What is Stevia?
What is Stevia?
Plus SweetLeaf Stevia Review [Raw
Food Review] by Heidi and JS O.
For many years, stevia has had a
good reputation in the health and
nutrition field as one of the best
sugar and sweetener replacements out
there. Stevia has widely been used
in Japan as a sweetener since the
1970s. Not only that, but Japan is
the #1 country in the world for
stevi
For many years, stevia has had a
good reputation in the health and
nutrition field as one of the best
sugar and sweetener replacements out
there. Stevia has widely been used
in Japan as a sweetener since the
1970s. Not only that, but Japan is
the #1 country in the world for
stevia consumption, with 40% of it's
sweetener market being stevia alone!
So why is it taking so long to catch
on here in the US?
In 1991, the FDA banned the import
of stevia, claiming that the
research on stevia wasn't enough to
guarantee its safety. It wasn't
until 1994 that the FDA finally
lifted its ban...as long as stevia
was not labeled a sweetener and was
labeled only as a "dietary
supplement."
For those who were in the know about
stevia, it didn't matter. They used
this delicious plant for many
sweetening applications. As time
went on, stevia became more and more
popular and finally, just last year,
the FDA has been releasing its
restrictions on this incredible
food, mostly because Pepsi and
Coca-Cola want to start using it as
a soft drink sweetener for diet
colas.
Whatever. What matters for us in the
raw food movement is that this
powerful and sweet herb is available
for our use.
The laws for stevia in the US are
quickly changing.
From the
Wikipedia article on stevia: "In
December, 2008, the FDA gave a "no
objection" approval for GRAS status
to Truvia (developed by Cargill and
The Coca-Cola Company) and PureVia
(developed by PepsiCo and the Whole
Earth Sweetener Company, a
subsidiary of Merisant), both of
which are wholly-derived from the
Stevia plant."
A general GRAS for stevia is more
than likely soon to follow. Thank
you Coke & Pepsi?
What Makes Stevia so Popular?
Depending on the source, stevia is
said to be from 15 to up to 300
times sweeter than sugar. If you've
ever tasted it, you know exactly
what that statement means. A little
bit goes a long way.
In the raw food movement, stevia is
best known as a low-glycemic
sweetener used and recommended by
Dr. Gabriel Cousens at the
Tree of Life on his diabetes
program and in general as a low-glycemic
sweetner safe for those on a
low-sugar diet.
Dr. Cousens recommends stevia as the
only sweetener for his
Phase I Rainbow Green Live-Food
Cuisine diet and for his
diabetic diet as laid out in
There is a Cure for Diabetes:
"Stevia is the only sweetener
we recommend. Fifteen times
sweeter than sugar, with no
calories and a glycemic index of
0, the powdered leaf ofSterva
rebaudianahas recently become
highly sought after as a
super-sweet, low-calorie addition
to a low-glycemic diet. It gives a
sweet taste, and does not raise
blood sugar as all the other
natural sweeteners do. Unlike
nutrient-empty synthetic sugar
substitutes, stevia is loaded with
vitamins and minerals, including
magnesium, niacin, riboflavin,
zinc, chromium, and selenium.
Stevia is also one of the oldest,
safest, and most highly esteemed
South American herbs known, with a
centuries-long history of safe
use." - Dr. Gabriel Cousens inThere
is a Cure for Diabetes
Because of all of this interest in
stevia, many companies now exist
that supply this herb in many
different forms. There have been
many stevia companies out there
providing this herb as a "dietary
supplement" for years. It comes in
many forms, from little
sugar-like packets, to
jars of it, liquid extracts, as
well as
whole leaf and
whole powdered forms.
The plant is also very inexpensive
and can even be grown as an herb in
your own home or garden!
One of the most popular brands is
SweetLeaf, which is created and
distributed by Wisdom Natural
Brands. SweetLeaf provides packets
of stevia (as a white powder), and
most popularly as a hot water
extracted liquid which is enhanced
with various flavors. These flavors
currently include English Toffee,
Valencia Orange, Lemon Drop,
Chocolate Raspberry, Apricot Nectar,
and our favorite, Vanilla Creme.
What Forms of Stevia Should I Use?
Good question. Stevia can come in
many forms, so it's important to
know what to look for as a raw
foodist.
In
Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine,
Gabriel Cousens recommends raw
foodists only consume the hot water
extracted liquids or the whole
powdered leaf:
"Whole leaf stevia can be
bought at health food stores or by
mail order, or you can grow your
own. Grind the whole leaf into a
powder and add to food and teas
for a sweet taste. You can also
buy water-extracted stevia in
liquid form from your local health
food store in the supplements
section. Avoid alcohol-extracted
and refined forms of stevia.
Unrefined stevia is dark green in
color."
What is Stevia? Plus SweetLeaf Stevia Review [Raw Food Review] by Heidi and JS O. For many years, stevia has had a good reputation in the health and nutrition field as one of the best sugar and sweetener replacements out there. Stevia has widely been used in Japan as a sweetener since the 1970s. Not only that, but Japan is the #1 country in the world for stevi
For many years, stevia has had a good reputation in the health and nutrition field as one of the best sugar and sweetener replacements out there. Stevia has widely been used in Japan as a sweetener since the 1970s. Not only that, but Japan is the #1 country in the world for stevia consumption, with 40% of it's sweetener market being stevia alone!
So why is it taking so long to catch on here in the US?
In 1991, the FDA banned the import of stevia, claiming that the research on stevia wasn't enough to guarantee its safety. It wasn't until 1994 that the FDA finally lifted its ban...as long as stevia was not labeled a sweetener and was labeled only as a "dietary supplement."
For those who were in the know about stevia, it didn't matter. They used this delicious plant for many sweetening applications. As time went on, stevia became more and more popular and finally, just last year, the FDA has been releasing its restrictions on this incredible food, mostly because Pepsi and Coca-Cola want to start using it as a soft drink sweetener for diet colas.
Whatever. What matters for us in the raw food movement is that this powerful and sweet herb is available for our use.
The laws for stevia in the US are quickly changing.
From the Wikipedia article on stevia: "In December, 2008, the FDA gave a "no objection" approval for GRAS status to Truvia (developed by Cargill and The Coca-Cola Company) and PureVia (developed by PepsiCo and the Whole Earth Sweetener Company, a subsidiary of Merisant), both of which are wholly-derived from the Stevia plant."
A general GRAS for stevia is more than likely soon to follow. Thank you Coke & Pepsi?
What Makes Stevia so Popular?
Depending on the source, stevia is said to be from 15 to up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. If you've ever tasted it, you know exactly what that statement means. A little bit goes a long way.
In the raw food movement, stevia is best known as a low-glycemic sweetener used and recommended by Dr. Gabriel Cousens at the Tree of Life on his diabetes program and in general as a low-glycemic sweetner safe for those on a low-sugar diet.
Dr. Cousens recommends stevia as the only sweetener for his Phase I Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine diet and for his diabetic diet as laid out in There is a Cure for Diabetes:
Because of all of this interest in stevia, many companies now exist that supply this herb in many different forms. There have been many stevia companies out there providing this herb as a "dietary supplement" for years. It comes in many forms, from little sugar-like packets, to jars of it, liquid extracts, as well as whole leaf and whole powdered forms.
The plant is also very inexpensive and can even be grown as an herb in your own home or garden!
One of the most popular brands is SweetLeaf, which is created and distributed by Wisdom Natural Brands. SweetLeaf provides packets of stevia (as a white powder), and most popularly as a hot water extracted liquid which is enhanced with various flavors. These flavors currently include English Toffee, Valencia Orange, Lemon Drop, Chocolate Raspberry, Apricot Nectar, and our favorite, Vanilla Creme.
What Forms of Stevia Should I Use?
Good question. Stevia can come in many forms, so it's important to know what to look for as a raw foodist.
In Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine, Gabriel Cousens recommends raw foodists only consume the hot water extracted liquids or the whole powdered leaf: