Stevia/SweatLeaf Options

[Seeker]

Has anyone heard of stevia? It's a plant native to South America that Indians have used for centuries as a natural sweetener. It's 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar) and has no calories. It doesn't alter blood glucose significantly so it's alright for diabetics. It's widely popular in Japan but not so much in the United States.

I think the reason not a lot of people know about it is because it's not widely marketed since the pharmaceutical industry doesn't have a patent on it. If they don't have the patent they don't want people to use it.

I picked some up at Whole Foods (best grocery store on the planet!!!!), but they also sell it at GNC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/075820220...8791243?ie=UTF8

[Spectatrix]

Yep, I've heard of it. Never tried it, though... I did pick up agave nectar for the first time this week. It's a good natural sweetener too. It's about as sweet as honey, but thinner consistency and a more mild flavor.

I think if I were to try stevia, I'd rather just get a plant at a nursery rather than buying the powdered or liquid extracts of it.