FitSugar

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's Truvia Wins FDA Approval

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0800

Earlier this week, the Coca-Cola company announced it would begin selling three flavors of diet Odwalla juices sweetened with Truvia. Derived from the somewhat controversial herb stevia, Truvia had yet to be approved by the FDA when the Coca-Cola company made its announcement. On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the soft drink giant received word from the FDA that Truvia is now "generally recognized as safe" by the agency. Pepsi-Co also received word that its stevia-based sweetener, PureVia, won the agency's approval as well. SoBe Life Water, made by Pepsi-Co, will soon be releasing three zero-calorie flavors sweetened with their stevia-derived sweetener, and Coke will begin using Truvia in Sprite. Look for the "generally recognized as safe" drinks in supermarkets near you.

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?

Food Review: Truvia Sweetener

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -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.

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.

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Is Agave Nectar Healthier Than Sugar?

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Natural sweeteners are gaining popularity since people are trying to avoid overly processed white sugar and high fructose corn syrup. You may have seen Truvia and PureVia on store shelves, which are both made from the stevia plant. Another plant-derived sweetener is agave nectar, which comes from the agave plant. It's sweeter than honey but not as thick in consistency.

I often use agave nectar in place of white sugar when baking. To see which one is healthier to use, read more.

	One tbsp sugar	One tbsp. agave nectar
Calories	46	60
Total Fat	0	0
Carbs	12	16
Fiber	0	1
Sugar	12	15
Protein	0	0

While it may seem that sugar contains less calories, carbs, and sugars, agave nectar is sweeter than granulated sugar, so you end up using less - about 40 percent less. Not only that, but agave nectar has a lower glycemic index (GI) rating, which means it won't cause a spike in your blood sugar levels the way sugar does. High-GI foods like white sugar tend to make us feel hungry sooner since they are digested quickly. So foods made with agave nectar may keep you feeling fuller longer than foods made with the white stuff, which translates to eating less. Also, did you see that agave nectar contains some fiber? We can always use more of that in our diets. Although both come from plants, agave nectar is less processed and closer to nature, so for all these reasons, you can feel good about using it in place of sugar. But beware: you'll need to fiddle with recipes when baking with agave nectar, since it is a liquid and not a dry ingredient like sugar.

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