Natural Sweetener

[gal_amy]

Just curious what kind of sweetener you use? I'm just getting ready to order from here. I usually buy Truvia:

[Bobby_Boomer]

I buy Kal brand Stevia. Unlike Truvia there are no other ingredients, simply Stevia extract.

Truvia has erythritol - a sugar alcohol that does contain low glycemic carbs ------ and the mystery "Natural Flavors" - whatever they are?????????

Kal is Pure Stevia Extract with No Other Ingredients.

Sounds better to me

Bobby

[gal_amy]

Originally Posted by Bobby_Boomer

I buy Kal brand Stevia. Unlike Truvia there are no other ingredients, simply Stevia extract.Bobby

Does it have any kind of aftertaste?

[Bobby_Boomer]

Originally Posted by gal_amy

Does it have any kind of aftertaste?

Nope. It's the best tasting Stevia I've found (and I've found some nasty ones).

[gal_amy]

Originally Posted by Bobby_Boomer

Nope. It's the best tasting Stevia I've found (and I've found some nasty ones).

You said it's by KAL? Do you buy it at your local health food store?

[Bobby_Boomer]

I can get it at a local health food store, but find it cheaper on the 'net.

It's concentrated. It comes with a little plastic scoop. Each scoop is about as sweet as a level teaspoon of sugar.

When I used sugar (back in 90s) I used a rounded tsp per 6oz cup of coffee. Now I use a rounded scoop for the same amount of coffee.

It's economical. There are 2381 level scoops in the 3.5 oz jar. It retails for about $30 but online you can find it for about $20. Of course you will have to pay shipping.

Bobby

[winany]

I am also for stevia. Yet, guava fruit juice concentrate is also a welcome as a Sunday sweetener.

[DiamondDeb]

Kal brand stevia powder is the only natural sweetener I use. I also shop for the best price online (the least expensive place can change so) & have always paid less than $20, no S&H.

I don't know of any other sweeteners that are both natural & healthy.

[Buffy45]

I googled Kal brand stevia, it comes in quite a few different forms, which exact one do you get that you like so much? TIA

[scalestepper]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

I googled Kal brand stevia, it comes in quite a few different forms, which exact one do you get that you like so much? TIA

I would like to know too, tyia

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

I googled Kal brand stevia, it comes in quite a few different forms, which exact one do you get that you like so much? TIA

It sounds like Bobby & I use the same one. It is a white powder. The label says KAL Pure Stevia Powder Extract. There are no added ingredients. It has a red shaker lid & contains a tiny scoop (which I do not use) inside. The 3.5 oz container is the most economical.

[Buffy45]

Thanks!!!

[scalestepper]

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

It sounds like Bobby & I use the same one. It is a white powder. The label says KAL Pure Stevia Powder Extract. There are no added ingredients. It has a red shaker lid & contains a tiny scoop (which I do not use) inside. The 3.5 oz container is the most economical.

thank you!

[JLx]

I'm happy with Nunaturals brand stevia and Swerve brand erythritol, which I originally tried based on recommendations by low carb baking bloggers who have done a lot more experimenting than I have.

[WildflowerMama]

Anyone use coconut palm sugar?

[Bobby_Boomer]

I use the powder, and buy it in the 3.5oz plastic jars.

Again with NuNaurals, like Truvia the "Natural Flavors" turn me off.

I don't know what the "Natural Flavors" are, and I know that the FDA approves some pretty gross things as "Natural Flavors" like castoreum which is a compound from the crushed anal "sacs" of beavers. Actually quite common and is threatening the Beaver population.

There are some other things I don't want to eat that are approved "Natural Flavors". Not that I'm paranoid and avoid them like the plague, but I minimize them by choosing products without "Natural Flavors" if I have the choice.

Some other "Natural Flavors" allowed in your food and not uncommon are, Human Hair, Duck Feathers, Crushed Beetles, Sawdust, Maggots (although the amount is limited), Dried Fish Bladder, Shellac (excreted from the Kerria lacca insect), Benzaldehyde, and much, much more.

The exact definition of natural flavors from the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:

“The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

So playing by the rules, cat urine can be listed as a "Natural Flavor"

If there are two similar products, and only one lists "Natural Flavors" in the ingredients list, I'll favor the other unless there is something worse in that one.

Bobby

[Buffy45]

Originally Posted by Bobby_Boomer

I use the powder, and buy it in the 3.5oz plastic jars.

Again with NuNaurals, like Truvia the "Natural Flavors" turn me off.

I don't know what the "Natural Flavors" are, and I know that the FDA approves some pretty gross things as "Natural Flavors" like castoreum which is a compound from the crushed anal "sacs" of beavers. Actually quite common and is threatening the Beaver population.

There are some other things I don't want to eat that are approved "Natural Flavors". Not that I'm paranoid and avoid them like the plague, but I minimize them by choosing products without "Natural Flavors" if I have the choice.

Some other "Natural Flavors" allowed in your food and not uncommon are, Human Hair, Duck Feathers, Crushed Beetles, Sawdust, Maggots (although the amount is limited), Dried Fish Bladder, Shellac (excreted from the Kerria lacca insect), Benzaldehyde, and much, much more.

The exact definition of natural flavors from the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:

“The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

So playing by the rules, cat urine can be listed as a "Natural Flavor"

If there are two similar products, and only one lists "Natural Flavors" in the ingredients list, I'll favor the other unless there is something worse in that one.

Bobby

ewwwww! Wow, that is an eye opener. Will pay more attention, really never gave it a thought.

[gal_amy]

Originally Posted by Bobby_Boomer

If there are two similar products, and only one lists "Natural Flavors" in the ingredients list, I'll favor the other unless there is something worse in that one.

Bobby

Thank you so much for sharing that. Now I will be more diligent in looking at ingredients.

[Bobby_Boomer]

It's sad that the FDA started as an agency to protect the consumer, but is not an agency to protect the corporations' profits even at the consumers' expense.

Not only do you have to read the labels, but you have to research what the terms mean. Natural Flavorings being one that sounds so innocent and healthful, but can be something not so innocent or healthful.

If you have a choice, go for companies that give full disclosure of the ingredients. Both natural and artificial flavors can be completely benign, but they could also be catch-all terms for things the food corporation doesn't want you to know about.

Like I said, I don't avoid them like the plague, but if I have the choice I'll choose full disclosure. If everyone did that, it could change the industry. The idealist in me thinks that, but the realist says it will never happen. After all, they still eat pink slime foods (if you are not familiar with that, google "pink slime")

Bobby

[BABYSTEPS]

I like sweet perfection, all natural,expensive tho.

[Buffy45]

Originally Posted by BABYSTEPS

I like sweet perfection, all natural,expensive tho.

Ordered the Sweet Perfection from netrition and just got my order yesterday.

[Matrigna]

I've been using Truvia for my packet sweetener. I switched over from Splenda about a year ago.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally bought the Sweet Drops liquid stevia. I've been using that in my morning kefir, and I used a little of it in my last batch of spaghetti sauce. It's working out very well so far.

That said, I still really love my torani and davinci SF syrups sometimes, in certain things. But I'm doing better! Baby steps =)

[Bobby_Boomer]

There are a few things that Stevia just doesn't work for. Coconut/chocolate bark is one of them. I use Spenda for that. But for most everything, Kal Stevia is my first choice.

There are other great products out there. One size doesn't fit all

[Mistizoom]

I've been making a homemade Truvia, 1 cup erythritol and 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract (I use NuNaturals brand - the one listed as NuStevia Pure White Stevia Extract Powder). The stevia must not have any fillers or additives. It tastes cleaner than the brand name stuff to me and even smells better!

I also occasionally use Splenda, and stevia alone (packets and liquids).

[NextLevel]

I use Truvia or I make my own exactly the way Mistizoom makes it above.

[Jonika]

Originally Posted by WildflowerMama

Anyone use coconut palm sugar?

Hi, you can, but coconut palm sugar has many carbs. If you are low-carbing, I would avoid it.

[Jonika]

I also use Stevia, Kal brand. Besides that one, the other ones I use are Z-sweet (erythritol + stevia + nat.flavors), Xylitol, pure Erythritol, and "Just like sugar" which is chicory root fiber.

[Jakelilydad]

I use stevia in my coffee, but use Swerve in my baking (and sometimes a bit of stevia as well to up the sweetness). I sometimes use Truvia, too, but mostly when I run out of Swerve.

[Mrs.Hyder]

I use Stevia in the Raw and I enjoy it but you have to be careful not to add too much because then you will have an aftertaste.

[blessedmamato3]

For those that use Truvia, you may want to check this out - Google: Truvia’s Misleading “Honestly Sweet” Claim Is Deceptive Marketing.

I use Nunaturals stevia extract (the pure stuff, not the big bottle with erythritol). I still don't like stevia, but it's the best one I've tried lol.