Sweet!
Posted on 03/08/2009 11:13:25 AM PDT by Perdogg
In the beginning there was sugar.
Then in 1957, the pink stuff appeared. Twenty-four years later, the blue stuff popped up. Then in 1998, the yellow stuff arrived.
Life was simple. People fell into two camps: those who used artificial sweeteners (Sweet 'N Low, Equal and Splenda) and those who used sugar.
But in December, the Food and Drug Administration opened up what could be the holy grail—the all-natural, no-calorie sweetener—when it announced that it had no objections to companies using rebaudioside-A, or reb-A, as a general-purpose sweetener (as long as it is at least 95 percent pure). Derived from stevia, a plant native to South America, Central America and Mexico, reb-A is nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
I guess the package color is green.
I knew about this stuff a decade ago; a co-worker of that era was using it.
Additional proof that reporters are behind the curve.
I use stevia on my cut up fruit and berries. It does make stuff sweeter... however, by itself... it tastes a little funny. Also, I hear that ingesting too much of this isn’t good for you but I’ve had no problems so far...
I’ve known diabetics that have used stevia for years now.
I’ve used Stevia for years. Have you tried the new derivative from it yet?
On the other hand... artificial sweetener can cause problems such as headaches... which I get so I avoid artificial sweeteners...
The big news is that the FDA has approved its use in prepackaged food products.
I know a little about medicinal herbs, mostly Indian Ayurvedic and/or those with reputed anticancer properties. Stevia, for some reason, is popping up in memory as being a “women’s” herb, so I’d wonder about phytoestrogen and potential side effects for men.
But, I’m not sure. I’ll search and see.
Sobelite now has drinks with this stuff in it. I got a coupon for a package of it which I will try tonight.
I am sure Coke and Pepsi will come out with Stevia products.
I guess then we will have to avoid stevia products in plastic bottles numbered 3,5, and 7.
My sister in law swears by Stevia. She has (with best intentions) adminshed me for my Splenda use (in coffee). She has used it for probably 15 years (she used to have to buy it in health food stores). I wonder what her thoughts of this derivative will be.
She is extremely health concious (rails against food colorings etc). She lives near by, and I ran into her at WalMart before Christmas...I had white flour, sugar and (audible gasp) butter flavor Crisco all alone in my shopping cart...she said nothing, but I know she was horrified. I felt “outed.”
Sweet!
Careful with those Chinese studies, they’re not all that rigorous, and are typically there to tout a particular herb or extract. It’s big business in China. Not to say that they’re inaccurate, but there is a definite bias in favor, always.
But, as far as concerns over phytoestrogens, scrolling down to the bottom of your link, there is at least anecdotal evidence of Stevia being used as a contraceptive by women. So, there is some basis, admittedly scant, for the vague recollection.
I’ve tried stevia myself. By itself found it a little on the bitter side. Would like to try growing it but would not know how to extract the sweet stuff.
I’ve tried it and to me it tastes like an artificial sweetener. Yeah, it’s natural and yeah, it’s a plant but it just has that “thin” fakey taste of sucralose and the rest.
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