? Can I make them in my kitchen?

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

tehnewsguy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:01:25 GMT

Whatever you do, AVOID WHITE, PROCESSED SUGAR AT ALL COST. This addictive yet extremely unhealthy, poisonous substance works insidiously at destroying your body and ruins your health. I speak from personal experience folks. For years, I used to consume disproportionately large amounts of chocolate ice-cream sweetened with this toxic chemical. Not to mention, the fact that pasteurized dairy in and of itself is no good either as it contributes to or causes disease. Well, over time my health completely deteriorated and rapidly so. I once had wonderful feelings of unlimited youth and vitality but that's no longer the case now. I can clearly remember the catabolic, acidifying effects the sugar had upon me... it felt as though I was slowly dying and withering away; as though I were sinking into my bed. My neck, arms and legs became flabby, weak, and skinny. Eventually, the acidosis took a huge toll on me and I lost a lot of muscle mass as it was eaten away which left me very weak and emaciated. Sadly and unfortunately, the ice cream binging has left me feeling and looking like a much older person long before my time. As a result, I've aged prematurely by at least 20 years and the effects are irreversible. I now find myself weak, frail, fatigued, depressed, languished, and totally disabled at the relatively young age of 31. I'm also diabetic and suffer from thyroid insufficiency.

But to my utter discontent and misfortune, no matter what I do now to try and regain my former state of exuberant health, it simply does not work! I clearly attribute this inability to rebound/recover to the permanent, damaging effects of sugar upon my body's delicate internal glands and organs. So, as you can see, processed, white sugar is a robber of essential nutrients required to maintain a strong and healthy mind/body well past adolescence. Thus, it is critically important to avoid all white sugar/flour. For your sake, you've all been warned. Now please, go warn others.

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

Jimmy78 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:51:20 GMT

I get so angry when the FDA spews it's poppycock. Does the FDA think we're all stupid? Can't they see that we can see through all their lies, or at least of lot of us can? The FDA is a big, evil beast that needs to be slaughtered by the people who want freedom from their lies. The FDA only cares about one thing: money, and money=power. I guess there's just no money for them with the whole stevia plant. They only want to use it if it can make people sick . . .which they've already begun. I use stevia and I think it's great. I must have found a great brand because I don't get the metalic aftertaste.

The FDA wants to keep as many as possible, somewhere between sick and almost dead. That's where the money is. It's not so easy to make money off healthy people. I don't envy the people of the FDA who uphold these evils knowingly. There's a furiously hot burning place in Hell with FDA written all over it, right next to Hitler and Sadam Hussien. This may sound harsh, but you might not think so if you've seen my loved ones literally waste away from prescription drugs, chemotherapy, radiation, only until their bodies are so toxified that they die. All of this is so the FDA can line their pockets with money.

The way stevia is being treated by the FDA, is the same way everything else has and will be treated by them: can they use this to make people sick and make money, or is this something healthy that we will have to ban because it will take away from their profession of getting rich off our sicknesses?

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

hollandgirl — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:09:20 GMT

Just a warning for those who use Xylitol, which I love, BTW, but it is TOXIC to dogs! Even a small

amount is not safe. So, no sharing your Xylitol-sweetened cookie with Fido, please.

Peace,

Rose

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

RonSarson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:56:14 GMT

Personally I prefer xylitol to stevia, although both are OK. It would be very useful if Dr. Mercola could compare the two. The advantage of stevia is that in temperate climates you can raise your own. I sprinkle xylitol on my unsweetened whole grain cereal with my raw milk. As nearly as I can tell that is about as healthy an easy and filling breakfast as you can do, except possibly for just plain organic fruit or home made yogurt or kefir.

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

hellokitty — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:57:04 GMT

has anyone tried erithrytol? it sounds too good to be true. it's a fermented sugar alcohol with no digestive side effects (like the other sugar alcohols have), 0 on the glycemic index, doesn't cause tooth decay, doesn't have an aftertaste, tastes and looks like sugar, although it's about 70% less sweet, and virtually no calories. i just bought some organic erithrytol by Wholesome Sweeteners and it tastes pretty much exactly like sugar. you can use it in recipes like sugar, just add a little more. i wonder if there are any harmful effects?

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

Philup — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:51:11 GMT

What do you think of Body Ecology Diet's sweetener called Lakanto?

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

earthprisoner — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:04:32 GMT

Typical for a 'bought and paid for' operation, to outlaw the natural and OK the synthetic. Too bad it's our government! Thomas Jefferson must be rolling over!

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

Debrah — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:14:11 GMT

4alam says that stevia has oxalates in it--could that be why I get a raging migraine when I consume stevia? I have been very concerned with the popularity of stevia since I react so badly to it. Of course, it could just be me and I am allergic or sensitive to it but usually I get migraines only from toxic substances. For ex, MSG, aspartame, synthetic perfumes, pesticides etc. I don't normally get a migraine from natural foods--I may have other reactions such as a regular headache, digestive problems or congestion but I can usually tell if something is toxic by the type of headache. Has anyone else had this problem with stevia? I had a bad reaction last week when a friend served some herbal tea and after I had drank less than half a cup realized that it was not good--sure enough I checked the box label and it had stevia. I thought it was terribly sweet for tea which she thought was unsweetened. I also have a bad reaction to agave syrup. I agree with some of you posters--what is wrong with the natural taste of most foods? I don't even like sweet in my tea. I do like occasional chocolate and then raw honey is my favorite way to seeten it. It is available from local beekeepers and is minimally processed and has other nutrients and healthy factors--not just sweet!

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

curious7 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:09:55 GMT

Is this not a kick in the in the head? The FDA will approve a dangerous chemical, like Nutra Sweet, yet hesitates to approve a natural product.

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

R Mann — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:22:49 GMT

We have not tried Xylitol yet, but it's the sweetener of choice by my dentist and all the dentists in the clinic we attend. We have been using Stevia for four years. I'm very satisfied with it. The only problem I have with Stevia is that it crystalizes in the small packets. I keep it stored in my RV and it is hard to unwrap from the paper container after being exposed to any moisture. We also use honey in our tea and foods.

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

HereIsSomething — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:18:57 GMT

It just blows my mind how stupid the people at the FDA are. It is just all out amazing. They are just dumb as all get out at the FDA.

Perhaps the people at the FDA need to stop drinking so much diet soda and the aspartame will stop rotting what little is left of their atrophied brains. I'll bet that they were drinking diet soda with fluoridated water while working on this project.

I have more to say but I will keep it to myself.

re: Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

MaryAnnH_203 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:31:23 GMT

First of all, Kelly Eidem has a regimen for getting rid of yeast overgrowth (candida).

hubpages.com/.../How-to-Flatten-Your-Tummy-and-End-Food-Cravings-EFFORTLESSLY

Mr. Eidem says, and I concur, that most if not all sugar craving comes from a starved brain that is starved because the yeast gets the sugar before the brain does. Mr. Eidem's "cure" is truly effortless, but yeast doesn't always go away NICELY. I experienced some bowel discomfort (nothing major), and I had to either increase my fiber or take a gentle laxative. Not everyone has the same reaction, as we are all created individually--no two of us are the same.

Second, ALL plants are God's creation...sugar cane, stevia, fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds. It is the way they are processed that makes them not as healthy, AND it is the amount you consume that makes them not healthy. Fresh fruit for diabetics can be devastating. Too many carrots can cause problems too. It is wrong to assume that just because something is good for you or has no caloric value that you are allowed to consume as much as you want without any consequence.

The words for today are "moderation" and "balance."

Merry Christmas!

Mary Ann Hartzler