Stevia healthy or not?
 

I see that Pepsi is launching Pepsi True and it uses it.

Thoughts?

Is Stevia healthy?

Less sugar and no corn syrup. I don't drink a lot of soda, hardly any at all. But when I do, it's Pepsi...so I will likely give this shot.

Stevia is a natural sweetener. So it's better than any of the other low calorie garbage.

the fact that it's natural should have zero relevance as so are many literal poisons. From what I've read stevia is pretty safe from most testing, although it is pretty early. It tastes ok, but definitely different so tastes will vary opinions just like anything I'm sure.

basically I have no problem with any sweeteners, however, i think over consumption of ANY of them is never a good idea. I'm sure that's not what you had in mind but I always mention it because i know too many people who just think because there are no calories they can drink it like water, which few would argue is a good idea.

a bit more natural low calorie idea for a beverage:

4-5 medium sized lemons, roll them cut in half and use one of those hand lemon juicers
3/4 of a gallon of water
grated fresh ginger
couple mint leaves lightly pressed
6-7 packets of sweetener (i use sweet n low, but i think you'd need less stevia for the job)


brew some orange pekoe tea, let that chill and mix it with that and you have a pretty nice arnold palmer

I tried the Coke version the other day - Not bad, although it does have an after taste - I don't dislike it but will stick to Diet Coke...

ive read the type of "stevia" used and for sale for use at home is not actual real stevia but a patented extract

and growing real stevia is illegal

not sure though

I think it is some marketing long time plan

why not simply don't drink sodas and use natural sugar responsibly?

I really dislike the after taste of Stevia :(

because every beverage aside from water has far too much sugar in it?

100% organic fruit juice? Too much sugar
iced tea - too much sugar
smoothies? - anything with lots of fruit in it is too much sugar.

All will make you fat.

People get bored of drinking water and green tea all the time so having an alternative that doesn't make you obese in the process isn't the worst idea is it?

** From someone with hypoglycemia here.

Any sugar substitute is exactly the same as sugar to your body. Caloric intake wise, of course, these sweeteners are really not much better. Your brain is trained to release insulin when you ingest sugar. When you ingest stevia your brain still thinks your ingesting sugar, so it releases insulin. When there is no sugar for the insulin to work on it goes to work on the sugar(glucose) in your blood. This will cause low blood sugar and you won't feel well at all. These substitutes are also linked to obesity and other diseases because they trick your body's learned natural functions. Some studies report clinical testing results of weight gain due to the fact that the body attempts to store the sugar when your brain tells your body that you've eaten sugar. The body then stores whatever it can as fat. There are several research studies on natural substitutes. Google is your friend. Basically, I've been diagnosed with blood sugar issues, so I know more than I want to about the subject. My advice is to educate yourself and don't believe anything you read. Do what works for you and what makes you feel well.

:2 cents:

156 pounds of sugar consumed per capita in the USA. 29 pounds of that from actually adding sweetener to things, the rest is in the processed food we eat! So.. good luck to us all because we need it.

Depends who you get your Stevia from

http://i.imgur.com/mgTNMqL.jpg

If you suffer from 'Hypoglycemia' you are likely taking too much insulin or have a rare form of Pancreatic cancer - Either way you should see a doctor...

:2 cents:

Oh boy, me too - it's not SO bad in a cold drink, but put that shit in coffee (hot coffee) and it is just plain damn nasty!! It's got a very strange after taste in it - it doesn't seem to be as nasty if it is cold - but put any type of heat to it and it starts getting very weird.

I use Splenda in my tea and coffee and rarely ever drink cokes or anything carbonated anymore because most use aspartame which I am deathly allergic to - but if you don't mind the after taste, I guess Stevia is better than most as far as being natural goes

But like someone else said - natural doesn't always mean better, especially if you have an allergy to it... just pay attention just like you would anything else you put in your body you've never had before.

I don't know, but some powdered raw stevia flew up my nose once and sent me to the hospital, lol.

I know the nice man told you it was Stevia - However...

Lol! I was making coffee with it, had never done it before. I opened the bag and it came out in a big pooof! And I also dipped my finger in and tasted it, my lip was the first to swell, then my nose completely closed off, NO AIR would go in or out. :(

It comes out in your poo

You do realize by now that diet soda leads to weight gain, diabetes, and a number of other health issues, don't you? It literally is poison.

Stevia tastes like ass.

I prefer Vermont maple syrup over any sweetener.

i would start by not believing most of what you just said...

if any of that first part were true people with type1 diabetes would be dropping dead in epidemic proportions from drinking it, which is certainly not the case. The whole purpose of diet cola originally stemmed more for their market base as opposed to people with weight issues. All those 'studies' you are referring to were mostly all done in non controlled environments and never took into account sugar intake from other sources ie breads, pastas, fruits, which would basically overlook how much those can effect obesity. 'believe me' you aren't the only one here who has read up on this. I suggest you read further if your health is at risk..

start here http://www.elitefitness.com/articledata/glycemic.html

lists all foods and their glycemic index's its a little crude for a list but it is a useful guide. Oh, diet cola or sweeteners not listed, because they are zero...

Suit yourself. I can give a fuck. I get my information from very expensive specialists in the field. You all keep GFY doctoring yourselves to health. :thumbsup

I love you - You know that - However, if anyone charged you to tell you that you are 'Hypoglycemic' you are being ripped off...

Tried it only in coffee and tea sofar.. it sucked ass in both.. however we got a stevie plant at home, and chewing it is pretty good.. maybe will try to make a homemade extract out of it.

LOL - Why do I always 'love' everyone when I have had a few too many?..

I dont like any "natural" sweetener used in big industry

Marketing.

Have water or a beer if you're thirsty.

Much better than aspartame and the rest of the fake sweetners that cause hormonal and metabolic changes

I drink mad Pepsi, dig when they bring the "Real Sugar" ones back which is happening currently. Only time I ever drank diet is when I ended up at someones house and that's all they had. Haven't tasted any diet in my limited experience as I need to gain weight not lose it where I was like like fuck yeah this tastes great.

Just another marketing ploy for the unhealthy to keep on drinking large quantities of pop.

it would be too easy :winkwink:

exactly, don't get it from Heisenberg