Choose Wisely – Stevia

Choose Wisely # 20

The market for Stevia has started blossoming into quite the selection as many manufacturers are jumping on the Stevia bandwagon. Most grocery stores and even corner markets now carry some form of Stevia. But before you just purchase a package of Stevia, make sure you check the ingredients. Many brands have added ingredients that are harmful to our bodies. Today I’m focusing on the white powder form, usually found in little packets.

Although Stevia is not technically a sweetener, it’s an herb that just happens to be sweet. And since Stevia is not a sugar it does not affect blood sugar levels, in fact it is proven to regulate blood sugar and is also known to help lower blood pressure. It’s the only “sweetener” I believe you can consume every day.

 Choose This:

 

SweetLeaf is the only chemical-free, zero-calorie, zero-carb, zero-glycemic index, 100% natural sweetener there is. It’s made by taking the highest quality leaves of the Stevia plant and extracting their naturally sweet taste with only cool, purified water. No chemicals. No alcohols. No additives that cover up the great taste nature created. It has been said that Stevia may help individuals improve insulin production (great for diabetes sufferers) and can help with hypertension (high blood pressure).

Do not choose this:

Stevia in the Raw – has Dextrose and Maltodextrin listed in the ingredients. There are other bad choices on the market, including Whole Food’s 365 brand so make sure you check the ingredients before purchasing.

Why do these companies ruin such a good thing? Here is an excuse, ha-em, explanation, of why Stevia in the Raw is using these ingredients. (www.steviaextractintheraw.com)

What is dextrose and why is it added to Stevia Extract In The Raw?

Dextrose is a natural carbohydrate derived from corn. Many sugar substitutes in powder form contain dextrose because it is a natural ingredient and does not change the flavor of the sweetener in the blend. In our packet product, dextrose is used to dilute the very potent Rebiana extract to make it measurable for consumers; it does not alter the naturally sweet flavor of the Stevia.

What is maltodextrin and why is it added to Stevia Extract In The Raw Cup For Cup?

Maltodextrin, like dextrose is a natural carbohydrate derived from corn. Many “cup for cup” sugar substitutes in powder form contain maltodextrin because it is a natural ingredient that does not change the flavor of the sweetener in the blend. In our cup for cup product, maltodextrin is used to dilute the very potent Rebiana extract to make it measurable for consumers in cup for cup sweetening equivalency as a sugar replacement; it does not alter the naturally sweet flavor of the Stevia.

The truth is that both of these ingredients are harmful for us. I could write a whole blog post on just this topic, but for now I’ll just give you the skinny version.

Dextrose – Dextrose is simply a form of glucose. Some food packagers like to use “dextrose” on their packaging instead of “glucose” because consumers have negative associations with glucose. Dextrose is derived from starchy food ingredients like rice, wheat, or potatoes but it is usually GMO (Gentically Modified Organism) Corn.

Maltodextrin – It is produced from rice, potato or corn starch. It is known to contain MSG and it doesn’t need to state that on the ingredient label. It is also known to affect blood sugar levels and cause tooth decay.

I also do not recommend Truvia because it is a blend of Stevia, erythritol and natural flavors. Erythritol is classified as a sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols are sugar substitutes that are either extracted from plants or manufactured from starches. Sugar alcohols are not completely absorbed into your body and therefore can cause gas and bloating. The process in which manufactures make erythritol is usually by fermenting sugar in GMO corn. Nothing processed like this is good for our bodies.

I understand there is some controversy on these sweeteners and many say you can have them, in moderation of course. But I find it interesting that many doctors will tell diabetics not to consume these at all and only have Stevia. So, my view on this is why consume something that will effect our bodies in a negative way when we can simply choose to enjoy the benefits that Stevia has to offer? Remember, it’s all natural, and should be closest to nature as possible and Sweet Leaf Stevia will give us exactly that. So, choose wisely and buy Sweet Leaf Stevia!

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22 Comments

  1. TonyaWeiss29 on August 14, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Question – what about the KAL Stevia Drops? I love them and the ingredients doesn’t seem to list any of the dangerous additives.

    • Shawna Culp on August 15, 2011 at 3:17 pm

      its is fine as well.. just make sure there are no added ingredients and you will be good to go 🙂

  2. keekee769 on November 30, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    What about Truvia?

  3. Susiefaircloth on January 12, 2012 at 11:45 pm

    What about erythritol in P3?

  4. Micah Oh on May 30, 2012 at 12:45 am

    Liar…Stevia in the Raw, Does Not, contain Maltodextrin.

    • carolensminger on June 1, 2012 at 1:35 am

      Thanks for your comment. Maltodextrin is listed on the bulk Baker’s Bag – At least it was when I wrote this post. I personally had some of this product when I wrote the post. I no longer have it in the house, so I googled it and still find numerous posts where it states it’s still included in the ingredients. 

      • Tammy M on June 2, 2012 at 12:39 am

         I have a box of the Stevia in the Raw packets and the only ingredients listed are Dextrose and Stevia Leaf Extract.

        • Shawna Culp on June 2, 2012 at 12:42 am

          yes, if you look online it is all over where both are listed not just Dextrose. Their new formula may only have one but at the time the article was written both were present. As you can see from the article dextrose is not recommended for protocol. Thanks!

    • Pfrumenti on June 14, 2012 at 12:03 am

      The reason I came to this article is because my Stevia in the Raw package listed maltodextrin and dextrose and I wanted to know what they were.  This was a very helpful article…

    • Susanba on July 5, 2012 at 7:33 am

      It does contain dextrose though

    • richard Miksell on June 6, 2013 at 11:51 am

      I have a bag of the bulk Stevia in the Raw. It lists its 1st ingredient as malodextrin. So I called their toll free phone number 800-611-7434 to find out the percentage of stevia in their sweetner. The lady at the number said she did not know and hung up on me after I started questioning her more. I think it is false advertising and will report it to the FDA and suggest others do also. I think Micah Oh owes an apology to Carolensminger. Also I have a box of the packets that lists dextrose as the main ingredient. Stevia may be only 10% of the total in each. When you buy Stevia, make sure that is what you get.

    • Anne on June 7, 2014 at 8:47 am

      She most certainly is not a liar. My package of Stevia in the Raw lists maltodextrin as the first ingredient, also. Bummer. It should not be first. Think Ill follow RW’s example and give the company a call.

  5. Dextrose packets | Tribalgamingin on September 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    […] Choose Wisely – Stevia | Miracle Skinny DropsAug 10, 2011 … In our packet product, dextrose is used to dilute the very potent Rebiana extract to make it measurable for consumers; it does not alter the … […]

  6. GreenMuffin on September 24, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    What about the inulin in SweetLeaf? it’s marketed as a fiber but actually has the chemical makeup of a sugar, and is, well, bad for you.

  7. Laura Lodge on March 18, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    I bought Stevia Extract (powder) from Trader Joes, the other ingredients is: Lactose (Milk). Is this alright?

    • Shawna Culp on March 19, 2013 at 11:12 am

      Carol said it should be fine for amount consumed

  8. anonymous on May 11, 2013 at 5:58 am

    Thank you for your well researched documentation on stevia. I am trying to improve my mothers diet and reduce her consumption of white flour, chemicals laden products (processed food) and sugar. She purchased Organic Stevia Extract Blend, certified organic by quality assurance international. this product is distributed by Lucern Foods, Inc. in Pleasanton, CA 1-877-232-4271.

    Unfortunately this product contains Dextrose as the first listing product and then Stevia. Before Stevia became popular approximately 2004-2005, stevia could be purchased in pure bulk form for under $2.00 for a generous amount.

    Moral of the story, Since $ is the ultimate motive in the U.S. today at any expense to the consumer, become very knowledgeable about what you consume and what your body needs to maintain good mental and physical health. Become self reliant and resourceful and grow your own food. Most importantly have several alternatives available to you. Diversity ensues survival and constitutes a long and healthy life. This prevents such things as the compromise of Stevia and the deception of its purity for mass distribution in the market today based on popularity alone.

    Just a note. Take a look at the Paleo Diet. I recently went to a presentation on this. The developer and presenter had a very good example of the amount of sugar in your body. In short, the human body has about 1.5 lbs. of sugar in it already. By adding more sugar to your body, without processing what is already in it, causes obesity, and countless other health problems which currently exist in the U.S. today.

    As you stated, read the ingredients on the back of the package carefully. Despite our FDA, the federal drug administration agency whom is supposed to protect the public from deceptive advertising and ingredients that ultimately harm the public in the short or long term, harmful or adverse substances prevails none the less. Last but not least, be proactive. Most companies have an 800 number for feedback on their packages. Call this number and voice your opinion. Keep it short, firm and factual and then stop buying that product. Since it is all about $, they will change on this note.

    Thank you again for your integrity and thoroughness in your web page. Have a great day!

  9. Sunny1 on June 23, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    I’m w u richard M. You can also buy pure stevia in bulk at many health food stores/co ops. In this form it is really strong so will take some experimenting to figiure out how much to use. I have not tried baking wi th it yet. We love it in our tea but i do not like it in my coffee. This is a GREAT article!!!

  10. Kurt on January 29, 2014 at 11:47 pm

    I have a lot of Stevia from the Best Of All brand. I thought this was OK, then noticed that dextrose was the first thing listed. It does not list maltodextrine.

    I became suspicious of this, as dextrose is just a fancy name for glucose. The point of getting stevia, is to avoid glucose. These folks seem to be inviting a class action law suit. Dang, I knew it was too good to be true. It should be noted that one small bag, is good for four uses, so even though it does contain glucose, it does one to use very little. I guess I’ll go to Trader Joes to look for Stevia, without the dextrose.

    One last thought, if someone posts information that may be incorrect, or is percieved to be incorrect, that does not make that person a liar.

  11. Debbie on December 17, 2015 at 9:04 am

    where can I get the “SWEET LEAF” brand of stevia? what stores carry it? i’m from Leesburg VA..

    • admin on December 18, 2015 at 9:21 am

      your local health food stores would carry it, Amazon, or from their website as well.

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