Use Stevia as a sweetener? Have you ever heard of it?

[firefox]

Stevia is a South American plant whose extract is two or three hundred times sweeter than sugar. It has no calories and is an important to diabetics in that it does not cause an insulin response.

It is a telling thing that the FDA will not allow the words "sweet" or "sweetener" on the bottle as they are whores for industry profits. Its use should have been grandfathered in because of its long history in this country, much less the rest of the world.

They just started a forum on Stevia and sugar addiction at CureZone.com- http://tinyurl.com/6vz4c Cinnamon is something diabetics should know about too, but really I just want to know if people use Stevia or even know what it is.

[momzno1]

1. we use stevia

I make lemonade with just lemons, water and stevia and it is great, also the south beach diet has a ricotta cream dessert that requires sweetener and I use stevia for that. It tastes great and doesn't react like sugar in the body

[phylny]

14. I bought some Stevia

that was supposed to have no aftertaste, but I used it and hated it. My mouth ended up with an awful, awful taste in it after drinking a beverage with Stevia.

I was really disappointed, too, because I was hoping for an alternative to Splenda.

For now, it's still Splenda if it's not real sugar.

[firefox]

19. Must have been a bad batch

I think there are brands that are not as good as others. Good Stevia should not have any aftertaste.

[firefox]

16. That is my most common use,just add cinnamon n/t

[kikiek]

2. I bought some. The organic type. Comes in liquid form too.

I like it. I got off sugar 6 weeks ago. I don't have diabetes. Just think there is too much sugar crap out there.

[Trillo]

3. Yes, I've used it, have a fairly large bottle of it.

Be careful when purchasing, you can pay a lot, or a little.

Unless I'm restricting carbs, I just use sugar if I want something sweet. But it seems a good alternative for those who have to avoid sugar for some reason.

[Shakespeare]

4. Yup - Trader Joe's sells it.

In my TJs, they stock it in both their supplements aisle and next to other sweeteners. An excellent sugar substitute.

[MuseRider]

5. I have some

but I did not think it was sweet. I was trying to wean myself from a serious sugar addiction. I did it but not by using stevia. Perhaps I should try it again now.

[tubbacheez]

6. I tried it. No big deal. Sugar tastes better.

I'm not diabetic, but I've been cutting back on processed sugars and starches and replacing them with less processed carbs.


Nowadays, I consider yams and ripe fruits to be plenty sweet to satisfy my sweet tooth. A dried fig or date is like candy. And I rarely need any sweeteners at all in my cooking or my coffee.


Stevia was interesting. But I found it easier just to tone down my sweet tooth over time and not buy any sweeteners at all.

[ET Awful]

8. I think my favorite treat along those lines is

dried mango :)

[tubbacheez]

11. Yum. Dried mango rocks.

The kind without the sulfites feels better on the mouth, I think.

[ET Awful]

13. Mmmmmm, I also like dried papaya and, when I'm in the mood

dried strawberries. Those three are sweet enough to satisfy anyones sweet tooth :).

[ET Awful]

7. I had never heard of it until someone posted about it here the other day

I may have to give it a try.

[drthais]

9. you don't have to BUY it - you can GROW it!

you have to order the plant(s) from a nursery
(it doesn't do well from sees - similar to several other herbs, like commercial peppermint for example)
but, order three or four plants.....
pot them, or better yet,pu them in the ground

the leaves are DEVASTATINGLY sweet!
they can be dried and ground...and there you have it - stevia!

[Biased Liberal Media]

10. I can't find it anywhere

I live in a small rural town and my local grocery stores don't carry it. I bought a BULK size box of Equal a year ago...and regret doing so.

[morningglory]

12. You can get it from health food stores and the internet. n/t

[kiraboo]

15. Don't buy plants! Stevia is incredibly easy to start from seed.

I've seen the plants on sale for nine bucks. One pack of seeds is $1.25. They germinate quickly and easily, like a tomato or marigold. It survives well in a pot but I put them in my flower garden just for the heck of it. Just a thought. Any seed company carries it these days, in their herb section. -Lisa

[firefox]

17. Where do you get your seeds?

I started my search for seeds today. On the way back from town I stopped by the nursery where I get garden plants and told him about Stevia. I am pretty sure he will start some plants.

[kiraboo]

22. Johnny's Select Seeds or Pinetree Garden Seeds (both have

websites). Johnny's is more expensive but very fast and reliable. Pinetree is a bit slower on the draw but much cheaper. But google "stevia +seeds" and you'll probably get a bunch of sources.

[Biased Liberal Media]

20. I can't necessarily grow it

for one I have a brown thumb. Another reason is because I live in an apartment complex. No where to garden.

[kiraboo]

24. I hear you. But for the record, I start my seeds indoors

under a fluorescent light and move them to pots or the garden when they get too big. But if your apartment is dark, I wouldn't bother because stevia likes a sunny spot.

[trotsky]

21. Here's where I order it from.

http://www.nunaturals.com/

I find the white stevia powder works best for me. The 12-oz container is pricey, but it will last you forever. Just a tiny spoonful sweetens my tea plenty.

[Biased Liberal Media]

23. Thank you!

[diplomats]

18. Yes, I use it.

I also use honey because I like it better, it's not as sweet. I'm wondering if honey used every day is bad for you. I use it to sweeten green tea. I'm not diabetic, but I wonder if honey would raise my blood sugar.

[Nay]

25. I use it in liquid form in tea. Didn't like the powdered stuff.