I'm looking for a safe alternative to sugar for my husband who has been diagnosed with diabetes. I'm wondering how it tastes in comparison to sugar. We are HUGE sweet ice tea drinkers and have been going without sugar in our tea. I WANT something sweet. We absolutely will not consider the artificial sweetners like Sweet N Low. So any help would be greatly appreciated.
I use Stevia and love it! It tastes just like sugar, in my opinion. I buy the individual packets that are granulated and put it in my tea and on my rice krispy cereal. Good stuff, and all natural.
I love Stevia! I quit drinking soda and now drink green tea instead, which I will not drink without sugar, so I put stevia in it. Tastes just like sugar!
We use agave nectar. http://www.allaboutagave.com/ You can put it in coffee, tea, use it for pancakes. One of the benefits of agave nectar is that it won't cause a spike in blood sugar, which is great for diabetics. If you decide to try it, I would recommend using the paler version as it has the best flavor. LR
I've used stevia in the past. Can anyone confirm that research has shown a link to low sperm count while using stevia? I had heard this and quit getting it for my family. We have used agave nectar before as well. I use it like I would honey and stevia in place of sugar.
*Runs to the store to buy a HUGE bag of Stevia* Honey will spike blood sugar, though, won't it? I thought it would. But for the life of me can't remember where I came up with that.
You made me laugh out loud. OP: I use stevia. I stopped using the refined stuff, grow my own (in the ground & a pot) and dry it. Although, after that sperm count thing, maybe I'll start using the refined stuff again... It is VERY VERY SWEET - much more so than sugar. IMO, both the dried green leaves & the processed form have their own subtle flavor...kind of the same way honey and agave nectar are both sweet but both taste different. For me, the flavor is/was something to get used to. I have learned I do not like stevia (any kind) with chocolate (say, in hot chocolate), but it is just lovely in combination with fruits or herbs (like iced tea). Using stevia definitely has a learning curve - it is so much sweeter than sugar. I still find I will think I've only used a "tiny" bit...only to discover I need to add more tea or water to my tea to dilute it. My sister recently picked up one of those packet forms of stevia. She HATES it and says it's not like other packets she's gotten. I read the label, and it only says it contains stevia and "other natural flavors." I say it sounds like you may have to experiment with brands to find something you like. There are LOT of recipes out there for stevia. Just let your fingers do a little google...
I found this link about stevia and fertility. http://www.rain-tree.com/stevia.htm It claims that the leaf does not affect fertility, yet the water extract lowers testosterone and sperm count in rats. The other health benefits stated are making me want to run out and buy a great big bag for real!
Hi there. Sorry I didnt respond on your other thread. I have some ideas for you! My husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 2 years ago. It has changed how we eat, cook, etc. And he's lost 30+ pounds over two years (he's not exercising yet). Anyway...we do use Stevia - but not a lot. We also use Blue Agave Syrup some. But not a lot...there are some conflicting studies about this. I do recommend the book "Reversing Diabetes" by Julian Whitaker, MD. Also there's a corresponding cookbook. MOSTLY...we eat a lot of whole grains, lean protiens and limit our sugars. My husband does eat some sugar, but not a lot. My caution with stevia is that too much can get bitter. So two or three packets might be sweet enough, but will have a bitterness to it. I recommend for things like Iced Tea, etc. to use the Liquid Stevia Extract and start with a few drops until you get it to where you like it.
No link because it is 100% natural. Artificial sweeteners are quite literally chemicals. Stevia is not artificial. BTW, the 0 cal. Lifewaters (by Sobe) use Stevia instead of artificial sweeteners. Yeah, there are still not-so-great ingredients, but at least if you want a drink that's not loaded with sugar or chemical sweeteners, it's a good choice.
