Bryan, the link to this study is http://healingtools.tripod.com/thn6.html
Stevia is a safe replacement for sugar, it's about 300 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is derived from a plant in South America; it?s calorie-free; used extensively in Japan with no adverse side-effects; available as a powder or liquid.
Originally introduced to Japan in 1970 by a consortium of food-product manufacturers, stevioside and other stevia products quickly caught on. By 1988, they reportedly represented approximately 41% of the market share of potently sweet substances consumed in Japan. In addition to widespread use as a tabletop sweetener, like the packets of saccharin ("Sweet-n-Low") and aspartame ("Equal") commonly found in the United States, stevia was also used by the Japanese to sweeten a variety of food products, including ice cream, bread, candies, pickles, seafood, vegetables, and soft drinks.
In addition to demonstrating stevia's nearly instant popularity in locales far removed from its native habitat, Japan's experience proved several other significant facts about this phenomenal plant: its adaptability and its safety. Adaptability was proven through the discovery that the plant could be grown throughout most of this temperate island nation, albeit under special hothouse conditions. Studies were even initiated to evaluate the substitution of stevia for rice under cultivation in some areas. Stevia's safety was proven through extensive scientific testing.
The spread of the stevia phenomenon was not limited to Japan. Today it is also grown and used in approximately 10 other countries outside South America, including China, Germany, Malaysia, Israel and South Korea. Stevia might by now be entrenched in the United States as well, had it not been for a concerted effort to block its very entry.
Other artificial sweeteners are approved at least in Canada, include: acesulfame-potassium, sucralose (Splenda), isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, nannitol, sorbitol, thaumatin, and xylitol. Acesulfame-potassium, commonly used in conjunction with aspartame and sucralose, has caught the attention of the Center for Science in the Public Interest as a potential carcinogen. Sucralose has caused shrunken thymus glands in animal studies, along with enlarged organs, lowered red blood cell count, genetic damage and birth defects. Saccharin and cyclamate are still sold as tabletop sweeteners in Canada; saccharin is a known carcinogen, while cyclamate has been linked to genetic damage and cancer since the late 1960?s. In 1970, it was totally banned by the FDA.
According to ?Health Hazards of White Sugar?, ?Not one artificial sweetener has been proven conclusively to be safe.? The best way to reduce intake of aspartame is to simply read labels carefully. Products containing artificial sweeteners are usually processed, packaged, and laden with colorants and preservatives, the kind of foods we?d probably want to avoid anyway. Diet pop is the biggest aspartame offender. Opt for naturally flavoured sodas ? a good selection is usually available at whole food markets. When baking or cooking, use natural sweeteners whenever possible. In the end, it?s ironic that artificial sweeteners may be an even bigger danger than the sugars they?re supposed to replace.
Richie :*)
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arani Indians had known for centuries about had known for centuries