Is Stevia The Answer?

I don’t really like sugar. Let me rephrase that - I like sugar, I like eating sugar, but I don’t really like the effects sugar has on my body. Oh I sound like a health nut. I guess I am…

Anyway - I like experimenting with recipes and substituting different sweeteners in place of sugar. So far I’ve only really tried honey - but that is quite expensive in comparison. And its a little complicated. You have to add extra baking powder and all sorts of finicky details. To be honest I just chuck in a bit of honey that I’ve melted in hot water… seems to taste the same!

By now you probably know that I’m not a fan of artificial stuff. I like the real deal. This is why I won’t try Equal or Sucaryl or any of the other sweeteners. I just don’t want to take the risk.

A while ago, Elliot mentioned a ‘new’ sweetener called Stevia. I was really skeptical. In all honesty, I still am because I have not tried the stuff. But I did a little research to see what it was all about. And it got me wondering - is Stevia the answer?

Well I’ve been doing my research and found some interesting facts. Stevia is a plant from the chrysanthemum family. The leaves are the part that is used as a sweetener, and apparently it is incredibly sweet - up to 100 or more times sweeter than sugar, AND it is very low in calories. In theory, only 1/4 teaspoon of Stevia is needed in a recipe that requires a cup of sugar. I find it rather incredible to fathom really. Stevia is a native plant of Paraguay, but it apparently can be grown in a number of climates, provided it doesn’t get too cold. The leaves are harvested then dried, and then crushed - turning it into powder. It appears to be very simple and easy to do at home. I just discovered I can buy seeds locally so that will be a project of mine when the weather gets a little warmer here.

At present the FDA won’t allow it. It is OK as a ‘dietary supplement’ but not permitted to be in foods for normal consumption - an additive. They aren’t sure of the side effects of it as yet. This fact throws me a little. I don’t really know if I ought to trust the FDA! But as far I can tell, the product is all natural - so that has to have something good going for it! I’ve heard that it can reduce symptoms of diabetes and hypertension - but who can be sure? The FDA have resisted it because they think it could be a narcotic - yet in Japan people have been using Stevia for the last 30 years without any documented risk or danger from it.

I don’t know enough about the scientific theories behind things - nor am I able to carry out research like a professional. Apparently Stevia has been known since 1918 or thereabouts. I just don’t know why it would be kept under wraps for so long? Perhaps it is a possible danger, but perhaps it is too good to be true? Who knows if Stevia is the answer… I know my interest has been piqued and I would like to give it a try!

Tagged as: artificial, dangerous, natural, stevia, sweetener