Stevia

DBiggs23
DBiggs23 Posts: 43
edited October 6 in Food and Nutrition
Hello MFP Members,

What you guys think of stevia, it is healthy or just another non calorie substance that is unhealthy for our bodies?

Desiree : )

Replies

  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    i'm not sure yet... need to know more about it before i make a decision. anythign that sounds too good to be true usually is.
  • CMorning99
    CMorning99 Posts: 924 Member
    I recently switched to Stevia from Splenda after I read an article about all the chemicals used to make the "natural" product. Not sure if Stevia is any better or if it is the flavor of the month...speaking of flavor, I think Stevia has a weird after taste.
  • cNhobbes
    cNhobbes Posts: 235 Member
    i know this is second hand info, but stevia gave my friend the sh*ts.
  • Moonblood
    Moonblood Posts: 199 Member
    I can't stand the taste of Stevia, so disgusting and the aftertaste lingers. BUT it's from a plant, so it's probably not "bad" for you. I'd rather that than aspartame or any other chemical if I had to drink a sugar substitute.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    i know this is second hand info, but stevia gave my friend the sh*ts.
    Meaningless anecdote. Name any substance, there is someone who can't tolerate it.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    If you're consuming so much that it makes a difference one way or the other, you need to reconsider your entire diet.
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    I prefer the real thing @15 calories per serving
  • cNhobbes
    cNhobbes Posts: 235 Member
    i know this is second hand info, but stevia gave my friend the sh*ts.
    Meaningless anecdote. Name any substance, there is someone who can't tolerate it.

    your post just made me vomit
  • DBiggs23
    DBiggs23 Posts: 43
    I use it only for my coffee, tea and lemon water, about a 2 packs max per day. I just want to make sure it isnt dangerous.
  • seehawkmomma
    seehawkmomma Posts: 815
    I can't stand the taste of Stevia, so disgusting and the aftertaste lingers. BUT it's from a plant, so it's probably not "bad" for you. I'd rather that than aspartame or any other chemical if I had to drink a sugar substitute.

    I agree
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    I prefer the real thing @15 calories per serving

    It makes you fat
  • peggyj49
    peggyj49 Posts: 32 Member
    Stevia is organic and I have been using it about eight years. Stevia is a natural plant and it is not an artificial sweetener. Stevia has been used for hundreds of years and is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It does not effect the sugar or glucose level in our bodies. Its great.
  • Lunalucina
    Lunalucina Posts: 21
    It can have an odd aftertaste (reminds me of licorice), and it's easy to use to much. (It's sweeter than sugar, by far!) But, it's my personal go-to if I just want a little bit of something in my tea and have no honey or something on hand.

    My understanding is that it hasn't be 'officially tested', which is why it's not really marketed. However, it's been used for a longggg time in various places around the world and there seems to be few negative side-effects.

    General rule of thumb is not to consume a lot of the substance in question. Those other cultures used bits here and there, where-as north americans, who seem to have a major sweet-tooth as a society, may use it in a much great volume per person.
    I believe that's why there is concern about its safety...there is really no recorded precedence of major use.

    Honestly, though, most of the other no-cal "natural" sweeteners are so far from natural (read: many are altered in a lab!) and loaded with chemicals that just aren't good for a living critter to consume. I'd rather stevia or actual sugar in my system over those things.
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    I prefer the real thing @15 calories per serving

    It makes you fat

    O yea I forgot...sugar:devil: and its partner in crime insulin:devil:
  • janalayn
    janalayn Posts: 510 Member
    I prefer the real thing @15 calories per serving

    Glad to know I am not the only one. I refuse to use artificial sweetners as I am allergic to aspartame (migraines). I eat sugar and honey.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    i know this is second hand info, but stevia gave my friend the sh*ts.
    Meaningless anecdote. Name any substance, there is someone who can't tolerate it.

    your post just made me vomit
    See, I told you.
  • buckaroos30
    buckaroos30 Posts: 127 Member
    I use stevia but only in the raw brand! if you read the others they have an extra ingredient added that I don't know what it is! I think it's better for your body than any other sweetener on the market.
  • juliesummers
    juliesummers Posts: 738 Member
    I have used literally no other sweetener except Stevia for the past six years (everyone I know knows I carry it around with me everywhere), and I've had zero adverse side effects from it.

    It is 100% natural and comes from the leaves of a plant (we even grow it in our backyard), and it's been used in Asia, South America, and other places in the world for over 1500 years.
  • wsishere
    wsishere Posts: 1
    There is a Stevia brand that tastes great called NuStevia. You might give that one a try.
  • ogosun
    ogosun Posts: 175 Member
    I have been using Stevia for a long time. I love it. It not an artificial sweetener . No Chemicals in Stevia. Stevia is a herb from South America, and since the leaves from this plant have a sweet flavor that is 30 times sweeter than sugar, so you use less.
    I use nothing else. People watching their weight like the idea of stevia because it's calorie free. It's truly awesome..
  • elcieloesazul
    elcieloesazul Posts: 448 Member
    I don't know if this sways any one either way (I'm still on the fence so I don't have any agenda saying this; just puttin' it out there) but stevia WAS banned in the US during the 1990s, as an "unsafe" food. It's no longer recognized as "unsafe" and the banning by the FDA was controversial.
  • redheadmommy
    redheadmommy Posts: 908 Member
    I try to cut out sugar and all artificial sweeteners completely from my diet. (My normal diet, not the holiday sugar overdose diet,lol)
    Stevia is all natural and all, but I can not stand the taste. I do not drink coffee anymore, and i drink my tea without anything.
    If I need to use something, I rather use organic agave syrup. Agave syrup also a natural sweetener, not as sweat as stevia , and it has some calories, but the taste is tolerable .
  • elcieloesazul
    elcieloesazul Posts: 448 Member
    Another factor to consider: brands of stevia, such as "Truvia" and "PureVia" are owned by Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co (respectively). These brands aren't known as leaders in the health-food industry. Stevia WILL NOT, however, raise blood sugar (according to stevia.com).
  • LilMissFoodie
    LilMissFoodie Posts: 612 Member
    I don't know if this sways any one either way (I'm still on the fence so I don't have any agenda saying this; just puttin' it out there) but stevia WAS banned in the US during the 1990s, as an "unsafe" food. It's no longer recognized as "unsafe" and the banning by the FDA was controversial.

    It is still considered 'not proven to be safe' by some regions, where most artificial sweeteners are considered proven safe. Which may be to do with the amount of research more than anything else but in any case, I would certainly be more willing to put my faith in the proven.

    Being naturally occurring does not by any means prove it is safe. Arsenic is natural but would you consider it safe?
  • Misiaxcore
    Misiaxcore Posts: 659 Member
    From all the research I have done, I have come to the conclusion that Stevia is far from being an "artificial sweetener" considering it's from a plant :P But not sure how they process it. Regardless, I use it in my Greek yoghurt.
  • lizzyliz79
    lizzyliz79 Posts: 43 Member
    Is there a difference between liquid stevia and powdered? Other than price, of course! hehe
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