Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gimme The Lowdown On Stevia

mythreesuns

Recommended Posts

mythreesuns Contributor
mythreesuns
Posted

After still being sick on a Gluten-free Casein-free diet, I've decided to cut out EVERYTHING artificial. At least until I get my EnteroLab results back to see if there's something else I'm intolerant to.

So, I'm not using Equal anymore (and after reading some research, I'm not sure I ever will again!) but I did find some Stevia extract at Whole Foods and I've been using that in my coffee.

It wasn't in the food section, but in the supplement section. So, is Stevia safe? What's good about it? What's bad about it? Anyone have any info?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


chrissy Collaborator
chrissy
Posted

stevia is safe. it is in the supplement section because it is an herbal product. i have found that i like stevia better on cold cereal than sugar-----and i have never cared for the tasted of artificial sweeteners------i guess i must like stevia because it is not artificial!! i have never tried using it for other things.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

it's safe... just get it in the pure form, not cut with anything, sometimes they cut it with maltodextrin so if you are sensitive to corn you would need to avoid that...

mythreesuns Contributor
mythreesuns
Posted
  • Author
it's safe... just get it in the pure form, not cut with anything, sometimes they cut it with maltodextrin so if you are sensitive to corn you would need to avoid that...

The one I got actually does have maltodextrin in it. Where can you get pure stevia?

gabby Enthusiast
gabby
Posted

Stevia is part of the ragweed family, and needs to be used with caution by people who have ragweed allergies. The brand we used to use (can't remember which) had this printed on the bottle. We don't use it anymore because my DH sneezes up a storm whenever he is exposed to stevia. It is a pity though, because he really liked it as an alternative to sugar and other sweeteners. Also great because it doesn't raise blood sugar.

linz7997 Explorer
linz7997
Posted

my grandmother is diabetic and this may be a good alternative for her-ive never heard of it...is it in a crystal/powder form like sugar!!?!?!?

mythreesuns Contributor
mythreesuns
Posted
  • Author
my grandmother is diabetic and this may be a good alternative for her-ive never heard of it...is it in a crystal/powder form like sugar!!?!?!?

I bought it in packets, just like Equal or Sweet-n-Low packets. It's crystal-y or powdery just like the other sugar substitutes.

I think you can buy it in other forms too, that's just what I happen to see on the shelf.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


happyhealthy1 Newbie
happyhealthy1
Posted

hi stevia has a lot of benefits over artificial sweeteners, it has vitamins and minerals and is used in South America to treat diabetics since it lowers blood glucose levels as well as lowers hypertension and blood preasure. It has zero calories, zero carbs, and zero glycemic index, I even grow a plant and eat the leaves when I want a sweet treat or use the fresh leaves with my mint and limes in water. I found this coupon and just recently used it so hopefully it will come in handy for you too. The liquid flavors that sweetleaf has are awesome, i like the apricot in my water, it tastes so good and helps me drink more water all day.

Open Original Shared Link

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
Stevia is part of the ragweed family, and needs to be used with caution by people who have ragweed allergies. The brand we used to use (can't remember which) had this printed on the bottle. We don't use it anymore because my DH sneezes up a storm whenever he is exposed to stevia. It is a pity though, because he really liked it as an alternative to sugar and other sweeteners. Also great because it doesn't raise blood sugar.

Really?? I am very allergic to ragweed, ah well I guess I will stick with Splenda.

Michi8 Contributor
Michi8
Posted
The one I got actually does have maltodextrin in it. Where can you get pure stevia?

The one I have is Herbal Select brand. I bought it at Walmart in the supplement section of the pharmacy. Its ingredients list: rice maltodextrin, stevia powdered leaf extracts (stevia rebaudiana), silica.

Michelle

chrissy Collaborator
chrissy
Posted

mine is pure stevia by KAL dietary supplements. there are no other ingredients in it. i think i bought it at smith's food king (kroger). you can also get it in a liquid form. it is alot sweeter than suger.

TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted
Really?? I am very allergic to ragweed, ah well I guess I will stick with Splenda.

Soooooo glad to find this out. I'm severely allergic to ragweed and was about to buy some to try. I'm a Splenda gal too. so far haven't noticed any problems with it and we've been using it for years since my hubby is diabetic.

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
Soooooo glad to find this out. I'm severely allergic to ragweed and was about to buy some to try. I'm a Splenda gal too. so far haven't noticed any problems with it and we've been using it for years since my hubby is diabetic.

Yea I am checking around this morning. Seems like anyone with a ragweed allergy should aviod it. So that removes it from my list of safe things to try. As a hypoglycemic that white junk that ppl think is natural and safe is out, and honey/etc not much better. Leaving Splenda as the safest alternative. Contray to the conspiracy theroy web sites Splenda is safe, unless your intolerant to it.

also found this..

When should I be careful taking it?

Precautions

Pregnant and breast-feeding women should not take stevia because very little is known about how a developing baby or an infant may be affected by it.

In animal studies, extremely large doses of stevia caused kidney damage. Although no reports of similar injury in humans have been published, it is possible that stevia could damage human kidneys. Individuals with known or suspected kidney disease should avoid its use.

What side effects should I watch for?

Stevia belongs to the same family of plants that includes chrysanthemums, daisies, and ragweed. Individuals who are sensitive to any of these plants may also be sensitive to stevia.

What interactions should I watch for?

Prescription Drugs

Because stevia may have a lowering effect on blood sugar, it may increase the effectiveness of insulin and oral medications used for the treatment of diabetes. Individuals who are taking medications for diabetes should talk to their doctors or pharmacists before using stevia. Blood sugar levels may need to be checked more often, as well.

It is thought that stevia may lower blood pressure by blocking calcium channels – the same way that certain high blood pressure drugs work. If stevia is taken with one of these drugs, blood pressure may become too low – a condition known as hypotension. Low blood pressure may not have any signs, but it may produce blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, or fainting. Calcium-channel blocking drugs include:

* diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor)

* nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)

* Norvasc

* Plendil

* verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)

NOthing scary there realy, just some things to note.

mythreesuns Contributor
mythreesuns
Posted
  • Author
The one I have is Herbal Select brand. I bought it at Walmart in the supplement section of the pharmacy. Its ingredients list: rice maltodextrin, stevia powdered leaf extracts (stevia rebaudiana), silica.

Mine actually has rice maltodextrin in it as well. Don't think I'm sensitive to rice, so I'm sticking with it. :)

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

Here's a site for Stevia:

Open Original Shared Link

I recently read about Xylitol, which is apparently a natural sweetener, and our bodies actually make the stuff too. The catch is that it can cause some reactions in larger amounts. Generally if I need a sweetener I just use fruit. Raisins, dates, apple sauce (w/no added sugar), pineapple, banana...the list goes on and on.

  • 1 year later...
tuttabella44 Newbie
tuttabella44
Posted

I have been using Stevia for almost 6 months and have never felt better. I recommend using Sweetleaf. Check out Sweetleaf.com for more info and recipes. Here's my favorite!

Apple Crisp

7 to 8 cups peeled & chopped apples (about 5 apples -- peeling is optional)

3 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp SweetLeaf

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

If you are gluten free substitute the "Whole Wheat Flour" in that recipe for a gluten free one. ;)

Pyro Enthusiast
Pyro
Posted

Just FYI, today I was pretty hungry for some chocolate and all I have in the house right now is unsweetened powder for baking.

I happened to have some stevia on hand, and decided to toss a little bit on a spoon to mix with the chocolate and it was really good! I like it a lot and am happy that I don't have to drive all the way out to the store for a chocolate bar now.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      10

      Severe severe mouth pain

      Hi @Charlie1946 I am so sorry to hear you are suffering with this problem. Just a few other thoughts. I had debilitating anxiety prior to my diagnosis. I was never admitted to a hospital but thankfully had a lot of support from friends and family, and found a couple of publications contained really helpful advice: for depression, The Depression...
    2. trents
      - trents replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      10

      Severe severe mouth pain

      @Charlie1946, as an alternative to milk-based protein shakes, let me suggest whey protein. Whey and casein are the two main proteins found in milk but whey doesn't cause issues like casein can for celiacs. Concerning your question about celiac safe mental health facilities, unfortunately, healthcare facilities in general do not have good reputations...
    3. Charlie1946
      - Charlie1946 replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      10

      Severe severe mouth pain

      @knitty kitty are you kidding? I had no idea about the casein!! No one ever mentioned that to me at all!! I basically live off that milk! I have also wondered if I have Sjorgen's , but I haven't been to the doctor yet. Can you get the TTFD over the counter? I do have dysphasia and I have lysine I just haven't been good about taking it. I am so glad I found...
    4. Charlie1946
      - Charlie1946 replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      10

      Severe severe mouth pain

      @trents, Hi, thank you for the reply, I used to be pretty good at taking my vitamins and supplements, because I also have PCOS, I have Barrett's esophagus, it's just too expensive to have it stretched all the time, and I also get kinda panicked when trying to swallow pills because of getting choked a lot before. I think maybe the thrush made it worse, I...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      10

      Severe severe mouth pain

      Oh, my dear! Get off that Fairlife chocolate protein shake! That's got milk in it! Egads! Some people with Celiac disease react to the protein Casein in dairy the same as to gluten with the inflammation and antibodies and all. Reacting to Casein is not the same as lactose intolerance. Damaged villi are incapable of producing lactAse, the enzyme...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,900
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    sai4a
    Newest Member
    sai4a
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @Charlie1946 I am so sorry to hear you are suffering with this problem.   Just a few other thoughts.  I had debilitating anxiety prior to my diagnosis.  I was never admitted to a hospital but thankfully had a lot of support from friends and family, and found a couple of publications contained really helpful advice:  for depression, The Depression Cure: The Six-Step Programme to Beat Depression Without Drugs by Dr Steve Llardi, and for debilitating anxiety, At Last A Life by Paul David.  Both can be ordered online, there is also a website for the latter.  If you are deficient in or have low iron or B12 this can cause or worsen mental health issues.  I am sure my own issues were caused by long-term deficiencies.   If you can get your blood tested, it would be useful.  In the case of iron, make sure you only supplement if you have a deficiency, and levels can be monitored, as too much iron can be dangerous. If you have burning mouth issues, very bad TMJ or neuralgia,  I understand the pain can be managed by the use of a certain class of medication like amitriptyline, which is also used to treat depression.  But there again, it is possible with the correct diet and supplementation these issues might improve? I do hope that you find relief soon. Cristiana
    • trents
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By trents · Posted

      @Charlie1946, as an alternative to milk-based protein shakes, let me suggest whey protein. Whey and casein are the two main proteins found in milk but whey doesn't cause issues like casein can for celiacs. Concerning your question about celiac safe mental health facilities, unfortunately, healthcare facilities in general do not have good reputations for being celiac safe. Most celiacs find that they need to depend on family members to advocate for them diligently or bring in food from the outside. Training of staff is inconsistent and there is the issue of turnover and also cross contamination.
    • Charlie1946
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By Charlie1946 · Posted

      @knitty kitty are you kidding?  I had no idea about the casein!! No one ever mentioned that to me at all!! I basically live off that milk! I have also wondered if I have Sjorgen's , but I haven't been to the doctor yet. Can you get the TTFD over the counter? I do have dysphasia and I have lysine I just haven't been good about taking it. I am so glad I found this group and all of you with all this helpful information!! I thought I was going crazy!!  I have sebaceous hyperplasia too- is that related to Celiac?  OH , and I wanted to ask if there is a site where I could find information on mental health issues , with celiac safe facilities??
    • Charlie1946
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By Charlie1946 · Posted

      @trents, Hi, thank you for the reply, I used to be pretty good at taking my vitamins and supplements, because I also have PCOS, I have Barrett's esophagus, it's just too expensive to have it stretched all the time, and I also get kinda panicked when trying to swallow pills because of getting choked a lot before.  I think maybe the thrush made it worse, I just can't figure out why I can't get it to go away 
    • knitty kitty
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Oh, my dear!  Get off that Fairlife chocolate protein shake!  That's got milk in it!  Egads! Some people with Celiac disease react to the protein Casein in dairy the same as to gluten with the inflammation and antibodies and all.  Reacting to Casein is not the same as lactose intolerance.  Damaged villi are incapable of producing lactAse, the enzyme that digests lactOse, the sugar in dairy.  If the villi grow back, they can resume making lactase again.   I react to casein and lactose both.  I get sores in my mouth and coated tongue, and inflammation, my Dermatitis Herpetiformis flares up, I get cold sores or shingles, and TMJ pain, well, joint pain in general, and my brain health is really affected, depression and anxiety.  So dairy is a really scary horror movie.     I take Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD  (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide).  These have anti-viral properties.   I've had chicken pox/shingles, and I also harbor the cold sore herpes virus which traveled to one eye through a nerve. It's broken now.  I had really bad nerve pain in my check at the time, then it turned into Bell's Palsy.  Thiamine TTFD helped clear up the dysphagia I was also experiencing then.  I took lots of Lysine to fight the herpes viruses as well.  Between the Thiamine TTFD and the Lysine, and avoiding dairy, mine stays dormant for the most part.   I also take a B Complex, and Magnesium Threonate to help the Thiamine TTFD work, Vitamin C, Vitamins A and D, and Zinc supplements to help Thiamine TTFD fight off those viruses. I have Sjogren's so I understand dry eye and mouth.  I found including Omega Threes, healthy fats, improved my problem.  You know how oil floats on top of water?  That's going on in our body, too.  Flaxseed oil supplements, and flaxseed oil to use on food is one way I increased my Omega Threes.  Choline and sunflower seed oil supplements are other choices I've tried.  Eat real food!  Eat fresh vegetables and fruit!  I had cooked stew in a crockpot until super mushy so I could chew and swallow it without lots of pain.  I got a bag of mandarin oranges, Cuties, whatever they're called now.  They're not too acidic.  Gluten free crackers don't have any nutritional value, no vitamins.   I followed the low histamine version of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet.  The book The Paleo Approach by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne has been most helpful.  She's a Celiac herself, and the diet has been shown to improve intestinal health. I have seen liquid vitamins on line.  Thiamine TTFD comes in a capsule, but tastes really strongly of garlic, so be prepared if your Gatorade tastes funny.   
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.