Comments on: Stevia: Natural or Artificial? http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/ Beverage reviews for the curious connoisseur Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:24:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Review: Honest Tea Organic Passion Fruit Green Tea with Maqui Berry » 0 calorie, stevia-sweetened tea in support of breast cancer research » BevReview.com http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/comment-page-1/#comment-102789 Review: Honest Tea Organic Passion Fruit Green Tea with Maqui Berry » 0 calorie, stevia-sweetened tea in support of breast cancer research » BevReview.com Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:26:29 +0000 http://www.bevreview.com/?p=1401#comment-102789 [...] I could not bring myself to finish more than a few sips. It was that gag-worthy. The main culprit? Stevia. Yes, this concoction uses stevia, the natural herb sweetener which is gaining popularity as an [...] [...] I could not bring myself to finish more than a few sips. It was that gag-worthy. The main culprit? Stevia. Yes, this concoction uses stevia, the natural herb sweetener which is gaining popularity as an [...]

]]> By: Joe http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/comment-page-1/#comment-102190 Joe Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:42:57 +0000 http://www.bevreview.com/?p=1401#comment-102190 Natural Sweetener means that you didn't add any kind of chemicals to it. However in the US, legally it doesn't mean anything. I drank a can of "peace tea" once which claimed to be 100% natural but it actually had sucralose in it. It didn't even say "diet" or "lite" or anything on it. So the label doesn't seem to mean anything at all. I'm not familiar with how this stevia extract stuff is produced, but my hunch is that a chemistry set is involved and its more than just an extraction using water or alcohol. It certainly could be natural. But I doubt this one is. My understanding was that Vernor's ginger which claims to be the longest running soft drink used to have stevia in it. I suspect they extracted it differently back then Natural Sweetener means that you didn't add any kind of chemicals to it.
However in the US, legally it doesn't mean anything. I drank a can of "peace tea" once which claimed to be 100% natural but it actually had sucralose in it. It didn't even say "diet" or "lite" or anything on it. So the label doesn't seem to mean anything at all.

I'm not familiar with how this stevia extract stuff is produced, but my hunch is that a chemistry set is involved and its more than just an extraction using water or alcohol. It certainly could be natural. But I doubt this one is.

My understanding was that Vernor's ginger which claims to be the longest running soft drink used to have stevia in it. I suspect they extracted it differently back then

]]> By: Rachael http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/comment-page-1/#comment-74930 Rachael Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:08:16 +0000 http://www.bevreview.com/?p=1401#comment-74930 I use stevia all the time to sweeten my coffee and tea. I love it. The best part is that it doesnt affect your blood sugar level and I think that a "natural" plant product better than the artificial sweenters. Stevia has been around a long time. I was introduced to it by my omish herbalist and have been hooked ever since. Im excited about all the talk about stevia sweetened sodas and other products! And yes, we are told that the sun is bad for you........you dont want to get burnt and there are times to use the sunblock but sun everyday for a little bit is really good for you. In fact there is a major defecency of vitamin D-3 in our children today because we are so afraid of the sun and are told not to be in it. Another reason is because we are on computers and games inside way more than we did even 25 years ago. Check out this link and also ask your family dr. on how much sun exposure you should be getting. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp Herbs have been around way before modern medicine and yes, there are some that are bad and can kill you.....we know about these and dont use them. In fact the Guarani Indians knew and used the stevia plant for its sweetness. Check out the link below to read about its history. http://www.stevia.net/history.htm I use stevia all the time to sweeten my coffee and tea. I love it. The best part is that it doesnt affect your blood sugar level and I think that a "natural" plant product better than the artificial sweenters. Stevia has been around a long time. I was introduced to it by my omish herbalist and have been hooked ever since. Im excited about all the talk about stevia sweetened sodas and other products!

And yes, we are told that the sun is bad for you……..you dont want to get burnt and there are times to use the sunblock but sun everyday for a little bit is really good for you. In fact there is a major defecency of vitamin D-3 in our children today because we are so afraid of the sun and are told not to be in it. Another reason is because we are on computers and games inside way more than we did even 25 years ago. Check out this link and also ask your family dr. on how much sun exposure you should be getting.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp

Herbs have been around way before modern medicine and yes, there are some that are bad and can kill you…..we know about these and dont use them. In fact the Guarani Indians knew and used the stevia plant for its sweetness. Check out the link below to read about its history.

http://www.stevia.net/history.htm

]]> By: @TurnerJoy http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/comment-page-1/#comment-66919 @TurnerJoy Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:21:10 +0000 http://www.bevreview.com/?p=1401#comment-66919 I don't understand where people are getting this crazy idea lately that natural = better. Would you be happy with a drink full of lead, mercury, or cyanide? Those are pretty natural. Clearly Organic cigarettes will make me healthy since they are both natural and organic. The list of natural things that are harmless from plants and animals is nearly endless since many of their features are there to defend themselves. If herbs and spices can heal, they can almost certainly hurt. Their are very few things that are powerful enough to heal but not have side-effects. I'm sure the long term effects of the Sun are much more harmful then the exposure to artificial sweeteners and I think the Sun is very natural. I don't understand where people are getting this crazy idea lately that natural = better.

Would you be happy with a drink full of lead, mercury, or cyanide? Those are pretty natural. Clearly Organic cigarettes will make me healthy since they are both natural and organic. The list of natural things that are harmless from plants and animals is nearly endless since many of their features are there to defend themselves.

If herbs and spices can heal, they can almost certainly hurt. Their are very few things that are powerful enough to heal but not have side-effects.

I'm sure the long term effects of the Sun are much more harmful then the exposure to artificial sweeteners and I think the Sun is very natural.

]]> By: Sara http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/comment-page-1/#comment-54978 Sara Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:16:25 +0000 http://www.bevreview.com/?p=1401#comment-54978 I don't like the usual diet sweeteners and have been scared of what their long term effects might be...so when I try to cut back on sugar intake I use stevia...the packets I use are sweet but also slightly bitter, nothing really tastes like sugar unfortunately....but I do feel much more comfortable with this sweetener, so I'd definitely try these drinks. Have actually been frustrated that there wasn't something like this for sale. So if it doesn't taste bitter and doesn't leave me still thirsty or dry mouthed like I am with some other artificial sweeteners....I'll drink some. Now will I stock it? Depends how close to real sugar it tastes. I don't like the usual diet sweeteners and have been scared of what their long term effects might be…so when I try to cut back on sugar intake I use stevia…the packets I use are sweet but also slightly bitter, nothing really tastes like sugar unfortunately….but I do feel much more comfortable with this sweetener, so I'd definitely try these drinks. Have actually been frustrated that there wasn't something like this for sale. So if it doesn't taste bitter and doesn't leave me still thirsty or dry mouthed like I am with some other artificial sweeteners….I'll drink some. Now will I stock it? Depends how close to real sugar it tastes.

]]> By: Andy http://www.bevreview.com/2009/01/08/stevia-natural-or-artificial/comment-page-1/#comment-54972 Andy Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:12:28 +0000 http://www.bevreview.com/?p=1401#comment-54972 I live with a guy who is a business major at the U of M Twin Cities. In one of his classes last semester, their final was to give a presentation on some new thing coming out soon. One group decided to do a presentation on Truvia. They basically said yes, it is all natural. There is nothing in the process that makes it artificial. It is also so sweet that one teaspoon could make a liter of Coke more sweet than with normal artificial sweeteners. I live with a guy who is a business major at the U of M Twin Cities. In one of his classes last semester, their final was to give a presentation on some new thing coming out soon. One group decided to do a presentation on Truvia. They basically said yes, it is all natural. There is nothing in the process that makes it artificial. It is also so sweet that one teaspoon could make a liter of Coke more sweet than with normal artificial sweeteners.

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