More on Sweeteners

Many people whom I've recently spoken with about health/ diet/ nutrition are making me think more about artificial sweeteners. For people trying to give up sugar for whatever reason (calories, the use of animal products in its refinement, better overall health, etc.), it can be hard to find alternatives. I listed many options in my post about sugar, but feel the need to address aspartame in its many forms. From powdered drink mixes, to cereals, sodas, granola bars, and even juice, aspartame is a much-consumed alternative. Many products that you might be attracted to due to their "sugar-free" declaration, are in fact sweetened with aspartame.

I've always heard negative things about this sweetener, and I've done some more research on it. It has been linked to numerous health problems, and even the onset of several diseases. Although the FDA deems it safe, you should research it for yourself.

Check here and here for lists of health problems and dangers associated with aspartame.

So if you choose not to consume it anymore, what what can you replace it with?

Other than different types of sugars which might still contain those calories you are trying to avoid, the best option, in my opinion is Stevia.

To Order Stevia Leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs, Click on the Photo.

As found on wikipedia,

Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Medical research has also shown possible benefits of stevia in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

Stevia is a natural sweetener, and though it has been questioned (as all sweeteners are) in terms of safety, it's dangers are minimal compared to those of other, artificial sweeteners. Reference this post for more information on the chemistry and safety of stevia.

Stevia is readily available at your local market or health food store, and will meet most of your sweetening needs. I've never baked with stevia, but I've heard that it works well.

If you are interested in convenience, like powdered drink mixes, or sodas, check these sites:

Stevita and Zevia

And I'm sure you can find more stevia products, if you look.

Happy, healthy sweetening to you all.