Do you use stevia?

mammakisses

So I would like to make another small change to my diet and was wondering if stevia instead of sugar would be a good idea. Do you like it and how do you use it? Thanks

Cuquita43

I have been using stevia for about 10 years and I like it. I use it in my smoothies and I get plain low or non fat yougurt add a packet and I have dessert. Or I sprinkle on certain fruits like strawberries.

I think it is much better than the other sweetners in the market because it is natural. Most of the others have been processed or have other chemicals added to them. I hope it helps!!

stormsusmc

I advise against it...real sugar is better then fake.. Both are bad

gingerveg

I've been using it for about 15 years and I love it. I use body ecology brand liquid (a few drops in tea/coffee/smoothies whatever) and carry it in my purse. If I don't have it, I don't use any sweetener. I swear by the stuff. I have never had any adverse reactions from using it. I've looked around to see if there are any studies warning against using stevia and have not found any. I believe they have been using this sweetener in Asia (specifically Japan) for some time without any problems.

ETA: I am not an expert on this subject but from what I can gather the only real trouble with artificial sweeteners might come because they can cause a blood sugar spike (because your body thinks it is getting sugar/food). So perhaps it is best to eat a little something when you use it (providing you are not using it in food already). This information was actually in reference to other artificial sweeteners (aspartame etc) not stevia but I imagine it also applies to stevia (even though it is an herb). Anyway after reading a bunch of articles on the subject (before I gave up splenda and other artificial sweeteners completely I researched them) I've been trying to follow this rule with stevia because it seems to make sense to me.

Polly758

Funny thing about Stevia is it's not really a sweetener. It's tricking you into thinking it's sweet.

You'll see what I mean if you use too much-- it tastes disgusting.

But for putting a bit in your tea or smoothie, it's fine. If you're trying to make a mocha with it, well, good luck.

anniebonnie

I use what I'm assuming is the UK equivalent- truvia:D I put it on my oatmeal when I have it. Sometimes my cereal too, depending on how I feel:P

juliedozier

I made the switch from Sweet N Low (used it for 20 years) to Stevia this year. From everything I read, it is much safer than artificial sweetners as it is an herb. I like it alot.

IveLanded

I can't stand it. I know a lot of folks like it but to me it tastes super gross. I generally just use sweet N low.

But, as a side note, since sugar was kind of a vice for me, I focused my weight loss journey on learning how to go without sugar as opposed to just replacing it.

ThisCanadian

I used to use it until I became pregnant and my doctor advised against it. I’ve been using splenda ever since.

MyrianeO

I advise against it...real sugar is better then fake.. Both are bad

I'd like to hear your argument on the matter. People say that all the time, but they don't actually know the reason they think it's bad.. Stevia is a herb, so natural right?

Pandorian

If you're using stevia itself then you're getting a plant extracted sweetener much as sugar itself is, I grow stevia in my herb garden.

If you're using truvia / purvia (coke / Pepsi) versions of the same thing or one of the "tsp for tsp / gram for gram" replacements then you're getting a bulking agent along with the stevia extracts.

DonniesGirl69

I don't like it, but that's just personal taste. All I add sweetener to is my smoothies, though. I prefer to use Sugar in the Raw or just honey.

shinesunfish

I grow stevia in my garden, and I have read that using it can have adverse reactions to fertility... I'm also curious as to what other people think.

delilah47

If I am having something where I need just a little sweetening, I use real sugar. A teaspoonful has less than 20 calories. If I need more, I use Splenda (sucralose) or agave syrup. To me, Stevia has a terrible aftertaste.

Stevia vs. sucralose? They are both processed and it's a toss-up which is "healthier" although some people swear sucralose is poison in a yellow packet. :laugh:

hausofnichele

I think Stevia tastes disgusting. I just go without sugar or on the extremely rare instance that I need sugar (for a recipe), I use the real stuff.

lambertj

I used to use it until I became pregnant and my doctor advised against it. I’ve been using splenda ever since.

That is very intriguing, I have heard Splenda is horrible (pure chemicals) so I switched to Stevia.

ash8184

I actually met with a stevia farmer in China, and it's not an artificial sweetener - it's a plant extract. What IS artificial in some brands are the additives. You want to look for the purest you can find - REB A 97%+. The additives that are with it cause changes in flavor - it's like the difference in the taste between Coke & Pepsi - one has a vanilla base, and one has a lemon base. Try a health food store for more variety & find a brand that tastes good to you and has as few additives as possible.

Luciabella07

I tried Stevia but I didn't like it - I thought it had a wierd aftertaste. I use Splenda though. I used to dump sugar in my coffee/tea. After giving up coffee I still needed an alternative in my tea. I love that Splenda tastes just like sugar without all the calories.

TrailRunner61

I bought some, tasted it and hate it. I'm sticking with generic splenda.

happythermia

I've tried the liquid stevia.
I don't like the taste and there is a VERY fine line between 'Not sweet' to 'OMG NOOOO' with it.

Honestly, I'd rather use the pink stuff lol

DarkAngellEyes

Yes, stevia is an herb.

BUT - the stuff you buy in the store is so processed and chemical laden it is the furthest thing from natural. If it were natural, it would be green.... like an herb.

I actually grew stevia in my garden this year and dried the leaves. I ground them down into a fine powder and use that as a true natural sweetner. But, like another poster said - dont use too much, or it has an extremely bitter taste (found that out the hard way!) I actually have a batch drying now that I am going to attempt to make the liquid extract next.

delilah47

I used to use it until I became pregnant and my doctor advised against it. I’ve been using splenda ever since.

That is very intriguing, I have heard Splenda is horrible (pure chemicals) so I switched to Stevia.

FYI Splenda is made from sugar by changing the properties of a molecule.

VanessaGS

I always drink it with my iced tea. I have it all the time.

jamielovesjbs

i would do some studies about it first. there are a few studies saying it is a carcinogen, but it is just too new to the fda to know for sure.

lambertj

Oh, so I started with Splenda, heard the horror stories, switched to Agave, heard bad things and now i'm with Stevia and hearing back things. All I want is one pack of sweetener in my coffee - what's a girl to do? LOL

MizKittyB

I use Stevia, in small amounts, but I agree it has a bit of an aftertaste. I tried agave, but after reading some articles about how agave is bad (I'm not a dietician or expert, but the argument had something to do with the fact agave was pure fructose, instead of other types of natural sugars, and the body processed it differently), I've skipped agave. I'm also allergic to something in certain brands of tequila, and I notice a slight headache when I use agave; easier to skip it entirely, in my pantry.

I still prefer Splenda/sucralose when I need more sweet (two packets in my one daily cup of coffee :drinker: ); for everything else (cooking/baking), I reach for brown sugar. Of course, I'm someone who LOVES sugary carbs.

Just my $0.02

missigus

I don't like stevia at all. I used to use sweet n low, but I didn't like using artifical sweetners. Then I just used xylitol, for a while but it still had 10 calories per tsp. FINALLY, They came out with a sweetner called Nectresse 100% natural and made from monk fruit. No weird after taste to me- AND I LOVE IT!! YAY! I use it in my coffee every am, I put it in my smoothies or protein shakes that I add fruit to- to make it a bit sweeter. You can find the Nectresse by the Stevia and sweetners in Walmart. It's kinda expensive, but it's worth it to find something natural that I actually like. It seems similar to agave syrup in a way, if you like the taste of that, but zero calories.

ThisCanadian

I used to use it until I became pregnant and my doctor advised against it. I’ve been using splenda ever since.

That is very intriguing, I have heard Splenda is horrible (pure chemicals) so I switched to Stevia.

The reasoning behind my doctor's advice came from the fact there was no long-term research on the affects of stevia on a fetus. It could be harmless but I wasn’t going to risk it.

DonniesGirl69

Oh, so I started with Splenda, heard the horror stories, switched to Agave, heard bad things and now i'm with Stevia and hearing back things. All I want is one pack of sweetener in my coffee - what's a girl to do? LOL

Sugar :laugh:

herrytews

The advantage of Stevia is that it is apparently more natural than most of the sweeteners (no aspartame or sucralose). I use it, but it's not as pleasant as Splenda (it has more of a saccharin taste). However the biggest benefit is that I am on a low carb diet and the particular Stevia that I buy is CARB FREE! (Note: some of the Stevia ones aren't carb free).

alpine1994

I can't stand it. I know a lot of folks like it but to me it tastes super gross. I generally just use sweet N low.

But, as a side note, since sugar was kind of a vice for me, I focused my weight loss journey on learning how to go without sugar as opposed to just replacing it.

This. Tried replacing sugar and it just kept the addiction going. Slowly phased it out and I don't miss it.