Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Stevia


bear6954

Recommended Posts

bear6954 Apprentice

I am looking for a sugar substitute for my children to sweeten drinks and foods. Have you ever used this product? Any side effects? Where do you purchase it?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



julirama723 Contributor

I use stevia quite a bit, when I need a hint of sweetness. I purchase the liquid form of it at my health food store, though I believe you can purchase the granulated form in packets at regular grocery stores.

I'm not aware of any side-effects, but I do know that some people do not like the taste of it--it's sweet, with a hint of something else. Many describe it as a bit of a "licorice" taste. I don't mind the taste of it at all, but I do know it mixes better with some foods than it does with others. I wouldn't bake with it, but I use it to sweeten pumpkin or when I'm whipping cream or in drinks. It seems to mix well with fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

MELINE Enthusiast

I think you can find it in big health stores. I can't help you with that cause I live in another country. But it is safe for us, I am using it, it is also safe for diabetes and candida. It just has an unusual taste, but once you get used to it you will start liking it more.

There are some sites on the net that claim that stevia is not approved in some countries and that there may be some side effects after long time use. They don't claim that because there are actually side effects. They just say that stevia hasn't been used long enough so that we can be 100% sure that after long time use there are no side effects.

ang1e0251 Contributor

Stevia has been around for awhile. I turned to it when I could no longer tolerate artificial sweeteners.

BEWARE!! Take a warning; I hadn't used it for a long time but found a few packets in the bottom of my sweetener container. I had the worst gluten reaction of the whole year!! I hadn't checked the packet, after all, I used to drink it. It was laced with flour!! Two little packets made me very sick. If you buy it, make sure it isn't mixed with anything else.

As an alternative, I tried agave recently. I liked the flavor and had no adverse reactions. It's made from cactus and is very low glycemic.

Coke and I think Pepsi are both coming out soon with new drinks that are sweetened with stevia. I'm anxious to see the ingredient list.

Hope this helps.

mommida Enthusiast

I was going to buy it one day and saw one of the side affects can be the big D! :huh:

I didn't buy it, like I need any more D in my life. ;)

julirama723 Contributor

Just to clarify my earlier post, the liquid form (sold in an eyedropper bottle) is gluten-free. I buy KAL brand.

I can't vouch for the stevia packets--I had no idea about the gluten, but did know they contain inulin (chicory root fiber or from some other source), which can cause stomach upset in some people.

SevenWishes Newbie

I've had stevia here and there over the years in its powdered form. I've not really noticed the "licorice-y" flavor from it personally, but can comment that the powdered form is a little hard to get dissolved into cold drinks or fluids. It can be done, but takes a good amount of stirring. If you take the packets with you to a restaurant, let's say, rather than use sugar or the artificial sweeteners on your table, it can be a little challenging to be able to stir the granules into that full up to the brim ice tea glass. A lot of the powder just sinks to the bottom of your glass and sits there. Stir as you might with your straw, they stubbornly remain there quite often. The granules dissolve quite easily in warm and hot liquids, however.

I was surprised to hear about Coke and Pepsi coming out with stevia sweetened drinks in the US market, as last I read, stevia was not approved for use as a sweetener here for whatever reason. It can be sold as a separate product, and it can be included in foods and drinks, but it must be labeled as a "supplement," not as a regular ingredient. There is a brand of sodas I've found at Sprouts markets that uses stevia as its sweetener, but like I said, the bottles are marked as "supplements." Odd. Will Coke and Pepsi mark their bottles that way, or has their version of stevia sweetener been approved to be used just like sugar or Splenda? Or is stevia now an approved sweetener? I wonder... B)


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ang1e0251 Contributor

What I read about it was that the companies were awaiting final approval to legally use stevia. Then I think in the last few days I saw that Coke was almost ready to launch. I'll have to search for the link. I usually read Wall Street Journal so it might have been there.

After being so sick, I looked at my packet of stevia and it clearly said flour.

mindwiped Rookie

The FDA has just approved of the stevia sweetener branded Truvia for consumption. It is now available in your grocery store, with the sugar and other artificial sweeteners. I've tried stevia, which has been used in plant form as a sweetener for many hundreds of years, but not the Truvia brand, and I don't know about it's gluten status. I know that the Truvia branded stevia is the only one currently approved (like Splenda was the only sweetener of it's type approved), but as other companies jump the FDA's hoops, we'll certainly see more. I found that even though it was labeled as an equal sweetener to sugar (able to measure out just like table sugar) it was sweeter than sugar, so I cut my amount back by about a third. It does have an aftertaste, but it's the first 0 calorie sweetener my body tolerates, and I'm looking forward to having a soda that has a lower calorie count.

julirama723 Contributor

ang1--I am very glad you posted about the gluten in the packets! I purchased some a while back (thinking that packets would be more convenient than a glass bottle while traveling or camping) and it didn't even occur to me to check the ingredients!

ang1e0251 Contributor

Yeah, me either. What a dork I can be sometimes! Glad you're checking yours.

mindwiped Rookie

I called Truvia last Friday (1/9/09) and their stevia is Gluten free, so if you use it, no worries.

RiceGuy Collaborator

The brand I use is Stevita. I prefer the pure powder, which has absolutely nothing but the Stevia extract. It is a very fine powder, and I've not had problems getting it to dissolve. The liquid type has a more noticeable aftertaste IMO, but obviously everyone will have their preference. The one I use also comes in packets, but it costs considerably more. Stevita is the only brand I've found which isn't produced in China, and isn't bleached. The price has also been coming down, so now it's actually cheaper than the Sweatleaf brand, which is the most common one I see being sold online. The pure powders are intensely sweet, and it will probably take a bit of trial and error to get used to. I find that liquids get sweetened more easily than solids.

I have never tried the ones which measure tsp per tsp like sugar, so I cannot comment on those, although I wonder if the fillers and such that they use to bulk it up are causing the issues with dissolving.

Stevia is heat stable, thus is safe for cooking and baking. I use it in all sorts of baked goods - works great. For me, about 1/2 tsp is enough to sweeten an entire pie. I'm no sweet tooth, but I cannot imagine using more than 1 tsp in a pie. I tried 1 tsp once, and it was just too much, period. Though I have found some things can take more. When in doubt, I sample the recipe as I go along. Solid things like cookies, cakes and sweetbreads seem to need more - around 1 tsp per cup of flour is approximately what I use in a cake.

As for the FDA and all that, it seems clear that there has been corporate influence. However, the pressure has been building, and companies are getting self-approval (or something like that).

To date, there has never been any reported side effects from Stevia. No digestive issues, nothing. Companies (such as the ones producing artificial sweeteners) who oppose it seem to stop at no end to keep it off the sweetener market. The FDA is expected to finally change its ruling soon, but it seems that Coca-Cola and others are sick and tied of waiting.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Manaan2 replied to Leslie Clark's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      13

      Hidden Gluten in distilled vinegar

    2. - BIg Nodge replied to BIg Nodge's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      Opinions on my test results/symptoms

    3. - Dawn Meyers replied to Dawn Meyers's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      16

      Vaccines

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Dawn Meyers's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      16

      Vaccines

    5. - Dawn Meyers replied to Dawn Meyers's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      16

      Vaccines


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,853
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Keithyboy
    Newest Member
    Keithyboy
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.4k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Manaan2
      @knitty kitty  The information you've provided is invaluable!  I have a lot more homework to do before we make the official switch but you have significantly increased my hope that we can get her off Miralax (she started at 3 years old and is almost 8!).  This weekend my husband and I plan to solidify all the details for a start point, then adjust as we go along.  I realize that everyone's body is different, then there's also the fact that she's a child but just out of curiosity if you don't mind sharing and if you'd rather not, no problem at all-how long did you take Miralax before switching and when you switched, did you just completely stop the Miralax or was there a period where you did Miralax and the supplements?  I plan to research that piece this weekend but just curious what you did.  
    • BIg Nodge
      Scott, thanks so much for the thoughtful replies. My doctor did actually just re-order thyroid labs to see what is going on with my TPOs. I agree that will be interesting information.  I think I know the answer to this, but as far as the biopsy . . .. that would be quite conclusive as far as celiac goes, but a negative result would not rule out NCGS, correct? Does NCGS also cause damage to the lower intestine/leaky gut?  I appreciate the thought that I should be open-minded to other causes. I did not have dysautonomia on my radar, so I will look into that. From a quick scan at the potential symptoms it seems like almost anyone could convince themselves they have it, very broad! I can see why that is a tricky one to diagnose. I did also show low vitamin D, I'm in New England so that is somewhat common. I have a memory of low iron on some lab result as well but I can't find it, so I'll look into that. My cholesterol is high too, so working on that.  While the initial adjustment was tough, I have actually adapted fairly well to going gluten-free at home. The tough part for me is I love eating out and traveling, so that has been a challenge. I suppose if the answer ends up being NCGS then I could maintain a mostly gluten-free diet but also experiment with the occasional splurges. Snowboarding just doesn't feel right without a beer in the lodge . . ... cider is just not the same!  Thanks again.  
    • Dawn Meyers
      I did some research and found out that vaccines put preservatives, sugar alcohols and metals in them. Which I have a intolerance too.  I was supposed to do testing to find out metal's I was allergic to because I can't  wear jewelry of any kind. Mayo felt I had other allergies also.
    • Scott Adams
      For individuals who have experienced negative reactions to the flu vaccine, there are alternative formulations that may reduce the risk of allergic responses. Traditional flu vaccines are typically produced using egg-based methods, which can pose issues for those with egg allergies. However, there are now several egg-free options available, such as cell-based and recombinant flu vaccines. Recombinant Vaccines (e.g., Flublok Quadrivalent): These are produced without the use of eggs and are grown in insect cells, making them a suitable option for individuals with egg allergies. Cell-Based Vaccines (e.g., Flucelvax Quadrivalent): These vaccines are also egg-free and are produced using mammalian cell cultures, which can be a safer alternative for those with egg allergies. Other Considerations: If you have had a reaction to a specific component of the flu vaccine (e.g., gelatin, preservatives, or antibiotics), discussing your medical history with a healthcare provider is crucial. They can help identify vaccines that exclude these ingredients. It's important to consult with an allergist or healthcare provider to determine the safest option based on your specific allergies and medical history. They can also provide guidance on pre-vaccination testing or desensitization protocols if necessary. Also, at @trents mentioned, could you be getting hidden gluten in your diet? Do you eat in restaurants? If so, this could be why you still have high gluten antibodies.
    • Dawn Meyers
      Mayo is great and yes I had the same experience.  They take you seriously and they check everything.  I to wish other Dr's cared that much. I sure hope it's not refractory celiac also.  
×
×
  • Create New...