Uh oh. Ditching the stevia.
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baconslave wrote: »This quote concerned me when I started reading the book last week because I recently began using Stevia as an alternate to sucralose. Therefore, I obtained a copy of journal article cited regarding this point and reviewed the actual study. My review of the study gave me pause regarding Dr. Fung's work. First, let me clarify that I am a social scientist not a medical professional.
While Dr. Fung's statement has an element of truth, it is in fact quite misleading and in my opinion sensationalized. The researchers measured insulin levels at multiple points for three groups, one group that consumed Aspartame, one that consumed Stevia, and one that consumed sucrose (table sugar) with specific meals fed to them by the researchers. At all points but the last, the insulin levels of the participants who consumed Stevia were MUCH lower, statistically significantly lower, than the insulin levels of those who consumed Aspartame or sucrose. It was only at the last measurement, which if I am recalling correctly was 2 hours postparandial (that is 2 hours after eating) that insulin was higher those who consumed Aspartame and Stevia. However, at this point, the insulin levels of all groups had leveled out and were almost the same. The differences in insulin levels among the three groups at that point were statistically insignificantt at the 95% confidence level. Furthermore, if you compare all three groups across each of the other points when insulin levels were measured, the insulin levels of those who consumed Aspartame and Stevia were MUCH lower than the levels of the group that consumed sucrose and differences were statistically significant. Stevia had by far the lowest levels of insulin spike among the three groups across all measures except the last which again as I noted above was statistically insignificant.
Reading this gave me great concern regarding how carefully Dr. Fung reads the studies he cites. I have found his videos and blogs interesting and informative. But, at least in this case, I am concerned that he has mislead his readers to support his stated concerns about artificial sweeteners. Please note that I am not suggesting anyone should run out and start using artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners like Stevia.This is just one study, and like all studies, it has its limitations, which the scholars identified. It has however, given me pause, regarding Dr. Fung's book and recommendations.
I was wondering if there was a citation.
People can be myopic when they want something to support their position.
Dr. Fung cited and provided a reference for his statement on Stevia that the original poster quoted. I got a copy of the journal article and read it. His statement on Stevia is inconsistent with the findings of the study he cited. Reading his statement would make you think that sucrose had the least impact on insulin levels but that is not what the study found. Stevia, by far, had the least impact on insulin levels.0 -
Completely anecdotal evidence based on muscle testing, but my chiro told me to give the Truvia to someone I don't like, but I was OK with Swerve (which is another erythritol/stevia blend).0
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baconslave wrote: »This quote concerned me when I started reading the book last week because I recently began using Stevia as an alternate to sucralose. Therefore, I obtained a copy of journal article cited regarding this point and reviewed the actual study. My review of the study gave me pause regarding Dr. Fung's work. First, let me clarify that I am a social scientist not a medical professional.
While Dr. Fung's statement has an element of truth, it is in fact quite misleading and in my opinion sensationalized. The researchers measured insulin levels at multiple points for three groups, one group that consumed Aspartame, one that consumed Stevia, and one that consumed sucrose (table sugar) with specific meals fed to them by the researchers. At all points but the last, the insulin levels of the participants who consumed Stevia were MUCH lower, statistically significantly lower, than the insulin levels of those who consumed Aspartame or sucrose. It was only at the last measurement, which if I am recalling correctly was 2 hours postparandial (that is 2 hours after eating) that insulin was higher those who consumed Aspartame and Stevia. However, at this point, the insulin levels of all groups had leveled out and were almost the same. The differences in insulin levels among the three groups at that point were statistically insignificantt at the 95% confidence level. Furthermore, if you compare all three groups across each of the other points when insulin levels were measured, the insulin levels of those who consumed Aspartame and Stevia were MUCH lower than the levels of the group that consumed sucrose and differences were statistically significant. Stevia had by far the lowest levels of insulin spike among the three groups across all measures except the last which again as I noted above was statistically insignificant.
Reading this gave me great concern regarding how carefully Dr. Fung reads the studies he cites. I have found his videos and blogs interesting and informative. But, at least in this case, I am concerned that he has mislead his readers to support his stated concerns about artificial sweeteners. Please note that I am not suggesting anyone should run out and start using artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners like Stevia.This is just one study, and like all studies, it has its limitations, which the scholars identified. It has however, given me pause, regarding Dr. Fung's book and recommendations.
I was wondering if there was a citation.
People can be myopic when they want something to support their position.
Dr. Fung cited and provided a reference for his statement on Stevia that the original poster quoted. I got a copy of the journal article and read it. His statement on Stevia is inconsistent with the findings of the study he cited. Reading his statement would make you think that sucrose had the least impact on insulin levels but that is not what the study found. Stevia, by far, had the least impact on insulin levels.
Right. I was just saying I wondered where he got the information, and if he bothered to cite the source of the info in his book.
Hmmmm...Definitely myopic behavior from the dear Dr. Fung.0
This discussion has been closed.