stevia

[Sleufoot]

I've been seeing a lot of commercials lately about Splenda made from the Stevia plant. Does anyone grow it and in what areas does it grow? Also how is it harvested and is it sold by volume or weight? Thanks. Tom in Mn.

 

[old]

I've been seeing a lot of commercials lately about Splenda made from the Stevia plant. Does anyone grow it and in what areas does it grow? Also how is it harvested and is it sold by volume or weight? Thanks. Tom in Mn.

I have it planted but have never used it. If you take a leave off and taste it it is sweet to the taste. But I do grow a few herbs that I don't use I just like having them around and some help keep bugs and deer out of the garden

 

[Janicholson]

I've been seeing a lot of commercials lately about Splenda made from the Stevia plant. Does anyone grow it and in what areas does it grow? Also how is it harvested and is it sold by volume or weight? Thanks. Tom in Mn.

The additive erythritol can cause blood platelets to clot more easily, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. If the product has that ingredient, pass it by. Also plant sugars can be added which can be cautionary for diabetics. My wife teaches Diabetes related classes. I was using it until the erythritol issue was made known in Journals. Jim

 

[Sleufoot]

Well I guess that we don't have any body growing stevia as a cash crop. Tom in Mn.

 

[M-MAN]

The additive erythritol can cause blood platelets to clot more easily, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. If the product has that ingredient, pass it by. Also plant sugars can be added which can be cautionary for diabetics. My wife teaches Diabetes related classes. I was using it until the erythritol issue was made known in Journals. Jim

Oldest daughter brought me some to use touting the health benefits. Youngest daughter who is a nurse said don't you touch that stuff! Already have a bypass and a Stent and take Plavix so I listened.

 

[wp6529]

Why the talk of erythritol (which does seem to be bad)? The question was about Stevia which is unrelated.

 

[Janicholson]

Why the talk of erythritol (which does seem to be bad)? The question was about Stevia which is unrelated.

Not true! Stevia is quite often modified from its original form by adding erythritol and other ingredients (for manufacturing, and other reasons. Read the label to be sure allergies and heart concerns are addressed! Jim

 

[GChief]

Read the label

This is a "you can lead a horse to water" thing in Merica'.

All the adverse effects of our industrial food production are well known at this point, some do not know from ingroance, IME it most are just turning a blind eye because processed pre-packaged food is easy.

 

[used red MN]

Not true! Stevia is quite often modified from its original form by adding erythritol and other ingredients (for manufacturing, and other reasons. Read the label to be sure allergies and heart concerns are addressed! Jim

Not to argue but wp6529 does have a point. The OP’s first sentence is a statement which mentions a processed form of stevia. The next two actual sentences are questions for discussion talking about stevia in its raw form, which really has no connection to how it is offered as a finished product. A lot like someone mentioning raising hogs and a someone replying bacon is bad for you.
I also understand the points about its processed forms possibly not being as healthy for you as they would like you to think.