Stevia
Stevia
A high sugar diet will take a toll on your family’s immune system. Resist using treats, fruit juices and other sweets in back to school lunches. Instead, try using snacks sweetened with Stevia instead of sugar. Stevia is a South American native plant that can be used as a sweetener that does not affect blood sugar or suppress the immune system. Because there are many different varieties of Stevia plants and many different ways of processing the herb, it can be trial and error finding the brand of Stevia that best suits your family. Make sure to try different preparations such as liquid extract, powdered preparation or even glycerites. It is important to note that Stevia is sweeter than sugar, so read the instructions carefully when replacing sugar in recipes. Some brands, such as Truvia, combine Stevia with sugar alcohols. To follow a whole foods diet, try to use a brand that is the purest form of Stevia with the least amount of added chemicals as possible. Here are some Stevia resources to help you make the switch:
References
Curi R, Alvarez M, Bazotte RB, Botion LM, Godoy JL, Bracht A (1986). “Effect of Stevia rebaudiana on glucose tolerance in normal adult humans”. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 19 (6): 771-4.
A high sugar diet will take a toll on your family’s immune system. Resist using treats, fruit juices and other sweets in back to school lunches. Instead, try using snacks sweetened with Stevia instead of sugar. Stevia is a South American native plant that can be used as a sweetener that does not affect blood sugar or suppress the immune system. Because there are many different varieties of Stevia plants and many different ways of processing the herb, it can be trial and error finding the brand of Stevia that best suits your family. Make sure to try different preparations such as liquid extract, powdered preparation or even glycerites. It is important to note that Stevia is sweeter than sugar, so read the instructions carefully when replacing sugar in recipes. Some brands, such as Truvia, combine Stevia with sugar alcohols. To follow a whole foods diet, try to use a brand that is the purest form of Stevia with the least amount of added chemicals as possible. Here are some Stevia resources to help you make the switch:
- Stevia Cooking Tips
- Sugar to Stevia Conversion Chart
References
Curi R, Alvarez M, Bazotte RB, Botion LM, Godoy JL, Bracht A (1986). “Effect of Stevia rebaudiana on glucose tolerance in normal adult humans”. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 19 (6): 771-4.