Stevia?

Anyone tried this? Is it ok to use post op? A friend of mine was talking about it the other day, and all the flavors she adds to her water.  It sounded yummy, so she's bringing me some on Sunday to try in my water, but I wanted to make sure it was OK to use first.  It is sugar free, so I'm thinking it's OK, but I couldn't find it mentioned in my pre op book.  Amy

Amy, I never heard of it. check it to be sure it is caffiene-free too. Provided it is, with it being sugar-free (so I take it low in calories...?), it should be as good as Crystal Light to use. Let us know..and let us know about the taste, and where it's available at. Sherri

I have heard of it. They have it at our local health foods store. Its a "natural" sugar or something like it. I know Wls patiets use it. So its ok but I likes a form of sweetner thats Not pure sugar. I know that doesn't make sense. Its hard to explain. Try GOOGLing it for more info.  Shanna

Amy Ive heard of it for years and u can find it in most health food stores.  I know several ppl at the hospital use it instead of sugar.  Here is some info I found online about it.....

 

Stevia is a genus of about 150 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America. The species Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or liquorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Stevia also has shown promise in medical research for treating such conditions as obesity^[1] and high blood pressure.^[2][3] Stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, even enhancing glucose tolerance;^[4] therefore, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to diabetics and others on carbohydrate-controlled diets.^[5] However, health and political controversies have limited stevia's availability in many countries; for example, the United States banned it in the early 1990s unless labeled as a supplement. Stevia is widely used as a sweetener in Japan, and it is now available in the US and Canada as a dietary supplement, although not as a food additive.

Hijack, Hey Pamela you got mail....

Hey beautiful Sara....You do too!!!

Hi Pamela...long time no see....When are you planning another girls day out???? I missed the last one and think it would be fun, now that weather is getting better....DEB

Im good to go about any fri or sat.  I just need to know who all would like to go and what exactly everyone would like to do.  I really enjoyed the spa day (never get enough of those)  and the day we did the pottery.  I could also use a day of shoe shopping, too...LOL    I love Girls days out!!!

 Also, there is a new steak house that just opened up off of I 70 at the New Castle exit that is awesome... the fish I had was really good too.  A great Italian place just opened up in Richmond but its a bit pricey, but the food there was great too.  Those from Indy might have other suggestions.

I had heard of it but wasn't sure just what it was even though I knew it was some kind of sweetner. Now I know since I read through this thread. You learn something new everyday and now you all know this is my new thing today!! Thanks so much for the information.

I use stevia...it is has less of an after taste to me. I use it in my ice tea  and cereal etc.  I buy it at trader joes. In fact trader joes has a coffee pot there for customers to get a small cup of coffee while you shop, and they have packets of stevia there to add to coffee. I tried it there and liked it, I only use 1/2 packet to sweeten things compared to whole packet of splenda......DEB