In honor of winter, which brings along everyone’s favorite white powder (unless you’re lucky enough to live in Miami…), today’s post is about a different sort of white powder: Stevia
What are your thoughts on sugar?
I’ll go first: I’m a bit wary of including a lot of sugar in my diet, not because of the calories (if anything, I try to eat as many calories as I can, not as few), but because of how sugar made me feel in the past. However, this doesn’t mean I don’t think sugar can be part of a healthy diet.
Sweeteners
Why is sugar perceived to be so bad?
The media gives a bad name to sugar, but the truth is that if one isn’t trying to lose weight (and even if one is), there is absolutely no harm in including some sugar in one’s everyday diet. Sure, it’s devoid of nutrition, but that doesn’t mean it has negative nutrition (as long as you brush your teeth thoroughly). Also, some sugars, like maple syrup and blackstrap molasses do have nutritional value. Blackstrap molasses is an exceptionally-high source of iron, and it also contains calcium, potassium, copper, and magnesium. In other words, it’s a super sugar!
The main reason people are told to cut back on sugar is that they eat sugary foods instead of nutrient-dense ones. But unless you have diabetes or another such illness, I’d argue that as long as you’re getting enough nutrients in your diet, there’s nothing wrong with eating non-nutritious, sugary foods too. Sugar may not help you get in more nutrients, but it certainly won’t hurt you or take away the nutrients you are getting. (I’m not a doctor, so take my opinion with a grain of salt sugar ;).)
What about artificial sweeteners?
I admit that I don’t have much experience with these. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever tried Splenda or any products containing it. My only encounters with artificial sweeteners: When I was younger, I hated soda (still do); therefore, at restaurants, my habit was to order iced tea. My mom told me that Sweet-n-Low dissolved better than regular sugar in iced tea, so I’d use that. But I kept getting stomach aches, so my doctor recommended I try nixing the Sweet-n-Low. Surprise: the stomach aches went away! Maybe it was a coincidence, but maybe–on the other hand–my stomach was trying to tell me that people aren’t supposed to ingest dangerous chemicals in place of real food!
What about stevia? Is it safe?
As I said before, I’m not a doctor, so I can only tell you my opinion. I’ve heard the lab-rat studies that claim to show stevia is unsafe. But honestly, I think those studies are flawed because the rats were fed HUGE amounts of stevia, and anything in such a high quantity will produce negative results. (Did you know that too much broccoli can cause acid poisoning? Or that too much cinnamon damages the liver?) Stevia, an herb, has been used for centuries in South America and Japan to sweeten teas and other foods, without evidence of harm. So looking at historical evidence, it seems as if stevia—when used sparingly—is harmless.
Next up:
Ways I use sugar, followed by ways I use stevia. Without much of a sweet tooth, I don’t really use much of either. But I feel that there’s a place for both in a healthy diet. Variety is the spice of life, right? Well, that and some good-quality onion powder ;).
I used to drink sugar-free sodas sweetened with aspartame. Coincidentally, I had killer headaches every day. I finally made the connection and stopped drinking the sugar-free sodas, and the headaches went away. It was then that I decided if I were going to drink a soda, I’d drink a soda. (I’ve now been off sodas since 1/15, thanks to having surgery and deciding it was a perfect time to quit drinking them.)
I used Splenda a few times, but it just never tasted the same to me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was doing to my body.
Stevia I love. I use it occasionally in a tisane. Other than that, though, I just prefer to use sugar or agave or maple syrup, something real instead of something that comes out of a lab.
I enjoy Stevia in cocoa or vitamin water on occasion. I actually have always hated the taste of other artificial sweeteners so I rarely drink diet pop.
One of my favorite things about your blog is that it’s so refreshing how you take the time to write your OWN opinions on subjects, instead of just copying and pasting facts from other sources.
So like today, you could have just copied stuff about stevia from the internet like I see so many other sites do, but you took the time to write your own, well thought out facts and opinions. You really have a talent for writing, Katie.
It’s always a joy to read what you have to say.
🙂
like anything — I think artificial sweeteners are just dandy in moderation. I try to limit myself to two packets of truvia per day… and i’m still alive – so I think they’re safe 😉
happy hump day peaches!
I did a research paper on stevia for my chemistry class. Personally, I don’t have a problem with it. Like you said, those rats had be fed huge amounts of the stevia extracts—more than any human could or would want to consume—before they experienced negative effects. I wouldn’t use it extensively, but a little bit here and there certainly won’t hurt!
Oh, but I’m guilty of chewing sugar-free gum. It’s my life line during boring classes… I can’t help it. 😉
I do use artificial sweeteners quite a bit but I prefer the stevia over splenda mostly!
I do not have any problem with stevia! But the thought of eating something as artificial or splenda…that kind of scares me!
<3 jess
xoxo
I’m off artificial sweeteners now, though until last summer I was definitely a Diet Coke addict. Now it tastes gross to me, so that just goes to show bad habits can be broken! I use stevia in my coffee, but that’s about it. It doesn’t taste *quite* right to me, and occasionally it has bothered my throat. But as you point out, a little bit of anything probably isn’t going to hurt us, so I think unless I go dumping mountains of stevia all over everything I eat, I’ll be fine.
And YEAH YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT’S CARROT CAKE DAY!!! The happiest news I’ve gotten this week! Although I wish I’d realized it in advance–now I’m not sure how to get my carrot cake fix. I’m short on time today! Not sure when I’ll find the time to make a Carrot Katie…I mean, Carrot CAKE inspired recipe! 😉
I definitely prefer chocolates as my “sweets”, don’t you? 😛
I try to limit my sugar intake as well, though sugars in fruits are great. A small dessert-type snack every now and then makes me feel like I’m not depriving myself but I don’t consume sodas or sugary/processed foods.
I’m definitely a hater of artificial sugars (and fake anything really) because of how they are made – they are not natural and they can definitely harm your body if you eat consume them regularly. I don’t believe the body knows how to process them and stores in as fat instead. If you accidentally ingest a little bit, no it’s not going to kill you, but on a regular basis, who knows? There really aren’t any long-term studies on their effects.
I do enjoy a little bit of stevia every now and then, though it has to be completely pure (unfortunately the NuNaturals has maltodextrin which is too processed for me – sadness!). Even then I still don’t consume copious amounts of it. I prefer raw honey or agave as my sweeteners of choice 🙂
-Ashlei
Well, I avoid sugar and sweeteners, but when I use something, I usually use maple syrup, or honey, or brown sugar, although I know it’s the same as white. I am definitely intrigued with stevia, I’ve seen it a lot around blogosphere lately. And about artifical stuff, I avoid it pretty much. I’ve heard some bad stuff about it, and I don’ have any wish or need to use it 🙂