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Stevia may not be classified as a food, but consumers are using it as one
Seattle Tiems ^ | Sunday, July 4, 1999 | Molly Martin

Posted on 04/16/2002 10:43:30 AM PDT by Brookhaven

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Our family is looking for a sugar alternative, and came across this product. Does anyone have any experience with it? I found it interesting that it is legal as a dietary supplement, but not as a food (if it's part of your diet, isn't it food?)

I also read that it holds 40% of the sweetener market in Japan.

I know we have a problem with nutrasweet (causes my wife headaches, and it causes my essential tremor to get worse). I am concerned about splenda because it is also artificial, so I was looking for a natrual alternative.

1 posted on 04/16/2002 10:43:30 AM PDT by Brookhaven
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To: Brookhaven
I am also looking for an alternative. Most artificial sweeteners give me side-effects (headaches, intestinal problems) and, a very unpleasant after-taste.

I would be interested in anyone on FR who has used this product, and what they think of it --- good and bad.

Also, what is that throw-away line at the beginning about being a problem with some internal organs. Anyone have any other info on that?

2 posted on 04/16/2002 10:48:12 AM PDT by LibertarianLiz
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To: LibertarianLiz
as a health food store owner, I see lots of folks using this product. you can bake with it too, make kool aid, whatever. it varies in quality, as some is bitter and not so good. use sparingly, it is potent.
3 posted on 04/16/2002 10:49:35 AM PDT by galt-jw
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To: Brookhaven
From the Website "Stevia.net"

If you've ever tasted stevia, you know it's extremely sweet. In fact, this remarkable noncaloric herb, native to Paraguay, has been used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer for centuries. But this innocuous-looking plant has also been a focal point of intrigue in the United States in recent years because of actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The subject of searches and seizures, trade complaints and embargoes on importation, stevia has been handled at times by the FDA as if it were an illegal drug.

Since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), stevia can be sold legally in the United States, but only as a "dietary supplement." Even so, it can be found in many forms in most health-food stores, and is also incorporated into drinks, teas and other items (all labeled as "dietary supplements"). It cannot, however, be called a "sweetener" or even referred to as "sweet." To do so would render the product "adulterated," according to the FDA, and make it again subject to seizure.

The purpose of our Web site is to provide as much information about stevia as possible, from the scientific studies regarding its safety to the petitions submitted by the Lipton Tea Company and the American Herbal Products Association. Stevia.net will be an ongoing project for us at Body Ecology, so check back often, as we will be augmenting and updating this information frequently.

4 posted on 04/16/2002 10:55:03 AM PDT by EggsAckley
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To: Brookhaven

I can't quite remember, but I think I used to smoke this stuff.

5 posted on 04/16/2002 10:56:42 AM PDT by martin_fierro
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To: Brookhaven
There's a Usenet group called misc.health.diabetes that has more about this than you'd ever want to know. It also has a FAQ, although I haven't looked at it in awhile.
6 posted on 04/16/2002 10:58:56 AM PDT by untenured
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To: untenured
Your address, misc.health.diabetes, doesn't go anywhere.
Is there perhaps another name? Thanks.
7 posted on 04/16/2002 11:02:35 AM PDT by EggsAckley
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To: EggsAckley
Here's how to access it via google, which apparently now owns the Dejanews name:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=ja&group=misc.health.diabetes.

You can search for stevia at that link and come up with a lot, although not all of it will be useful.

8 posted on 04/16/2002 11:06:42 AM PDT by untenured
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To: Brookhaven
Can any body explain why our government is fighting the approval and acceptance of this natural sugar substitue??
9 posted on 04/16/2002 11:07:09 AM PDT by hove
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To: Brookhaven
Splenda is much better and tastes exactly like sugar. It's made from sugar with no calories. Look Here !
10 posted on 04/16/2002 11:13:04 AM PDT by america-rules
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To: Brookhaven
It's readily available here (I live in Canada) and I use it sometimes. The good news is that it's very strong and can be cooked into food. The bad news is that it tastes like artificial sweetener. To be specific, its taste resembles saccharine. I find it works best in lemonade that I make regularly by juicing fresh lemons. It's less good for coffee, which I eventually decided to drink unsweetened. Some brands are better than others, so talk to some customers if possible.
11 posted on 04/16/2002 11:13:32 AM PDT by TheMole
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To: Brookhaven
We tried Stevia, but did not continue with it because it had a bitter aftertaste. For the amount of sugar we use, we're better off staying with unbleached cane (Sugar in the Raw.)
Also, Dr. Andrew Weil, who is my health guru recommends it as a safe sugar substitute on his website, but I'm not sure if it's safe for diabetics.
12 posted on 04/16/2002 11:14:19 AM PDT by stanz
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To: LibertarianLiz
The active sweetening component of Stevia is stevioside, a glycocide molecule composed of glucose, sophorose and steviol. According to most experts, stevia does not effect blood sugar metabolism and some studies report that stevia reduces plasma glucose levels in normal adults. Stevia has been used for many years in the treatment of diabetes among Indians in Paraguay and Brazil.

Although the specific mechanism is not known, in a study conducted at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, researchers found that stevioside enhances insulin secretion from mouse pancreatic islets in the presence of glucose. The researchers state, "Stevioside stimulates insulin secretion via a direct action on pancreatic beta cells. The results indicate that the compounds may have a potential role as an anti-hyperglycemic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus."

In 1995, Dr. M.S. Melis, from the Department of Biology at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, administered extracts of stevia to rats for 20, 40, and 60 days. After 20 days, there were no changes in the stevia-treated rats compared to the control group (the ones that didn't receive the extracts). However, after 40 or 60 days of administering the extract, blood pressure had lowered. Melis also noted a diuretic effect along with loss of sodium. The amount of blood going to the kidneys was increased. In a 1981 Brazilian study, when researcher Boerk gave human volunteers between the ages of 20 and 40 a tea prepared with stevia leaves, a lowering of blood pressure occurred.

Source

13 posted on 04/16/2002 11:14:33 AM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: Brookhaven
I know we have a problem with nutrasweet (causes my wife headaches, and it causes my essential tremor to get worse).

Hmmmmm....You are the first person I have seen complain about something I noticed years ago with nutra sweet. I was using it with iced tea and discovered that I was experiencing uncontrolled hand and arm movements and also vocal problems. The stuff was definately affecting my nervous system, ie: brain functions regarding more than one system.

I regard the stuff as dangerous.

14 posted on 04/16/2002 11:15:37 AM PDT by Cold Heat
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To: america-rules
I forgot to add Splenda can be found in most supermarkets now.

I use it for everything and it's good because it's a fine powder and when used in cold tea it mixes really well.

15 posted on 04/16/2002 11:17:14 AM PDT by america-rules
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To: america-rules
There's gotta be a catch. I checked the website, but of course, they wouldn't list any negatives. We drink Ocean Spray cranberry juice all the time which is one of the featured products on the Splenda website. Tastes pretty good to us!
Thanks for posting it.
16 posted on 04/16/2002 11:17:57 AM PDT by stanz
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To: Brookhaven
This reminds me of the time eons ago when I was in the neighbourhood hospitality industry and we cheerfully served to the customers of our high class dive Sterno on the rocks!
17 posted on 04/16/2002 11:19:16 AM PDT by Revolting cat!
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To: Brookhaven
My post was confusing. I meant that Dr. Weil recommends the use of Stevia.
18 posted on 04/16/2002 11:21:41 AM PDT by stanz
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To: america-rules
I came down with diabetes last year and found Splenda. It's a good substitute for sugar but tends to be a bit pricey.
19 posted on 04/16/2002 11:23:38 AM PDT by randog
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To: hove
"Can any body explain why our government is fighting the approval and acceptance of this natural sugar substitue??"

The dynamic that is at work here is very much like what was done by William Randolph Hearst back in the 30s to get marijuana made illegal.

I don't doubt for one second that efforts by those who produce artificial sweeteners have something to do with it.

But then, I'm about as cynical as they come.


20 posted on 04/16/2002 11:29:41 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts
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