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Stevia is not a sweetener that is approved for use by the FDA. It is actually classified as a dietary supplement, an herb, that happens to be sweeter than sugar and can be - and is - used as a sweetener. It is all natural, has no calories (or carbs) and is getting more and more popular, though it makes up only a small portion of the non-sugar sweetener market.
Its popularity is due to an increased awareness for the product, thanks to well-placed advertisements and hard work on the part of the SweetLeaf Stevia brand's LA marketing firm, which has made sure that high end restaurants and even stores carry the product, prompting even more coverage from newspapers and magazines.
The only problem with Stevia, according to both the manufacturers and consumers, is that it is still hard to find. Not all stores carry it. Some stores, like Trader Joe's, try to make the product easily visible, but because it is an herb, it is often stocked in the supplements aisle in other stores, not in the section of the market with the sugars and sweeteners. Clearly this is not a huge setback, however, because the sales of the sweetener are steadily increasing. In the last year alone, they have increased almost 40%, though overall sales are only one tenth of the sales of Splenda, the top selling non-sugar sweetener.
If the interest in the product keeps growing at this rate - and it seems likely to - we could see Stevia become more widely available and used in more packaged products in place of artificial sugars.
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8-16-2006 @10:00AM Michael Reid said... To me, Stevia has an disagreeable, somewhat bitter aftertaste. A few days ago I had drink made from an "electrolyte replacement" powder that was sweetened with Stevia; I couldn't wait to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I've had a similar experience with stevia-sweetened herbal tea.
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8-16-2006 @10:51AM MJ said... Tried it it was ok. I just use regular sugar, just less of it. The fake sugars give me a headache! Lots of people use splenda that I know but I really dislike it!
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8-16-2006 @12:59PM Becki said... Stevia sucks. It has a sort of anise aftertaste.
I recently switched to agave syrup, which has no aftertaste like all other sweeteners - artificial or natural - and evidently has the advantage of being lower glycemic than regular sugar. At least - like stevia - it's a natural product. Here is one brand at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FL521G/104-2949121-0445519?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=16310101
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8-16-2006 @1:23PM Erin said... You can get stevia at Henry's and Whole Foods here in San Diego. I recommend not using it as a substitute for Nutrasweet/Splenda in coffee and tea, but I think it works well as a sweetener for unsweetened cereals and yogurt.
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8-16-2006 @1:42PM moonablaze said... I do not understand how people think that just because something is "natural" it is safe. ephedra is natural, it causes heart arythmias and seizures. hemlock is natural and has been used for thousands of years - as a poison!
I'll stick to stuff there have been actual scientific tests on.
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8-16-2006 @2:54PM Chris said... I use it all the time. I prefer it to other sweeteners. You do get a nasty bitter taste if you use to much, which is easy for people new to it since a small amount goes a long way. Also, use the pure stuff, not the stuff with the maltodextrin(sp?) in it.
The stevia manufacturers should form a group and all go in together for FDA approval.
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8-17-2006 @5:01AM Jim said... "I do not understand how people think that just because something is 'natural' it is safe."
Thank you! Science FTW!
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9-05-2006 @2:28PM rose said... I happen to love stevia, it has been used for thousands of years in Paraguay without any adverse affects. It comes from the leaves of the stevia plant and is used in Japan's diet coke because they banned aspertame there. I have many scientific studies stating it is safe and can actually recude hypertension, blood preasure, and helps balance glucose levels in diabetcis. Just because it is not approved by the FDA doesn't mean it's not safe, just that someone hasn't paid off the right person or got enough lobbyists to lobby for them. Look at all the prescription drugs that have been approved and a few years later they discover they cause liver damage and even death. I choose to heal naturally with herbs and natural remedies and haven't even taken tylenol in over 2 years and I am in the best shape of my life, and use stevia instead of sugar for cooking and baking. I agree that just because it is natural doesn't mean it's safe, but just because the FDA approves something doesn't mean that it's safe either IMO. I have a naturopathic Doctor friend who I get advice from and I know he has my best interests at heart. As for the stevia, if you use too much it can be overwhelming on your taste buds, so once you find a good brand and use the right amount it is so delicious! Read labels and don't use the ones with Maltodextrin or other bad fillers use pure stevia or the one with fiber.
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