stevia

[jrb1980]

Is stevia truly calorie free? In your opinion, is it the best sweetner to use from a health/performance perspective (not from a taste perspective)?

[Brandi]

I think it tastes fine.

[collegegirl]

I heard that it's suppossed to be healthier and more natural than Splenda. Not exactly sure though. My grandma read it in an article.

[EmilytheStrange]

Stevia is all I use (well, 99.99% of the time anyway) and it tastes fine to me. My jar says it has absolutely nothing but pure stevia leaf extract (no fillers) and it's natural so yes, from a health perspective, I would rather use this than sugar or artificial sweetener.

[Scrooge McDuck]

Personally, I don't think the health benefits are more significant than other sweeteners. I suppose it depends on how much you use. I use 1 packet of splenda maybe every 2 weeks. If you are using a sweetener on a daily basis then you may want to use Stevia. There is research for and against it. Like I said, I personally don't think the health benefits are all that more significant.

[patience123]

Originally posted by Scrooge McDuck@May 4 2006, 09:19 PM
Personally, I don't think the health benefits are more significant than other sweeteners. I suppose it depends on how much you use. I use 1 packet of splenda maybe every 2 weeks. If you are using a sweetener on a daily basis then you may want to use Stevia. There is research for and against it. Like I said, I personally don't think the health benefits are all that more significant.
What's the research that's against it? I use quiet a lot of it. :o

[clsupnorth]

I'm definately a PRO stevia person. It's all natural, no chemicals, it's just a plant. Nothing else. No calories, nothing.

Compared to a sweetener that's genetically modified, created in a lab, mutated, chemical, I'll choose stevia anyday.

Yes, there has been some flaps in the new about Stevia. This is from a quote from a national news report:

""There are questions about the effect on the reproductive tract in animals," he says. "Questions that it might possibly be converted into a mutagen and maybe cause cancer." Linda Bonvie is convinced stevia is safe
There have already been 900 stevia studies. Nineteen of them indicated problems according to the Food and Drug Administration. One study in 1968 determined stevia might cause 'decreased fertility' in rats. "

Anytime a product is on the market there are studies that will show it's bad, and studies that will show it's good. The few studies that 'hint' at negative effects of stevia are nothing compared to the tidal wave of studies screaming about the negative effects of artificial sweeteners.

[Scrooge McDuck]

Originally posted by patience123@May 4 2006, 04:22 PM
What's the research that's against it?I use quiet a lot of it.* :o{

Stevia is a herb. If not harvested properly, the leaves can become moldy. They MUST be dry. If they become moldy toxins will get into the herbs. Some people think they have an allergy to Stevia, but in fact they have just ingested a "bad batch", that was not harvested properly.

Certain people also tend to get bloated, cramps, etc from Stevia. But of course, different foods affect different people of course.


If you are using lots of it, and feel fine, then continue.

Some more links if interested.......
My Webpage (http://www.deq.uem.br/pos-graduacao/mestrado/Dissertacoes/ElidaPM/Abstract.htm)

[jrb1980]

No calories though right? Not like splenda.

[clsupnorth]

Originally posted by jrb1980@May 4 2006, 04:48 PM
No calories though right? Not like splenda.
right