Stevia: FDA Health Warning (therapy, ears, natural, chronic)

[tao]

Agave nectar is the best! I tried stevia but didn't like the taste then my friend introduced me to agave. It tastes really good. Agave is the best sweetener out there, in my opinion.

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Does this mean that the FDA believes that aspertame, sucralose, saccharine, etc., might not be dangerous to blood sugar, reproductive, cardiovascular and renal systems?

Ohiogirl81, just do a search on any search engine for "dangers of aspertame. sucralose, saccharine". That is how you can find out the truth.

[emilybh]

Just as a general rule, its safe to totally and completely IGNORE any FDA warning about any plant put on this earth by nature that has been safely used by our ancestors for thousands of years before us. The Stevia Story: all about the herb that's sweeter than sugar

Sheesh you guys! Throw out your TOXIC other commercial sweteners and use Stevia. It tastes MUCH better than it used to and Stevia is WONDERFUL for diabetics too. It actually REGULATES blood sugar.

If you can tolerate the calories, Brown Rice Syrup is another sweetener that is expensive but it tastes great, similar to honey, that can be assimilated and used by your body --- unlike refined sugar.

[PinkString]

My favorite sweetener is agave nectar. I like that so much more than honey. So good! I also use raw sugar and honey.

As for stevia, i could never quite get used to powdered stevia, always that aftertaste. Then i found the liquid version. I buy the flavored ones. I first tried english toffee, then vanilla creme. The next flavor i'm going for is lemon. It comes in alot of different flavors. I use it mainly to sweeten my ACV daily drinks. Also great in oatmeal and as a pudding flavor when i make my soft tofu pudding.

[Mattie Jo]

As for me I use sucanat, raw cane juice.

[shonner]

Several months ago I decided to stop using all artificial sweeteners. I did some rather extensive research on the web and found that stevia has been used for more than 400 years with no known side effects. That was enough for me. A 400 year track record is not bad by my standards. Frankly, I am very dubious of the FDA. How many times have we read about previously approved FDA items causing all manner of harm?

[CosmicWizard]

shonner wrote: I am very dubious of the FDA.

Being dubious of the FDA is probably one of the best things we can do to protect our good health.

Even though a 400 year track record speaks volumes to people like you and me, it means nothing to the FDA. If big pharma or some other special interest that the FDA represents wants to bad mouth something, it shall be done.

blessings...Franco

[lilypad]

I have little trust in the FDA as well, but do wonder about stevia as it has such a terrible aftertaste! I also use agave and sucanot, but both are really expensive! Also use honey, especially in baking. I have NO artificial sugar in the house, maybe some old Splenda packets, never bothered me like aspartame did though.

[citybythebay]

Originally Posted by lilypad

but do wonder about stevia as it has such a terrible aftertaste! I also use agave and sucanot, but both are really expensive! Also use honey, especially in baking. I have NO artificial sugar in the house, maybe some old Splenda packets, never bothered me like aspartame did though.

I agree....that's my biggest complaint about stevia, I do not like the gross aftertaste!

I'll have to look into this agave. But frankly, I don't need to have a 'sweetness' to drinks and I'm not a cookie, cakes or pie person...so I could do away with any kind of added sweetener for that matter.

[lilypad]

Oh, citybythebay, wish I did not have those cravings! I love my donuts--bad, bad girl.... The agave is nice, has a light nonobtrusive flavor, and use in my tea and coffee.