Hi,
Was at the natural foods market the other day and noticed a new type of artifical sweetener, Stevia, which is made from a plant. I can't eat a lot of Splenda at a time because it messes with my digestive system, so I'm wondering, has anyone had any bad reactions to this new stuff? Or do you like/dislike it?
Thanks for the input!
Hi Amanda - Stevia has been around for a while, they are just now putting it in regular markets now. I use it for a lot of things - sometimes I'll use it in coffee or there is also a liquid form which I like better - just more expensive. I pick it up at Whole Foods. I'll put the chocolate flavor in some almond milk for a chocolate milk without all the sugar. For those who eat a lot of refined sugar, they may not like it but if you don't eat a lot, it definitely cures the cravings. It also hasn't messed with my bs levels either. (maybe I just don't use a lot of it and i don't notice)
i hate splenda and sweet 'n' low..well chemical sugars in general. but this doesn't sound that bad, i might have to give it a shot. was it really expensive?
I suppose it's not too bad - just more expensive than regular sugar. Packets are I think 8-10 bucks. I think the liquid formula costs about $15 bucks at whole foods but can get it cheaper on line - here's the one I pick up. http://www.webvitamins.com/product.aspx?id=22471&wvaid=IN&term=osmx It does last a while.
I like sorbitol personally, it makes your mouth sweat. lol
[quote user="Doug D"]
I suppose it's not too bad - just more expensive than regular sugar. Packets are I think 8-10 bucks. I think the liquid formula costs about $15 bucks at whole foods but can get it cheaper on line - here's the one I pick up. http://www.webvitamins.com/product.aspx?id=22471&wvaid=IN&term=osmx It does last a while.
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hmm i'm probably looking at like $15 for the packets then canadian. blah. well..if its a natural sugar unlike splenda..maybe i'll give it a shot. i like my brown and white sugar tho! mmmmmm
I use good old fashioned sweet n low. Equal is not strong enough so I go through it too fast, and splenda doesn't agree with my stomach. I've avoided stevia and truvia because I haven't seen enough research on them...but I have seen this from the FDA which doesn't sound good for stevia (in my opinion) http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/ImportAlerts/ora_import_ia4506.html
Maybe I'm wrong but isn't that article more of a labeling issue? I'd much rather stick with a plant based sweeteners than non natural. I avoid the Sweet n Low b/c of the saccharin issue and cancer link. Banned in Canada and the FDA banned here but at the time it was the only sugar substitue around so congress placed a moratorium on it due to the backlash - and a big yell from the diabetic community.
[quote user="Doug D"]
Maybe I'm wrong but isn't that article more of a labeling issue? I'd much rather stick with a plant based sweeteners than non natural. I avoid the Sweet n Low b/c of the saccharin issue and cancer link. Banned in Canada and the FDA banned here but at the time it was the only sugar substitue around so congress placed a moratorium on it due to the backlash - and a big yell from the diabetic community.
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agreed. i'd rather have a plant based sugar replacement than a chemical one.
well just in case you want a chemical hook up:
As far as I know aspartame isn't banned anywhere, but stevia is banned by the EU and a few Asian countries. This article is old, but gives the gist of the CDC opinion on apartame...that the public may be worried about something researchers aren't http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000426.htm My concern with stevia is that as far as I am aware it hasn't been tested as rigorously, as the supplemental loophole excludes items from full FDA testing (like vitamin A tablets at a pharmacy). In any event, plants aren't automatically safer than synthetics. Plant based materials are concentrated. Nicotine, heroin (opiates), and cocaine are all plant based too.
[quote user="Eric_Carpenter"]
As far as I know aspartame isn't banned anywhere, but stevia is banned by the EU and a few Asian countries. This article is old, but gives the gist of the CDC opinion on apartame...that the public may be worried about something researchers aren't http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000426.htm My concern with stevia is that as far as I am aware it hasn't been tested as rigorously, as the supplemental loophole excludes items from full FDA testing (like vitamin A tablets at a pharmacy). In any event, plants aren't automatically safer than synthetics. Plant based materials are concentrated. Nicotine, heroin (opiates), and cocaine are all plant based too.
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cocaine is safe ;) it keeps the bloodsugar levels perfect with no insulin in the system. haha.
now to why i was replying..
aspartame isn't banned..but isn't it suppose to fuse your spine or cause cancer or something? either way..i prefer natural indgrediants over chemicals even when it comes down to cold medicine.
aspartame is supposed to do everything from clean your dirty dishes to cause headaches, but from what I've seen no real connections have been made.
I'll have to try some of that cocaine therapy...if it was good enough for Freud it is good enough for me!
[quote user="Eric_Carpenter"]
aspartame is supposed to do everything from clean your dirty dishes to cause headaches, but from what I've seen no real connections have been made.
I'll have to try some of that cocaine therapy...if it was good enough for Freud it is good enough for me!
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i used to have a lot of headaches since I was about 15(would go home from school at least once a week to sit in the dark they were so bad), but in the recent year or so since cutting back my diet coke intake a lot(as in..instead of having a can or two a day..i only have it when i'm out and there's no other diet options..so maybe once a month) and switching to non-aspartame diet pop like diet crush when i do drink pop..i've gotten a lot less headaches. maybe that's why! haha
Why not just eat real sugar and take more insulin? You might need some extra insulin if you eat a heavy dose of glucose, but you should be able to figure out an adjustment and keep you BG in target, even eating the good stuff :)
Unless of course you're trying to diet, then I can see the benefits of cutting the calories from sugar.
my point was that sweet n low contains saccharin which is the problem child - not aspartame
whoops...thanks for calling me out Doug. Saccharin is banned in Canada. According to my box of pretty pink packets though, no cancer link has ever been established, and the cancer warnings were acutually removed, at least were I live.
I have been using Stevia for years now. I LOVE it! It is an herbal sweetener that does not raise your blood sugar. I put it on my oatmeal, in tea and even sometimes bake with it! I really hate chemical sweeteners they always upset my stomach! There are different brands of Stevia though and some are definitely better than others. Sweet Leaf has a weird bitter after taste. My favorite one is generic and I get the packets in my "bulk" section at the grocery store and it is super cheap too!
[quote user="Kate"]
I have been using Stevia for years now. I LOVE it! It is an herbal sweetener that does not raise your blood sugar. I put it on my oatmeal, in tea and even sometimes bake with it! I really hate chemical sweeteners they always upset my stomach! There are different brands of Stevia though and some are definitely better than others. Sweet Leaf has a weird bitter after taste. My favorite one is generic and I get the packets in my "bulk" section at the grocery store and it is super cheap too!
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Thanks for the imput Kate! Sounds like we're in the same boat when it comes to chemical sweeteners. Glad to hear Stevia does not have the upset-stomach effect on you. I did not know that there are different brands of Stevia, but I'll stay away from Sweet Leaf.
Has anyone else found that Sevia is easier on your stomach than chemical sweeteners like Splenda?
To bring back an old thread...
I finally got around to trying Stevia. I had two packets, for the first time, in my coffee this morning, and now I'm 264 and climbing. I think I'll be going back to Splenda, which never made me spike like this. Grr!