Sugar Shakers - stevia an acceptable sweetner replacement?

Hi--

I was reading up on sugarbusters with interest and I'm waiting for my copy of the book to come into my library branch so I can read it :)

I have a question: I'm trying to cut down on my sugar intake and recently switched to Stevia over brown sugar (I use it for tea)... it's a plant based sweetner and has been reported it does not raise the blood sugar level so it's perfect in preventing me from feeling a temporary "high" before "crashing." I haven't had any problems with stevia so far. Is this an acceptable sweetner under sugarbusters' guidelines?

thanks!

Yes, Stevia is fine for Sugarbusters. I hope you will join us in the support thread!

Stevia is more than fine, it is awesome. The only one you should use. Asparatame is basically legal poison. More health problems associated with that then any other drug or chemical.

I recently heard (from my husband who has a degree in biochemistry) that he read an article on Stevia that said they have concerns that it contains mutagens, which can cause cancer. Interesting...

Seems like nothing is safe!

Yes they've found reproductive and mutagenic effects in lab animals. Offspring of hamsters fed large amounts of stevia had fewer and smaller offspring, and in male rats stevia reduced sperm production and the size of seminal vesicles (which would tend to reduce fertility). I've also read that there is some indication that large amounts of stevia, may be linked to kidney or liver damage in humans (but this is not conclusive, just a preliminary study or investigation).

One thing to consider is that unlike "unnatural" products, no research os required before advocating and marketing herbal products (whether or not, it's ever been used historically by humans - if you find a weed in your garden, you can probably sell it). Also, stevia has been used as an herbal supplement for years, but never in the quantities that modern Americans tend to use sweeteners. Even water is harmful in excess.

Thanks, Colleen! I ought to go find the article and read it, huh? :) I never used stevia because I did not like the taste. I will stick with agave...

this might be a stupid question...but is splenda out of the question??