I have long been an advocate of healthy living – always seeking out products that give me the edge on being personally responsible for making the best nutritional choices.  We all know the damage of sugar on our systems; we also know how difficult it is to counter that “sweet tooth.”  I went in search of a healthy alternative…

I personally turned to the Stevia sweetener once I found the FDA had finally given it the green light, and having compared it to other similar products which did not fare so well in the being fully “healthy” test.  The following is information you may not have that will help you make better sweetener choices for you and your family.  I dug up as many facts as I could – and share them with you here…

What is stevia?
Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb in the Compositae family that grows as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves make it incredibly sweet, a property that is unique among the nearly 300 species of stevia plants. Stevia has been used to sweeten beverages and medicines since Pre-Colombian times. A scientist named Antonio Bertoni first recorded its usage by native tribes in 1887.

Is Stevia safe?

Yes. Scientific research from around the world was exhaustively reviewed when the makers of SweetLeaf Sweetener® presented their case for GRAS status (a rigorous FDA designation of food safety). An independent group of outside scientists concluded that SweetLeaf Sweetener® met FDA standards for safety. In an unprecedented move to ensure the product’s safety, the makers of SweetLeaf Sweetener® consulted with a second set of independent experts. These scientists confirmed that SweetLeaf Sweetener® met FDA standards for safety. The comprehensive review included studies on toxicity, cancer, reproductive health, long-term use, use at high-volumes, the effects on blood-sugar levels and more. Furthermore, after more than 30 years of high volume use in Japan and other countries, as well as more than a decade of use in America as a dietary supplement, there have been no reported cases of ill-effects. Recent scientific reviews by the World Health Organization (2003 and 2007) support these findings.

What are the benefits of using this sweetener?
It has a delicious sweet flavor and is the only sweetener in the world that is 100% natural, with zero calories, zero carbs and a zero glycemic index.

Where is Stevia cultivated?
Stevia is cultivated primarily in China, but the leaves of SweetLeaf Sweetener® come only from South America. There are other growers scattered across the Pacific Rim. Stevia is also being cultivated in Canada, Israel, Africa, Japan and China.

Where is it manufactured?

I was excited to find that the primary manufacturer in the U.S. is an Arizona owned company!  Its founder, Jim May offers significant credentials, having previously held positions as Vice President of United Healthcare Association (UHA), Inc. and President of the United Dialysis Services (UDS), Inc. Jim has participated in numerous professional organizations and activities, including Director of the Artificial Organs and Transplant program at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Executive Director and member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Kidney Foundation and consultant to the Chief of the government’s End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program in Washington, D.C.  He obviously shares my passion for healthy living.

What is the brand name?
SweetLeaf™ is the brand name for the first and only great-tasting, natural, zero-calorie, stevia-based sweetener offered in America. It was first introduced in 1996 as a dietary supplement. Then, after some of the most stringent scientific research on its safety and its unique, ultra-pure formulation, SweetLeaf became the very first stevia-based product to achieve GRAS status. It remains the only stevia-based product with zero calories, zero carbs and zero glycemic index.

What sets SweetLeaf apart from all other sweeteners available today?
It employs a process of extraction that uses only pure water to collect the finest, sweetest parts of the stevia plant. Other companies use chemicals, alcohols or even enzymes that actually change the make-up of the naturally occurring substances.  It has a fresh, clean sweet taste without a bitter after-taste, which is often found in other brands. Finally, the makers of SweetLeaf Sweetener®have been working with the stevia plant for 25 years, so they have decades of experience and a brand name you can trust.

What is the FDA’s position on SweetLeaf Stevia™?

In August 2009, SweetLeaf™ received a “no questions” letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regard to the findings of the FDA expert panel of scientists, which concluded that the whole leaf steviol glycosides with rebaudioside A and stevioside, used to formulate the company’s SweetLeaf Sweetener® extract, are granted Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status.

How has Stevia been used in food applications?

Stevia is used mostly in beverages, but is growing in other food industry applications. First, it has been used as a prepackaged replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners. Second, it has been used in various food products, including sugar-free versions of Wrigley’s gums, Beatrice Foods yogurts and even Diet Coke. It has also been used in pickles, dried seafoods, fish & meat products, vegetables, condiments, frozen foods, beverages of all kinds, confectionaries and a host of other products.

How sweet is Stevia?

High quality stevia leaves are up to 30 times sweeter than table sugar. The purified extracts of stevia (called glycosides) can be 250–300 times sweeter than table sugar.

Can Stevia replace artificial sweeteners in the diet?
Yes! For the past 30 years other countries have approved the use of Stevia as a sweetener and their populations have integrated stevia into their diet. Stevia-based sweeteners have a nearly 40% market share in some of these countries.

How many calories are in SweetLeaf Sweetener®?
None. And it is also the only stevia-based sweetener with no carbs and no glycemic index.

Will Stevia raise my blood sugar levels?
Not at all. It is ideal for diabetics, weight-watchers and everyone else too!

Is Stevia safe for diabetics?
Yes. SweetLeaf Sweetener® can be a part of a healthy diet for anyone with blood sugar problems since it does not raise blood sugar levels. If in doubt, ask your doctor.

Can Stevia be used in cooking and baking?
Absolutely! Research shows that stevia extracts are extremely heat stable in a variety of everyday cooking and baking situations. Look for the SweetLeaf Sweetener® baking formulation soon!

Where can I buy SweetLeaf Sweetener®?

The company has a store locator at http://www.sweetleaf.com/store-locator – just put in your address and find the nearest Frys, Aj’s, and other health food stores carrying this amazing product; a product that I feel may change how America looks at sugar consumption!

Jan Vitale… the Nutrition Nanny

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