Obesity Discussion Forums

[hollandoforange]

The Stevia Story: all about the herb that's sweeter than sugar

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.

[dreamblooms]

Originally Posted by hollandoforange

The Stevia Story: all about the herb that's sweeter than sugar

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.

[dreamblooms]

Stevia is very harmful. I use Splenda, which is FDA-approved. Splenda, btw, is only 1% sucralose, which is itself FDA-approved. Scroll down to the bottom of this page (sucralose):
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/200...weeteners.html

Those pushing Stevia like to say it's been used for centuries by South American Indians... with no studies about how long those Indians lived (not counting battles, snake bites, etc.) Nor have there ever been control studies of any kind for Stevia...it just wasn't possible, given the lack of birth records, health histories, other reasons. The sugar in Stevia is primarily fructose anyway, which is just another kind of sugar. No different from the sugar in the sugar bowl; just more harmful.

This book is terrific. Written by a Dept of Health Cardiologist, and he warns against Stevia too and only recommends Splenda. His wife, a nutritionist, co-wrote the book. I'm loving it!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141...554450-6716069

Stay healthy...avoid Stevia and high fructose corn syrup, another dangerous sweetener.

[hollandoforange]

Originally Posted by dreamblooms

Stevia is very harmful. I use Splenda, which is FDA-approved. Splenda, btw, is only 1% sucralose, which is itself FDA-approved. Scroll down to the bottom of this page (sucralose):
Artificial Sweeteners: No Calories ... Sweet!

Those pushing Stevia like to say it's been used for centuries by South American Indians... with no studies about how long those Indians lived (not counting battles, snake bites, etc.) Nor have there ever been control studies of any kind for Stevia...it just wasn't possible, given the lack of birth records, health histories, other reasons. The sugar in Stevia is primarily fructose anyway, which is just another kind of sugar. No different from the sugar in the sugar bowl; just more harmful.

This book is terrific. Written by a Dept of Health Cardiologist, and he warns against Stevia too and only recommends Splenda. His wife, a nutritionist, co-wrote the book. I'm loving it!
Amazon.com: The Cardiologist's Wife's Chocolate Too! Diet: No Sugar, No Fat & Luscious: Books: Joyce Schneider,Robert G. Schneider

Stay healthy...avoid Stevia and high fructose corn syrup, another dangerous sweetener.

Aspartame - Most dangerous of all artificial sweeteners!

id say youre lieing or you are misinformed

[Obesity Discussion]

My understanding from a previous thread we had on Stevia is that some major companies are backing it....

Anywho, here was our other brief discussion on it: about sugar substitutes

[dreamblooms]

Originally Posted by hollandoforange

Aspartame - Most dangerous of all artificial sweeteners!

id say youre lieing or you are misinformed

Your quote leads to some unknown person (nice glamor shot) trying to sell *something else.*

I prefer to trust a physician who's with the Department of Health. He's fair but even-handed. Again, he talks about Stevia on p. 27 of his book; points out that no long-term studies and control-group studies have been done on Stevia. Cancer can take years to develop, as with smoking.

Meanwhile Stevia's being as aggressively marketed as High Fructose Corn Syrup, another killer.

I suggest you also work on your spelling. It's "lying," not "lieing."

[Obesity Discussion]

Good discussion; let's make sure we keep it civil.

[dreamblooms]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

My understanding from a previous thread we had on Stevia is that some major companies are backing it....

Anywho, here was our other brief discussion on it: about sugar substitutes

Hi,

Well, major food companies, corporations, just care about making money. Remember cigarette companies swearing, with their hands upraised before the Senate, that nicotine was harmless?

[hollandoforange]

Originally Posted by dreamblooms

Your quote leads to some unknown person (nice glamor shot) trying to sell *something else.*

I prefer to trust a physician who's with the Department of Health. He's fair but even-handed. Again, he talks about Stevia on p. 27 of his book; points out that no long-term studies and control-group studies have been done on Stevia. Cancer can take years to develop, as with smoking.

Meanwhile Stevia's being as aggressively marketed as High Fructose Corn Syrup, another killer.

I suggest you also work on your spelling. It's "lying," not "lieing."

"the Department of Health"?from what country?usa?they lie to us about everything else like gardissil for girls etc

the Department of Health-oh im so impressed!!

i wonder how many suckers who have invested in sugar and especially high fructose corn syrup will lose money in coming years?

[hollandoforange]

yeah we better study herbs for 30 years before we try them

im very afraid

ok thanks for the warning about stevia if you meant well

ok

[hollandoforange]

Originally Posted by hollandoforange

Aspartame - Most dangerous of all artificial sweeteners!

id say youre lieing or you are misinformed

i misread that and thought you were saying you think stivia is 1%suralose,but i tried splenda and became ill on that and i avoid it

why anyone would trust that stuff is beyond me

the fda? i dont trust the usa fda

[Obesity Discussion]

At least in the US, Stevia isn't exactly a readily available option though.