How Sweet

Sugar makes us fat.

By Candy

So, we turn to splendid splenda to satisfy our sweet cravings. No calories, no worries, right?

The truth is, this artificial sweetener is toxic. Experts say that it may cause unpleasant side effects, like stomach pain, rashes and dizziness.

No thanks!

How about a natural, zero-calorie alternative? Stevia is an herb, 10 to 15 times sweeter than sugar in its raw leaf form. Grown in parts of Paraguay and Brazil, it has been used as a sweetener around the world for hundreds of years.

Why don’t most of us know about this sweet wonder?

The FDA will only classify it as a dietary supplement, claiming that it is an unsafe food additive. Yet dozens of scientific studies have found this sugar substitute to be completely harmless. Rob McCaleb, President of the Herb Research Foundation, says that the safety of Stevia may not be the real issue; this product has the potential to become the most popular non-caloric sweetener. It would diminish our addiction to artificial sweeteners.

Hmm, isn’t it comforting to know that the FDA has our best interest at heart?

Stevia is sold in health food stores and can be ordered on the stevia Web site.

www.stevia.com

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