Stevia, anyone?

I'm unable to eat or drink anything with artificial sweetners in it.  A friend of mine is the same way and she uses a protein powder that has stevia (a natural sweetener) rather than a sugar substitute (she hasn't had bariatric surgery).

Has anyone tried it?  And if so, were you able to drink a protein shake with stevia as an ingredient right after surgery?  I've read messages on this board from those who use agave, another natural sweetner, but nothing I've read so far about stevia.

I'm still pre-op at this point and trying to get as many answers as I can before my surgery.  Thanks.

Stevia is all I use nowadays...I love it.  Some people have claimed that its hard to find, but my local grocery store Harris Teeter has it and so does Trader Joe's.

Stevia is classed as a food additive, and not a sugar subsitute by the FDA. It can be up to 300 times sweeter than granular sugar, as per article the past Sunday in the Parage Magazine in the Sunday newspaper, copy at www.parade.com . I've used Stevia for about 2 years. It may take a little trial and error to figure out how much to use, due to how sweet it is. Some claim it has an aftertaste, but I enjoy it in oatmeal, with fresh strawberries, etc. Comes on packets or an 8 oz jar. DAVE

Thanks very much for the info and the link to the Parade info.

I use it too and love it.   I bought it at health food stores.   I wanted to make mention you can buy the liquid or the extract.  I suggest the extract as it's the same price and goes three or four times longer as you use very little of it.   I have used it in baking as well as drinking herbal teas.   When in the states I did see a vanilla flavored one.   Good luck.

Bonnie

Good to know.  I didn't know that a vanilla-flavored version is available.  Thanks.

I use it and love it. 
You can find protein shakes (vitalady.com carries some - you can order samples and just try them).
Many health food stores will have protein shakes with stevia vs. artificial sweeteners. 
The trick is to find some that you like and can drink. 
Good luck.

(edited for spelling - sorry)

I just wanted to share with you that before surgery I could tolerate NO artificial sweeteners at all. They would all give me migraines, horrible diarrhea and stomach problems. Surgery changed that for me for some reason. I now eat/drink stuff with artificial sweetener all day long. Some are better than others. I find that I can tolerate the taste of sucralose better than any other. They all still kind of taste like chit to me though  but it's getting easier. Hope this helps.

Really?  That would be great if I had the same experience.  Most people on the site refer to sugar-free popsicles, jello, puddings, etc. post op and I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to tolerate them.  You're right... I do think they taste awful, but I'm hoping to keep my food options post surgery as open as I can.  Fingers crossed......

Thanks again.

I use stevia a lot these days.  I am trying to walk the walk before surgery.  To me stevia has a different kind of sweetness than sugar or other sweeteners.  Not bad, just different, at first it kind of threw me a bit, but now I use it for all kinds of things.