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Stevia Or Aspartame: Are They Both Poisons?Stevia or Aspartame are both sweeteners. Which one is safe, or are neither of them safe? Here is a look at them both to sort out the differences. Stevia has the unique position of being both a banned dangerous food additive and an approved supplement, according to the FDA. While aspartame has the classification of 'generally regarded as safe' or GRAS. Stevia is a herb or shrub in the sunflower family. It is sometimes called the sweetleaf. It's most famous attribute would be the sweet taste of the leaves, reported to be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. When used as a sugar substitute it has a slower taste reaction that then lasts longer than sugar. The extracts can have a sort of liquorice after taste when used in high concentrations. This is a plant that has been grown and used for centuries. Being that it is a plant and not a man made chemical concoction, no one can own a patent on it. But, there are chemical sweeteners that do have patents. So is it any surprise that the FDA acted on an 'anonymous' complaint in 1991 that stevia was a dangerous food additive? Stevia is banned as a food additive to this day. However, it can be sold as a supplement. Stevia does not adversely effect the blood glucose levels when ingested. So, it can be consumed by diabetics. Further, it also appears to have the effect of making the body more responsive to insulin and even in lowering blood pressure. Imagine that: a diabetic not needing insulin shots anymore. That would be great. It has had this effect, but I must say that further studies would need to verify the results. Is this a dangerous food additive? Well yes, dangerous to the makers of aspartame or other chemical sweeteners. What about as a supplement to treat diabetes... Of course, before using stevia for this purpose you should consult your health care practitioner who can then monitor the changes. So, here we have stevia, a natural source sweetener that is showing promising signs of improving health. And then there is aspartame... This chemical sweetener is man made. Since first hitting the store shelves in the 1980's, it has succeeded in being the most used sugar substitute. That despite holding the record for the most side effects of any food additive. Sounds like a very good marketing campaign, don't you think? Let's make sure we get this point, aspartame as a food additive can make you sick. That is because it is a chemical and as such it acts not to enhance the body's metabolism and chemistry, but instead to alter or inhibit it. I encourage you to stop accepting aspartame in your food, drink and supplements. Stevia does offer an alternative for your coffee or even home cooking. But, it is not available in soft drinks or processed foods. Deciding between stevia or aspartame is easier when you know the facts of each. So, read your food labels and avoid ingesting
aspartame.
A step sure to put you on the road to sensibly achieving life long health.
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