Choosing A Safe Alternative Sweetener

Live Holistically is a multi-author site.
This post was written by: Carol Webb

This sweetener controversy just won’t go away, see: Warning for Migraine and Depression Sufferers

and: ADA Recommends Chewing Gum.

Attacked By The FDA

This week the South American herb Stevia came under attack from the FDA yet again, although a safer sweetener than Aspartame, it had already been labelled an “unsafe food additive” by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), but now companies must watch their marketing words.

Letter From The FDA

An FDA letter sent to Hain Celestial Group Inc,. maker of Celestial Seasonings herbal teas said:

the Stevia used in some of your teas may be dangerous to blood sugar, reproductive, cardiovascular and renal systems.

This is bad news for, among other countries, Japan, China and Brasil then, who have approved the use of this herb for food production and consumption.

Un-Biased Research

Japan, is thankfully for them, free from the same conflicts of interest that the United States finds itself encumbered with. In Japan most of their research on this subject unbiased, as it is not directly financed by the industry that is seeking to promote a product.

Extremely Sweet

If you’ve ever tasted Stevia, you know that it is extremely sweet. I bought the whole green powder because I never recommend using an extract of any herb.

Herb Synergy

All herbs have a synergistic effect within the body when taken as a whole. That is to say, one component never acts alone, all components act together and become more than the sum of their parts. However, only the tiny amount that I added to my breakfast oats proved to be too sweet for me. I find that the natural sugars from dried fruit are enough, but then I have never needed to add sugar to drinks.

Paraguay Weed

Having said that, the Paraguayans have used this indigenous herb as a sweetener and flavour enhancer for centuries, and probably use it as I use garden mint.

Treated Worse Than Cocaine

The plant itself is nothing much to look at, but the FDA have previously treated it worse than cocaine. It has been searched for, seized and embargoed zealously and furiously!

The same thing happened to another, would be, natural sweetener. A pair of entrepreneurs tried to create a powder and tablet from a natural fruit called: synsepalmum dulcificium, better known as the miracle fruit.

Miracle Fruit

This West African berry has the property of sweetening any other food that is consumed, for an hour after consuming it, even goat cheese and rich stout beer. A protein from the fruit binds to the taste buds, altering the tongues sweet receptors, so they naturally activate when more sour food is eaten.

Embraced By Japan

Of course, Japan have embraced it, selling it freeze dried, canned and in tablet form. However, there are a modest number of American growers who have been brave enough to sell cuttings and seeds, so that you can grow your own.

Exotic Fruit

The FDA ruled that this was an exotic fruit and so would need years of testing before it could be used commercially. But in 1974, the year that they gave this ruling, they stopped chasing the dangerous artificial sweetener Aspartame.

On Trial

We must imply from this that the big name artificial sweeteners on the market are innocent until proven guilty, but the gentle natural sweeteners that have been used for centuries, are guilty until proven innocent.

Un-Shackled?

Although the FDA have now loosed their iron grip somewhat, and passed Stevia as a dietary supplement, by passing the : Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA), which means that now it can be sold legally, it must never be called a sweetener or even referred to as sweet.

To do this would render the product adulterated, and make it subject to seizure.

Not quite out of the woods yet then!

Coca-Cola Choose Stevia

Stevia is several hundred times sweeter than sugar, and has absolutely no calories, which may just be the reason that Coca-Cola and Cargill Inc., are eyeing it as a possible low calorie sweetener, they are actively working to prove the safety of this herb, and it will be interesting which side the FDA come down on if Coca-Cola do decide they want it.

I fear that even Coca-Cola might loose the battle against the huge manufacturing industry that is Aspartame.

Here is a ‘Quite Interesting’ fact:

I am able to recommend the use of Stevia, as it is just my opinion, but if this site wanted to sell Stevia we would be violating the law. The law restricts any claim on the use of Stevia as a sweetener. Since we don’t sell it, that’s OK, I may tell you what I believe.

What Is The Difference?

I also question the difference it makes to my person if I consume Stevia as a food supplement or sweetener. Presumably what I call it will decide whether it attacks my bodily functions….or not.

A Safe Alternative Sweetener

However, unlike Aspartame, and its many aliases, Stevia is a safe natural alternative that is ideal for those interested in maintaining their health by avoiding sugar, or watching their weight.

Read these books, and understand what is happening in the artificial sweetener market.