Warning: Stevia Can be Processed
The average American’s sugar intake is truly staggering – nearly 130 pounds per year. Research on the evils of refined sugar, including elevated risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and depression, have left many of us searching for an alternative.
Processed artificial sweeteners are no safe bet. Aspartame, as well as many of the other chemical compounds used in sugar substitutes, have been linked to cancer in lab animals, plus a host of other health issues.
The stevia plant, which is native to South America, has leaves which are 30-40 times sweeter than sugar, and an extract which is 200 times sweeter than sugar. The remarkable thing about stevia is that it does not raise blood insulin levels.
Whole stevia leaves have been used for hundreds of years in South American countries including Brazil and Paraguay. Stevia in its natural form can be a delicious and natural way to sweeten your meals and beverages.
However, buyer beware: many brands of stevia sold across the country are highly processed, and are not pure stevia at all. The health effects of the FDA-approved, processed stevia extract (rebaudioside A) have not been studied. Furthermore, many stevia brands contain unnecessary and potentially harmful additives.
For example, Truvia, a stevia brand made by Coca-Cola, has approximately 40 steps in its extraction and manufacturing process, which uses chemicals including methanol, acetone, ethanol and isopropanol, several of which are known carcinogens.
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Every Day is Earth Day
Source: http://www.riseearth.com/2013/08/warning-stevia-can-be-processed.html
