A friend gave me some packets of a sweetener called Stevia. Is it okay?
The quick answer is yes!
Unlike most artificial sweeteners, which are made of chemicals, Stevia is actually an herb and all-natural. You could, if you desired, grow a Stevia plant in your yard and then crush the leaves to sweeten your tea.
Powdered Stevia (in those handy packets) is 30 times sweeter than sugar and has zero calories.
According to Busy Woman’s Guide’s favorite registered dietitian, Jill Fleming, “100 percent fruit juice would be my first choice to sweeten my tea, but Stevia would be my second.”
Keep in mind, all zero-calorie sweeteners, if overused, can “trick” your body into believing things that taste sweet have no calories - eventually your body will shut off the natural revving up of your metabolism to process the extra calories in sweet treats. Use all sweeteners (including sugar) in moderation!
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Eliz survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.
As the director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.
Blog link: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/blog/2009/06/01/is-stevia-okay-busy-womans-guide-answers-your-questions/