Additional Sweetener Info — The Stevia Factor

In keeping with our model of fully informing our readers as much as we can, when I wrote about sweetener alternatives yesterday, I mentioned that I would circle back and fill you in on Stevia, the herbal based sweetener. Since yesterday’s piece was about natural, whole sweeteners — agave, honey, raw unrefined cane sugar — Stevia does come from a plant source, but according to the FDA, it is classified as a dietary supplement. Well, after some of my recent posts on the FDA, you know I’ve been outspoken on a few topics — mainly having to do with cows — but maybe the supplement classification has been due to some negative press on Stevia as well.

Stevia is a herb that looks similar to dandelion; a native to Central and South America. Stevia is either sold in the dried herb form or as a tincture. Stevia is primarily seen as an alternative to aspartame which is considered the most dangerous of the artificial sweeteners. (Personally, I remember when aspartame came out and introduced in Crystal Light. I loved the stuff and drank copious amounts and always got a headache post. I was young. Mom took me to doc. Diagnosis: allergic reaction to aspartame. I have not touched the stuff since.)

Stevia’s benefits are that it is 10-15 times sweeter than table sugar, so you can use very little for maximum results, that people with diabetes may be able to tolerate better as it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels, and it has been used in Europe for years. The dangers that have been cited are: increase of certain cancers, reproductive health issues and inability to metabolize energy properly.

Bottom-line: if you are now using aspartame and products with aspartame — consider Stevia, used in moderation. Since there are so many unanswered questions, I’d be prone to agree with some of the critics that state we don’t want it in the mass market in diet sodas and drinks until we have more answers on its long term use used in that manner.

But even Stevia has hit the big-time with its passionate followers and critics. Check-out this YouTube clip on Stevia.

Namaste,

Michelle