Stevia: All Natural Sweetener
By Cliff Smith
Anyone searching for healthy, low carb foods should be aware of stevia, the all natural sweetener, as a replacement for sugar or artificial sweeteners. A vast majority of articles and research projects conducted on stevia have concluded that it may be the one sweetener that is actually good for people. It has been shown that stevia can help individuals maintain normal blood sugar levels, and it is a zero calorie sweetener. What is stevia and why is Coca Cola teaming up with Cargill to make it a replacement for sugar in many products? Also, why has the FDA rejected stevia as a food additive, but permitted it to be used as a dietary supplement?
First, let's take a look at the origins of stevia and how it has gained attention with the rise in demand for low carb foods and low sugar substitutes. Stevia has been used for centuries by native South American tribes as a sweetener in yerba mate and medicinal teas for treating heartburn and other ailments. It is a plant in the Chrysanthemum family, which grows wild in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. Wikipedia describes stevia as an herb or shrub "in the sunflower family, native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America". The plant's extracts have up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, but have a negligible impact on blood glucose. So it is easy to see why stevia is being noticed by people looking for low carb foods or who are trying to maintain normal blood sugar levels with a low carb diet.
Since the early 1970's, Japan has led the way in cultivating and using stevia as a replacement for artificial sweeteners such as cyclamate and saccharin, which are alleged carcinogens. Commercially produced in Japan since 1977, stevia sweeteners are often used in that country for low carb foods and soft drinks. About 40% of the world's consumption of stevia occurs in Japan, which is the most for any nation. It is used throughout China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brazil, and Israel as well as many other nations. Stevia has been available as a dietary supplement in the United States and Canada since the mid 1980's. Many people in this country use it as a beneficial sweetener for health drink formulas not sold in retail stores.
In 1984, Dr. Tei-Fu Chen, an American herbalist from Taiwan, perfected a method to extract the sweetness from stevia without using chemicals. This method is accepted today as the most advantageous way to produce stevia products for consumption. Dr. Chen's company, Sunrider, successfully petitioned the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in 1995 to lift the import alert on the extract of stevia leaves. This paved the way for companies to use stevia as a "dietary supplement", and in May of 2007, Coca Cola announced plans to seek approval for its use as a "food additive". Coca Cola currently uses stevia in soft drinks made in Japan, and is hoping to market a new calorie free sweetener in the United States to use in low carb foods by 2009. In 1984, stevia was introduced as Sunectar by Sunrider and later a clear liquid version called Sunnydew accompanied the thicker, darker Sunectar in the market. Coca Cola is tentatively planning to call their product, Rebiana, which is derived from the plant's botanical name stevia rebaudiana.
The regulatory challenge that might prevent Coca-Cola and other companies from using stevia in low carb foods and drinks here in the U.S. is the FDA approval of stevia as a "food additive". It is currently only allowed to be used as a dietary supplement, not a food additive. You see, stevia grows naturally therefore it does not require a patent. Some advocates of stevia have expressed their opinions that the FDA has acted solely in response to pressure from the sugar and artificial sweetener industries. For example, Arizona congressman, Jon Kyl, called the FDA action against stevia "a restraint of trade to benefit the artificial sweetener industry". Although, the growing popularity of stevia may force the FDA to take a closer look at the current food additive ban. Coca Cola has teamed up with the agricultural products company, Cargill to market rebiana-sweetened products in 12 countries that already allow stevia as a food additive.
As far as I can tell through research and through my own experience with stevia, the benefits of this herbal supplement far outweigh any possible negative consequences. Because stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, only a few tiny drops are needed to sweeten foods and drinks. Most stevia products contain zero calories, and some contain complex carbohydrates that are beneficial to anyone, especially those on a low carbohydrate diet. It has been said that stevia is food for the pancreas, which can help maintain normal blood sugar levels. Through my own daily use of stevia and my desire to maintain a diet of low carb foods for more than six years now, I can say that it has helped reduce cravings for sugary foods and has contributed to a decrease in mood swings caused by over consumption of sugar.
I encourage anyone who is searching for quality nutrition in low carb foods, to investigate stevia and make it a part of a healthy, balanced, low carbohydrate diet.
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Cliff Smith is the owner of an online health food store, an actor, and a serious athlete who is always searching for the best low carb foods and high fiber foods to stay in shape for the camera.
Book Review
Healing Logics
Culture and Medicine in Modern Health Belief Systems
Edited by Erika Brady
This collection of articles, contributed by leading scholars in the fields of folk medicine and medical anthropology, thoroughly examines “the complex interplay of health belief systems in the U.S.” according to Erika Brady. Cooperative, complementary, and conflicting interactions between the Western health care systems and the alternative health systems arise in many of the articles. The ten articles are divided into pairs dependent on their connected themes of prologue, places and practitioners, communication and the interplay of systems, the new age dilemma, and taking it in: the observer healed.
The prologue not only contains an introduction by the editor, Erika Brady, but it also contains the article, “Understanding Folk Medicine”, by Bonnie B. O’ Connor and David J. Hufford. “Understanding Folk Medicine” does an excellent job of defining folk medicine and its core concepts and characteristics before the reader moves onto the articles discussing folk medicine.
The remaining articles explore the diversity of non-traditional or alternative healing and wellness systems. Interviews and case studies are sprinkled within these articles making them interesting and very informative with human touch.
If you’re looking to expand your definition of Alternative health systems and better understand how they interact with and are perceived by Western health care systems, Healing Logics is just the book for you.
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Erika Brady, PhD, holds degrees in folklore from Harvard, UCLA, and Indiana University. She is currently associate professor and director of folk studies and anthropology at Western Kentucky University. A former chaplain associate at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, she is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine at University of South Alabama and is affiliated with the South Central Kentucky Area Health Education Center. Her book A Spiral Way: How the Phonograph Changed Ethnography appeared in 1999 (University Press of Mississippi).
Exercise of the Month
Exercise Description:
Squats
Areas Targeted:
Glutes, Hamstrings, and Quads
Instructions:
- Start by placing feet shoulder width apart and holding your arms out in front of you.
- Proceed to squat down like you are going to sit in a chair. Your upper body will lean forward slightly and your hips will shift backwards while going down.
- Remember to keep your knees from going out in front of your toes while squatting.
- Repeat according to your required repetitions. If you want to make the exercise more challenging hold your arms at your sides or behind your head.
Think Squats Are Bad For Your Knees…Think Again
Despite scientific studies and millions of personal experiences, many are still under the impression that squats are bad for your knees. A position statement released by the research committee of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) states the contrary.
Why should you listen to the NSCA?
The NSCA is a nonprofit educational group established in 1978 to generate and disseminate information about strength training and conditioning to the public and it members. Growing from a membership of 76 in 1978 to 18,000 members in over 80 countries, the NSCA is widely recognized as the worldwide authority on strength training and conditioning. Central to NSCA’s mission is providing a link between the scientist in the laboratory and the practitioner in the field.
“The following nine points related to the use of the squat exercise constitute the Position Statement of the Association. They have been approved by the Research Committee of the Association.”
- Squats, when performed correctly and with appropriate supervision, are not only safe, but may be a significant deterrent to knee injuries.
- The squat exercise can be an important component of a training program to improve the athlete’s ability to forcefully extend the knees and hips, and can considerably enhance performance in many sports.
- Excessive training, overuse injuries and fatigue-related problems do occur with squats. The likelihood of such injuries and problems is substantially diminished by adherence to established principles of exercise program design.
- The squat exercise is not detrimental to the knee joint when performed correctly.
- Weight training, including squat exercise, strengthens connective tissue, including muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons.
- Proper form depends on the style of the squat and the muscles to be conditioned. Bouncing in the bottom position of a squat to help initiate ascent increases mechanical loads on the knee joint and is therefore contraindicated.
- While squatting results in high forces on the back, injury potential is low with appropriate technique and supervision.
- Conflicting reports exist as to the type, frequency and severity of weigh-training injuries. Some reports of high injury rate may be based on biased samples. Others have attributed injuries to weight training, including the squat, which could have been caused by other factors.
- Injuries attributed to the squat may result not from exercise itself, but from the improper technique, other physical activities, fatigue or excessive training.”
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The literature review above has been prepared by the authors in support of the full position statement below.
National Strength & Conditioning Association Journal: Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 51–58.
N.S.C.A. POSITION PAPER: The Squat Exercise in Athletic Conditioning: A Position Statement and Review of the Literature
Student Profile
Toni Norman
Toni Norman is a graduate of GCNM’s Holistic Health Practitioner, Nutritional Consultant, and Master Herbalist Programs. Not only is she currently working on her Bachelor of Science in Holistic Health from GCNM, but she also finds time to run a successful business. She has been gracious enough to share her experiences with us.
My company, Natural Herbal Tinctures was born in Costa Rica. It is a child of imagination, wonder, experiment, hard work and faith. I have learned to never get in the way of what may be coming by thinking that it cannot be done, that I don’t know how or that I can’t afford it.
Natural Herbal Tinctures is an explanation of what I do; I make tinctures. I started with Echinacea as that was my herb of choice years ago and it liked me. Upon arrival in Costa Rica, and when appropriate, I told many Costa Ricans and transplanted North Americans about this wonderful herb Echinacea, and was surprised to hear the response that they did not know what it was or what it did. I found a wonderful herb farm close to our home in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, bought a kilo of dried Echinacea purpurea, and continued to tincture.
I planted an herb garden, but realized quite quickly that I was not to be ‘the gardener’. I began ordering bulk herbs from the United States as I found I was really drawn to the process of tincturing. I spent a lot of time reading about single herbs and then graduated to herbal blends. The herb farm had a small retail store and one day I asked the manager if they would consider putting my tinctures in the store. After a group of tourists toured the farm and were taught the medicinal properties of and saw growing passionflower, valerian, ashwagandha, dandelion a hundred more healing, medicinal plants, they could go into the store and have the opportunity to purchase a one ounce bottle of the herb that interested them. This was my first order and the manager bought 3 one-ounce bottles of each of the herbs I had tinctured that were growing on the farm. My first sale was over $300.00.
That really got me interested in where I could go and who else may like to know that I have herbal tinctures. On a visit to an acupuncturist that many people had recommended, I mentioned to him that I made herbal tinctures and asked if he would be interested in seeing the list of tinctures I had available. He looked over the list and asked me if I had any Chinese herbs. I said I could get whatever he wanted. He asked me to blend for him formulas he had used when he was in practice in California. That day, I knew I was to go far with my love for herbal tinctures.
I created a relatively simple website so I could direct potential clients to read about herbs and tinctures. I created a brochure with much of the same information that was on the website. Of course, living in a Spanish speaking Central American country, I needed to translate my brochure into Spanish, and I did this with the help of a friend in the nutrition business. Doing business in Spanish has been the most difficult task to date.
My herbal inventory by now contained over 50 individual herbs and 13 blends, all in tincture. The man who owns the herbal farm became my mentor and provided me with the high grade ethyl alcohol I needed. He also became a big supporter of my business that was now selling to three or four doctors in addition to his farm retail outlet. He gave me names of midwives, body workers, wellness center owners, and yoga center and retreat managers to contact. He believed in me, my business ethics and what I was doing.
I realized I wanted to learn more, lot more, about herbs. I went on-line and began researching. I do not think it was even a thought, that I should/would/could consider ‘going back’ to school. However, Spirit works in wonderful ways and I was led to the Global College of Natural Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. I checked it out and researched others, but kept coming back to GCNM.
My husband and I discussed this and yes, I did have the time to study, and yes I did have the interest to learn more. But we had ‘retired’ to Costa Rica for many reasons, one being financial. We could live here on his Social Security and live happily, just being together. There was NO WAY that I could pay for school. No way.
Okay, just one course! I will learn all there is to know and be on my way. I began with the Master Herbalist program. Then, with my husband’s blessing and constant reminder that all would be provided because I believed it would, I completed that course and followed up with the Holistic Health Practitioner course. I finished that in six months and had to round out my education with the Nutritional Consultant program. Well, one day the email in my inbox was an epiphany. This is what I am to do: GCNM is now offering degree courses: Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Health.
I must tell this little story within a story.
I went to my husband and read to him this email. I said that I must do this. I want to do this. This is what I am to do, I feel it, but how in the world will we ever pay for this? He looked at me with his clear blue eyes and said “Trust. The money is a small part of this. Your desire and enthusiasm and the business you have created is proof that this is what you should do. Don’t worry. Put it on the credit card.” I tried not to let my mind question what I was doing. The $1000 deposit on my card was due in full in 30 days. Well, 25 days later, I received a check for – yes - $1000 from a friend in the United States who said she “…felt I could use this little something”.
Global College of Natural Medicine’s staff has truly become my long distance family! They may not know this, but every day I think of and give thanks for this school and everyone there who has had a hand in this extraordinary time in my life. Regarding school, I am finishing up my NC course and have the books for the 4 or 5 courses I need to complete for my BSHH degree. I have goals for the first time in my life! I know the time-frame I have, what I am to do and when I have to do it. Within this period I will continue with my Master’s Degree and Spirit willing, my PhD.
Regarding Natural Herbal Tinctures, my tinctures are currently selling through five Doctors of Chinese Medicine, all acupuncturists, one natural health store at the beach, three wellness spas and a hair salon! The owner of the hair studio is a Hong Kong born woman, a talented hair stylist, who grew up with herbs from her neighborhood’s Chinese markets and is thrilled to be able to have a captive audience of women to explain the benefits of herbs. I have many local individual clients and customers that are now living in or currently visiting Costa Rica. They are from the United States, Panama and Canada and many have found me through my website.
This coming year my original five-page website will be completely re-done. In addition to tinctures, I will have pages on my expanding Holistic Health Consultant business, my Medicine Wheel Teachings and the wonderful treatment of Ear Candling.
The growth of my Natural Herbal Tincture ‘child’ is a wonderful thing. I give thanks to Spirit, my husband, and to the wonderful group of administrators, teachers and staff at the Global College of Natural Medicine.
For more information or to contact Toni Norman, please visit www.naturalherbaltinctures.com
Learn more about the Global College of Natural Medicine by logging on at http://www.GCNM.com, where you will find details on the school, its programs, tuition, and contact information.
Search online for values in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
