FitSugar

Food Review: Truvia Sweetener

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:45:33 -0700

Artificial sweeteners often have a weird aftertaste or suspect ingredients. One alternative is stevia, a calorie-free sweetener extracted from a sweet herb grown in South America. But until recently, there were questions about whether stevia was safe, and the varieties I've tried have a different kind of weird aftertaste - not chemical or artificial, but sort of herbal, almost like anise. I prefer my sweeteners a bit more neutral.

But I just got my hands on some Truvia and decided to give stevia another shot. Recently, this brand became the first stevia sweetener not labeled as a "dietary supplement." It's sold online in individual packets, each of which is equal in sweetness to two teaspoons of sugar. To find out how sweet it is, read more.

According to Truvia's website, this product is made from rebiana, an ingredient made from the sweetest parts of the stevia leaf. The leaf is then purified, which may explain why Truvia tastes better than any other stevia I've tried. Though it still has a slight aftertaste, I didn't notice it until I got to the very bottom of my coffee cup. It wasn't overly sweet, and it didn't interfere with my coffee's flavor.

The only thing that bugs me is that rebiana is actually an ingredient created by Cargill in a lab, so it's hard to know how natural it really is. So I still don't know if stevia has won me over; as a sugar substitute, I still prefer agave nectar. But if you're looking for a zero calorie sweetener, Truvia definitely tastes better than the other stevia I've sprinkled into my coffee and tea.

Are Sweeteners PureVia and Truvia Safe?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0800

There's been a lot of talk lately about the natural sweetener stevia. Being calorie-free, it seems like a great alternative to sugar for people trying to lose weight. A few months ago, Coca-Cola announced it would begin using its stevia-derived sweetener Truvia in a few products, prior to being approved by the FDA. Not to be left in the cold, PepsiCo has also created a no-calorie stevia sweetener, PureVia. However, PepsiCo announced that it would be waiting for FDA approval before using its new sweetener. Recently, I saw both Truvia and PureVia on the shelf at my grocery store. Does that mean they're both approved by the FDA now? To find out read more.

Both PureVia and Truvia are made by extracting rebaudioside A (Reb A) from the leaves of the stevia plant. While the FDA has not yet approved the use of whole-leaf stevia or stevia extracts as sweeteners, they have issued a "No Objection Letter" to the use of Reb A, saying that it's "generally safe." If you want to give PureVia or Truvia products a try, it's recommended to do so in moderation. Have you used either of these sweeteners? Tell me what you think of them in the comments section below.

Coca-Cola Sweetening Its Lineup With Stevia

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Apparently, FDA approval can wait. This week, the Coca-Cola company will begin selling a diet drink sweetened with the somewhat controversial herbal supplement stevia. For three diet flavors of its Odwalla juices, Coke will use the Truvia brand of sweetener, which it developed in partnership with Cargill earlier this year.

Unlike most of the products derived from the stevia herb, Truvia isn't labeled as a "dietary supplement," but it has yet to be approved by the FDA. Coke is moving forward with Truvia-sweetened products anyway, though PepsiCo is still holding off. For the details, read more.

Both Coke and Pepsi expect the FDA to rule that stevia is "generally regarded as safe," but Pepsi plans to wait for official approval. Each beverage giant has its own brand of stevia: Coke's Truvia will face off against Pepsi's PureVia brand, which it plans to use in SoBe Life Water and a new juice called Trop 50. You can already buy one brand of soda made with stevia, called Zevia. But safety concerns persist:

As recently as August 2007, the FDA has questioned the safety of stevia.

"In fact, literature reports have raised safety concerns about the use of stevia, including concerns about control of blood sugar, and effects on the reproductive, cardiovascular and renal systems," the FDA wrote in a letter to Hain Celestial about its Zingers To Go Tangerine Orange Wave Herb Tea. The tea's ingredients included stevia.

But manufacturers have become more confident that the FDA won't oppose their use of stevia sweeteners, with trade publication Beverage Digest having even predicted that the sweetener would be approved last month.

Will you try the new Odwalla drinks before - or even after - the FDA's approval comes through?

Artificially, Naturally Sweet News

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

This one goes out to all the stevia lovers.

The stevia-based sweetener Truvia is now for sale online. Previously, other stevia sweeteners have been labeled as "dietary supplements," but Truvia has the distinction of being known as a zero-calorie sweetener. Because it is derived from an herb, it is considered "natural." I am not sure how I feel about that label.

Developed by Cargill in partnership with Coca-Cola, Truvia will be used in a handful of Coke products. Rumor has it that Pepsi is working on a zero calorie stevia sweetener of its own. Let the cola wars begin.

If you live in NYC, you can sample Truvia at Rockefeller Center today. I haven't tried it, but I'm sure I will soon. Even though I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, I am curious.

If you have tried Truvia tell me what you think in the comment section below.

Source

Food Review: Zevia Soda

FitSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

The FDA might consider stevia an "unapproved food additive," but you can find it sweetening the zero calorie diet soda Zevia ($5.99 for a six pack).

Zevia's tag line is "Nature's answer to diet soda." Wait, I thought water was nature's answer to soda? Anyway, I must admit up front that I am not really a big fan of diet soda, but I like the idea of this underdog of a sweetener making its way into the big time with its own line of diet soda. Zevia comes in four flavors: Orange, Cola, Lemon Lime and Ginger Root Beer. Since I don't really drink diet soda, I shared my samples with friends and family who do. They all gave the soda mixed reviews – some thumbs up and some thumbs down – but the case was gone in two days. This is a sure sign that people were drinking it and going back for seconds.

To see what I thought of Zevia, just read more.

To me, the sodas taste like all diet sodas with weird sweetness and an aftertaste that somehow tastes artificial even though stevia is "natural." My favorite flavor by far is the Ginger Root Beer. It is a pleasant mix of flavors and tastes of Ginger Ale and Root Beer; my husband thought it was better than any other diet root beer. The drinks are carbonated, but not too bubbly, and they are calorie free.

If you are interested in expanding your diet soda options you should definitely try some. You can order Zevia online directly here or find a store near you with this store locator.

If you have tried Zevia, let me know if you liked it in the comments section below.

Is Stevia Safe?

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:30:00 -0700

If you're trying to eat healthier, you may be trying to ditch foods made with white sugar and artificial sweeteners. What about the sweetener stevia? Have you ever heard of it? People are adding it to their coffee, flavoring their iced tea, and baking with it. Stevia is an herb from South America, and since the leaves from this plant have a sweet flavor that is 30 times sweeter than sugar, it's being used as an all natural sugar substitute. People watching their weight like the idea of stevia because it's calorie free. Is it safe though? To find out read more

It's a plant, so it must be safe, right? Well, the only problem is that although it's been approved in other countries such as China and Japan, the FDA considers it an unapproved food additive. At this time, the FDA feels that no one has provided them with adequate evidence proving that it's safe. It was however approved in 1994 to be sold as a dietary supplement, so that's why you can find it at some health and vitamin stores. What's more is that the Center for Science in the Public Interest thinks stevia should be avoided because studies show that sperm production was affected in rats, and there was an increase in cell production in their testicles. Hamsters fed a derivative of stevia gave birth to smaller and fewer babies. Studies also show that it may cause cancer.

I'm not sure I will be using it anytime soon and will just work it out to eat my sweets in moderation. How about you, do you use stevia? Tell me why you like it in the comments section below.

Source

The Skinny On: Stevia

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:30:00 -0800

Stevia is perhaps one of the most controversial herbs since, well herb.

Stevia is reportedly to be 250-300 times sweeter than sugar and contributes no calories to the diet. How great is that?

Problem is that the FDA has not yet approved Stevia to be used as a sweetener (or food additive) or to be GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and so no-one is technically allowed to use Stevia unless it is specifically labeled and used as a dietary supplement. In fact the FDA has had an alert out since 1996 stating that if it is found to be labeled as a sweetener, search and seizure are to follow. In Japan and other countries, Stevia has been known as "nature's natural sweetener" and used by millions of people for those purposes for over 25 years.

Whoa, right?! Where does that leave us then when it comes to Stevia? Many people believe that the government is trying to protect the booming sweetener economy in the USA and that by allowing a cheap, noncaloric herb in, the competition will be crushed.

All politics aside, while we wait for the FDA to figure this wonderful little herb out, you can still use it and buy it as a 'dietary supplement.' It comes in the same forms as sugar would (powders and liquids).

Fit's Tip: I usually buy it in a liquid form and use it as I would honey in my coffee or tea to... um 'dietary supplement' it. 2-3 drops is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Food Review: Code Blue Recovery Drink

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:30:47 -0800

I must admit I'm not big on special fitness drinks, especially recovery drinks. They're often full of extra calories, and I usually opt for water since most exercise physiologists believe you don't need to worry about replacing electrolytes, carbs, and protein unless you have been working out and sweating for more than an hour. I often think a lot of these drinks have added coloring and chemicals, so when I saw Code Blue marketed as an all natural post-workout drink I was curious to try it. I must admit, I liked its tropical flavor, and although it only has 40 calories per eight-ounce serving (the can contains 12 ounces, equal to one and a half servings) Code Blue does not have that artificial sweetener taste of many low-cal beverages.

To see how this drink is sweetened and if it is an unnatural color, just read more.

Looking at the ingredient list on the back of the Code Blue can, I can't say I felt like I was drinking something "natural." After water, the next three ingredients are: crystalline fructose, agave nectar, and malic acid, which adds tartness more than sweetness. Further down the list I found stevia leaf extract listed as well, which is a bit more natural. Code Blue contains the electrolytes potassium and sodium, but also contains the supplement milk thistle to help detox the liver (trainer Bob Harper believes in the treatment), and prickly pear extract to reduce inflammation.

The first time I tried Code Blue, I drank it straight from the can. You can imagine my surprise when I poured it into a glass and found the liquid to be a vibrant unnatural blue. Which prompts the question, what natural ingredient was used to color this drink and why even bother coloring it?

Ingredients: Filtered Purified Water, Crystalline Fructose, Agave Nectar, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, D-Ribose, Fruit Juice (for color), Sustamine™ (L-Alanine L-Glutamine), Pectin, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid, Prickly Pear Extract (Opunitia ficus-indica), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) Leaf Extractives, Soy Protein and Rice Flour, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), DL-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Selenium Complexed with Amino Acids and Polypeptides, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

I'm not really sold on the drink, but I'm not completely opposed to it either. I would certainly drink this over other recovery drinks, but more likely I will sip some water instead. Have you tried it?

This just in: The color comes from blueberries.

Design a Healthier Cookie With You Cookie

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:00:36 -0800

Looking for a unique gift this year? Shower your loved ones with the gift of cookies. Don't worry, you won't be contributing to the expanding waistline of the receiver, since you can craft a unique and healthy cookie with You Cookie. It's the same company who brought you customizable trail mix and energy bars. By choosing all the ingredients (which are mostly organic), you can make a cookie with or without eggs, with or without butter, and you can even substitute natural sweeteners like stevia in place of sugar.

To see a close-up of the cookies I created, read more.

These cookies were made with an oatmeal cookie base, 100 percent whole wheat flour, eggs, organic agave nectar, Earth Balance margarine, grated carrots, pumpkin, peanut butter, Nutty Rice cereal, walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, raisins, and dried cherries. Sounds delicious, right? I have to say these cookies tasted very homemade. They were moist and full of all the yummy ingredients I chose. The grated carrots, oats, dried fruit, and nuts were very visible and added a nice autumnal flavor. I will say that not using butter or real sugar made them taste very healthy, but for about 100 calories per cookie, they certainly satisfied my need for something sweet and chewy.

You can choose to have the cookies sent all together or individually wrapped, which keeps them fresher longer. They cost $40 for a dozen, and come in a cute metal tin with a personal label stating the name of your cookie. The nutritional info is printed on the bottom of the tin, so the recipient will know the ingredients and how much fat, fiber, protein, and calories are in their cookies. Although they're a bit expensive, these cookies are definitely a great idea for the healthy foodie in your life.

Your Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

Since decadent foods like ice cream, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in the calorie department, it's good to have a few healthy food swap ideas up your sleeve. Here are some shared by fellow FitSugar readers.

"Avocado instead of mayo . . . sure it may have fat in it but it's healthy fat and tastes delicious. Hummus instead of cream in sauces and soups . . . adds a ton of flavor and protein." - mamasitamalita
"I use balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) on my salads without any oil. It gives the same powerful flavor kick but for a lot less calories." - laellavita
"Replace ranch dressing on my salad with cottage cheese." - genipher85

For more great ideas, keep reading