BEES HEALTH FOOD STORE

Alternative Health Care Medicine, Holistic Health Care

2005-05-31

A Natural Safe Sweetener

Did you know there is an herbal sweetener that is SAFE for children, diabetics and everyone else? Stevia has been used for hundreds of years by South American Indian tribes to sweeten foods. No ill effects have been reported. Seems to me that's pretty powerful evidence for its safety.

Stevia is:

heat stable, so can be used in baking and cooking
200 to 300 times more powerful than regular sugar
calorie free
suitable for diabetics
safe for children
does not cause cavities
easily blends with other sweeteners, like honey
has been widely distributed and used in countries all over the world
is a GREAT alternative to synthetic sweetners

Try this recipe

One-half a lemon
One 8 ounce glass of water filled 3/4 full
5 drops of liquid stevia extract
ice to taste

Stir and sip! Isn't it tasty?

You can use this in any drink as a substitute for sugar. Packets are available, as well as powder. Be careful a little goes a long way.

If you want more recipes you can buy a book written by:

Roy Sahelian, MD & Donna Gates, MEd, The Stevia Cookbook:Cooking with Nature's Calorie-Free Sweetener. Avery Publishing Group. New York (1999).

Dr. Joseph Mercola, "eHealthy News You Can Use", # 602, January 12, 2005, wrote:
"...Unlike aspartame and other artificial sweeteners that have been cited for dangerous toxicities, stevia is a natural alternative that's ideal for diabetics, those watching their weight and anyone interested in maintaining their health by avoiding sugar. Stevia can be used in appetizers, beverages, soups, salads, vegetables, desserts -- virtually anything! It is, hands down, the best alternative to sugar you will ever taste.

WARNING: I want to emphasize, however, that if you have insulin issues, I recommend that you avoid sweeteners all together including stevia, as they all can worsen the problem. But for everyone else, if you are going to sweeten your foods and beverages anyway, I strongly encourage you to do so with stevia..."

The information here is my opinion and should not be construed as MEDICAL advise. However, many alternative physicians have recommended this option as a SAFE, natural alternative sweetener.

You can purchase stevia at health food stores and a few grocery stores do carry it.

Let me know what you think.

Happy Bloging!

Bee

Posted at 01:21:01 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (4)

Comment posted by gofer at 2005-06-04 00:10:37

Hi again Elizabeth!
Since we are "practically neighbors", which store do you buy stevia extract from?

Comment posted by tulip at 2005-06-05 07:10:03

Hi Elizabeth,
Interesting, never heard of Stevia, half our family has
Hypoglycaemia, but not related to Diabetes. No sugar
or other sweeteners like aspartaam et. are allowed for us.
After my search in Google I read in The Netherlands Stevia
may not be used as a sweetener or foodsupplement.
In the NL there is no research report yet, stores may only
sell it as a skincareproduct, ( i.e treatment for acne and
exzema.)

Comment posted by Bee at 2005-06-06 01:41:06

Hi George,
Wild Oats, River City Nutrition, The Natural Way all carry Stevia. I'm not sure if Dierbergs has it or not.

Hi Tulip,
I am glad you are not using aspartame or splenda...they are both gross poisons for your body. Stevia was banned in the US for awhile by the FDA, because the companies making artificial sweeteners had a strong lobby and don't particularly want people to know about this CHEAP herb. I didn't know it was used for skincare. Thanks for the info.
Bee

Comment posted by abilityplus at 2005-07-12 10:59:57

Gosh Bee with you helping me to know what and
what not to do I may live to be a 100. Thanks
a million.