On 3/1/2011 9:03 AM, Alfie wrote:
> I've been using Stevia for a few years now. It tastes identical to
> cane sugar and you use WAY less of it. I buy the powered version of
> it, but intend to grow my own Stevia plants and make some to see if
> its worth the bother.

Thanks for the info, my reaction to Stevia was not good. I thought it
tasted weird. OTOH, I may have used too much of the stuff and will
investigate this. Thanks!

>
> Every other type of sweetener I've used EXCEPT Stevia has jacked up my
> blood-sugar readings. Splenda measured out on the meter as if it were
> sugar. I had to find something I could use to sweeten with that left
> my blood-sugar alone. Stevia is it! I tested it many times and it does
> absolutely NOTHING to my blood-sugar.
>
> For those foods that sugar caused a thickening to, Stevia won't work
> for that. It doesn't thicken anything and you have to use so little
> that its almost not even there.
>
> But for the sweetness, I swear, I cannot taste a bit a difference
> between Stevia and sugar in anything it's used for as a sweetener.
>
> Just thought you other diabetics may want to know that.
>
> Oh yeah, if you eat a leaf of it or just chew it up in your mouth, it
> will show you that is is an incredibily effective laxative when
> consumed in that manner. Be careful....
>
> After taking the leaves and boiling them, you simply reduce the water/
> Stevia solution to about 5%-10% and then use it as a liquid with an
> eye-dropper. It's STRONG stuff when made that way.
>
>