Does anyone use Stevia? Is it safe?

[BrendaK]

So I'm trying to avoid artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives, etc., and have recently discovered stevia. I've been using it in my coffee (which is VERY good BTW) and have occasionally used it for Carson in his cereal.

I've been reading how it's not FDA approved (as a food additive) and there is some contraversy regarding it's safety. There is also an article in Wikpedia about how it can cause increased insulin sensitivity and better blood sugar control in diabetics.

Does anyone have some concrete studies, thoughts, or experience with Stevia?

It's all natural, but I don't want to give my kids cancer from using it :o

[WestinsMom]

I use it on occasation. I think the brand makes a difference in taste. I don't know what I got the first time but I really liked it...the kind I have now is okay, but I don't like it as much.

I know it is high in fiber. And it is natural. Can't really say more than that about it.

[Gaia]

I was told on a fibromyalgia website that it was healthier than sugar & other sweetners. Supposedly some members there use it and its helped them control pain, as its used in a diet that has less starches & sugars. From what I read, fibro can be a lot like arthritis. Starches and sugars aggravate arthritis, so its thought that changing your diet can improve your pain. It makes sense when you think about it. That being said, I checked it out on websites and found it really expensive. At least for me. My stores dont carry it anyway. Now when Joey was in the ER the other night, they brought me coffee w/ 1 packet of Splenda and it tasted good to me. I usually use 3 tsp of sugar. I think Im going to use Splenda from now on. Healthier for Joey & for me!! :)

:) Kris

[BrendaK]

Well, I think I'm going to keep using it -- I've found enough good things about it so far.

I was really excited to find a box of 100 packets at Trader Joes for $4.99. (That's cheaper than Splenda, I think!)

[Shannon's Mom]

I bought a jar of it that you spoon out (have not tried it yet) but also got it at Trader Joes.

[Jora]

I've been reading how it's not FDA approved (as a food additive) and there is some contraversy regarding it's safety. There is also an article in Wikpedia about how it can cause increased insulin sensitivity and better blood sugar control in diabetics.


And it never will be approved by the FDA. It's cause they can't patent it. It's from a plant that anyone can grow.
"Stevia has been handled at times by the FDA as if it were an illegal drug."

We use it at our house and my daughter's BS numbers have been alot better. I don't know if it has anything to do with the Stevia or the fact that I took out all the other junk that was in her diet. (Splenda, MSG, High-fructose corn syrup, Aspartame and any of the family members to these.)

My husband, who is a type 2, says it has an after taste. (but so did slenda when he first used it but he got use to it) But uses it anyway. His numbers have been better as well.

We bought ours from TJs as well. I want to say it was around $9.99 and has 315 servings. I think when this bottle is gone I will be changing brands to see if he likes it better.

As for splenda. I would be careful and do alot of reading about sucralose (splenda). Last October I took my husband off of all products made with splenda. It's amazing the difference in the way he feels.

All I can really say is read, read, read and read food lables too. It is really amazing what the food companies get away with. Research is really your best friend.

But as for me and my family. I am planning to stick to Stevia has our house sweetner.

*side notes*
8. How is sucralose made?
SPLENDA® low calorie sweetener is made with sucralose, the sweetener that is made from sugar and tastes like sugar. Sucralose is made by a patented multi-step process that starts with cane sugar (sucrose). Three hydroxyl groups on the sugar molecule are replaced by 3 chlorine atoms. The addition of chlorine converts sucrose to sucralose, resulting in a sweetener with a high quality sweet taste and which is also exceptionally stable.

CHLORINE??? Now how is that natural?

further reading

http://www.stevia.net/
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_08_b50.htm
http://www.sweetleaf.com/category.php?subcat=whats_stevia

[Kaileen]

They have it at our local coop. I didn't pick any up last trip, but may give it a shot next trip. Maybe she can have sweet tea again, which is a staple of the South. Splenda makes tea taste NASTY.

[Karenwith4]

We use it. I found a brand that advertises no bitter aftertaste.
We add it to sweeten things like oatmeal, plain yogurt, homemade lemonade or tea and in place of sugar in salad dressings or for something like apple pie filling where the role of the sugar is flavour only as opposed to related volume or chemistry. I keep meaning to try it mixed with a bit of cinnamon for cinnamon toast (our favourite post sledding treat with tea). I have not tried baking with it as a sugar substitute for cookies or muffins where the volume of sugar plays an important role in the recipe.

I can't detect an aftertaste and my kids haven't noticed when I switch for their treats.

As for safety, I think personally it is far safer than the artificial sweeteners on the market. It's been used in countries around the world for decades without health concerns.

hth
Karen

[Ellen]

I haven't used the sweetener, but I did taste a stevia leaf at a plant/herb sale. I did not like it and thought it had a bitter aftertaste. It would be interesting to see if one could steep tea and add a leaf or two to see if it makes a good natural sweetened tea. Has anyone tried this?

[BrendaK]

I have never tried the leaf -- but my friend is growing her own stevia plants and is going to make some syrup out of it.

I have bought the Trader Joes individual packets and also the jar that you spoon it out of. The jar version say it has lactose in it and it's more powdery. I like the jar MUCH better than the packets, I think the lactose helps a lot with the strong aftertaste. Neither of them were bitter but the individual packets had a stronger aftertaste. But they were both great. My kids love the High Fiber Oats from TJoes with Stevia on it. And I love it in my coffee.

[Pam H]

Hi guys! New JD mom trying to dot every 'i'.

A while back, I read something that said Stevia might be linked to sterility in boys. I haven't been able to find this article (now that I need it) again. Has anybody run across this?

I certainly don't like the natural chlorine in the Splenda, which is what I had planned on using.

[Pam H]

I did a little research on this. This article was int Dr. Mehmet Oz's book called You: On a Diet. Evidently, the test that produced the sterility in lab mice was conducted ages ago. It has not been able to be duplicated in recent years.

I am still going to google this a little bit more. Has anybody's endo said specifically that Stevia is safe?

I hope I didn't send anybody's blood pressure up. :rolleyes:

[LantusFiend]

My mother uses it every now and then so that I won't be eating such high carb things.
Splenda has a terrible effect on my blood sugar, shoots it sky high, much worse than sugar.
Stevia doesn't do anything to my blood sugar. Safe, as far as I'm concerned, and tastes fine.

[Karenwith4]

Hi guys! New JD mom trying to dot every 'i'.

A while back, I read something that said Stevia might be linked to sterility in boys. I haven't been able to find this article (now that I need it) again. Has anybody run across this?

I certainly don't like the natural chlorine in the Splenda, which is what I had planned on using.

I haven't.
I do know that Stevia has been used for generations in places like Japan. I do think it is wise to use it mindfully. My hope is to retrain our palates somewhat to enjoy less sweet things but in the meantime and for some things, we will use Stevia in place of sugar.

hth
Karen