Jax
02-08-2009, 05:02 PM
Stevia is apparently classed as a herb and is stated as being sweeter than sugar (http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/crops/sugar/ind/index.htm), certainly when you taste a tiny dab you can't believe how sweet it is! The main attribution that has attracted people to Stevia is that when it is digested it doesn't raise blood sugar levels like sugar and appears low on the Glycaemic Index and also has a low Glycaemic Load.
"Stevia is also high in chromium (http://www.rawinuk.com/Stevia%20is%20also%20high%20in%20chromium,%20%28wh ich%20helps%20to%20stabilise%20blood%20sugar%20lev els%29,%20manganese,%20potassium,%20selenium,%20si licon,%20sodium%20and%20vitamin%20A.%20It%20also%2 0contains%20iron,%20niacin,%20phosphorus,%20ribofl avin,%20thiamine,%20vitamin%20C,%20and%20zinc.), (which helps to stabilise blood sugar levels), manganese, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium and vitamin A. It also contains iron, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin C, and zinc."
In addition " (http://www.stevia.com/)The body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides from the stevia leaf or any of its processed forms - so there is no caloric intake" (http://www.stevia.com/) so all round looking good for Diabetics and those looking to lose weight ;) I have absolutely no idea if it is raw per se as I have not seen or heard about the production methods so can't comment on that.
SO why on earth is this healthier and more natural sugar alternative not in our health food shops at least?? Well apparently although the Guarani Indians of Paraguay (http://www.stevia.com/) have used it for hundreds of years, Japan (http://www.alternative-healthzine.com/html/0109_2.html.html) has been using it consistently since the 1970's, and the US can call it a dietry supplement, we in the UK can't because it is banned for human consumption! :(
Could it be that the US and UK won't recognise it as a food, because "In a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture survey it was revealed that the average American consumes the equivalent of 160 pounds of sugar a year - a 30% increase since the early 1980s. The approximate equivalent of 53 heaped teaspoons of sugar per person per day!" and that "In the last two decades, British sugar consumption has increased by 31%, to 1.25lb per person per week." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,682864,00.html) and so maybe the profits from all this sugar consumption is too tempting to have reduced, potentially drastically, by say at least 50% of these populations, with the introduction of Stevia??
I did once read (and I'm very sorry but I can't find the link) about some conspiracy theories about how the negative research was funded by bodies with big interest in sugar/artificial sweetner consumption, and that it's the the sugar/sweetner companies/councils that have pushed for Stevia to be banned. Stevia is natural and therefore unpatentable and a major threat to the then monopolizing and controversial Aspartamane. (http://www.stevianow.com/)
There is a small amount of research that suggests Stevia isn't that good for you, there's a couple of links in this link (http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3230), but then there is a LOT more research that says that artificial sweetners aren't good for you too, and yet they are abundant on the supermarkets shelves!!! :mad:
It's all food for thought! If you have decided you want to try some apparetnly it is legal to buy in the UK, but not legal to sell it as fit for human consumption, here are some links for availablility in the UK of "not for human consumption" ;) Stevia, I've bought some but as usual haven't had time to make anything with it (must stop reading/researching once in a while);
FunkyRaw (http://www.funkyraw.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16&products_id=236)
The Super Food Co (http://www.thesuperfoodco.co.uk/stevia-powder-250g-natural-sweetener-p-290.html)
Naturally Green (http://stevia.naturallygreen.co.uk/)
And some from USA that apparently ship to UK (don't forget the threshold for customs, ensure your goods are about £18 or under to avoid the duty);
Stevianow (http://www.stevianow.com/)
Steviva (http://www.steviva.com/)
Herbal Advantage (http://www.herbaladvantage.com/) - sells as plants (some people have had success growing it in the UK), and includes a photo of this pretty herb.
And a footnote cos I never knew this!!!
Stevia also inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay, and in many countries it is used in oral-hygiene products. Less known, but no less remarkable, is the ability of water-based stevia concentrate to help heal numerous skin problems, including acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and eczema - taken from here (http://www.canceractive.com/page.php?n=516)
"Stevia is also high in chromium (http://www.rawinuk.com/Stevia%20is%20also%20high%20in%20chromium,%20%28wh ich%20helps%20to%20stabilise%20blood%20sugar%20lev els%29,%20manganese,%20potassium,%20selenium,%20si licon,%20sodium%20and%20vitamin%20A.%20It%20also%2 0contains%20iron,%20niacin,%20phosphorus,%20ribofl avin,%20thiamine,%20vitamin%20C,%20and%20zinc.), (which helps to stabilise blood sugar levels), manganese, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium and vitamin A. It also contains iron, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin C, and zinc."
In addition " (http://www.stevia.com/)The body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides from the stevia leaf or any of its processed forms - so there is no caloric intake" (http://www.stevia.com/) so all round looking good for Diabetics and those looking to lose weight ;) I have absolutely no idea if it is raw per se as I have not seen or heard about the production methods so can't comment on that.
SO why on earth is this healthier and more natural sugar alternative not in our health food shops at least?? Well apparently although the Guarani Indians of Paraguay (http://www.stevia.com/) have used it for hundreds of years, Japan (http://www.alternative-healthzine.com/html/0109_2.html.html) has been using it consistently since the 1970's, and the US can call it a dietry supplement, we in the UK can't because it is banned for human consumption! :(
Could it be that the US and UK won't recognise it as a food, because "In a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture survey it was revealed that the average American consumes the equivalent of 160 pounds of sugar a year - a 30% increase since the early 1980s. The approximate equivalent of 53 heaped teaspoons of sugar per person per day!" and that "In the last two decades, British sugar consumption has increased by 31%, to 1.25lb per person per week." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,682864,00.html) and so maybe the profits from all this sugar consumption is too tempting to have reduced, potentially drastically, by say at least 50% of these populations, with the introduction of Stevia??
I did once read (and I'm very sorry but I can't find the link) about some conspiracy theories about how the negative research was funded by bodies with big interest in sugar/artificial sweetner consumption, and that it's the the sugar/sweetner companies/councils that have pushed for Stevia to be banned. Stevia is natural and therefore unpatentable and a major threat to the then monopolizing and controversial Aspartamane. (http://www.stevianow.com/)
There is a small amount of research that suggests Stevia isn't that good for you, there's a couple of links in this link (http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3230), but then there is a LOT more research that says that artificial sweetners aren't good for you too, and yet they are abundant on the supermarkets shelves!!! :mad:
It's all food for thought! If you have decided you want to try some apparetnly it is legal to buy in the UK, but not legal to sell it as fit for human consumption, here are some links for availablility in the UK of "not for human consumption" ;) Stevia, I've bought some but as usual haven't had time to make anything with it (must stop reading/researching once in a while);
FunkyRaw (http://www.funkyraw.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16&products_id=236)
The Super Food Co (http://www.thesuperfoodco.co.uk/stevia-powder-250g-natural-sweetener-p-290.html)
Naturally Green (http://stevia.naturallygreen.co.uk/)
And some from USA that apparently ship to UK (don't forget the threshold for customs, ensure your goods are about £18 or under to avoid the duty);
Stevianow (http://www.stevianow.com/)
Steviva (http://www.steviva.com/)
Herbal Advantage (http://www.herbaladvantage.com/) - sells as plants (some people have had success growing it in the UK), and includes a photo of this pretty herb.
And a footnote cos I never knew this!!!
Stevia also inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay, and in many countries it is used in oral-hygiene products. Less known, but no less remarkable, is the ability of water-based stevia concentrate to help heal numerous skin problems, including acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and eczema - taken from here (http://www.canceractive.com/page.php?n=516)