Get to know these words: Rebaudioside A, Rebiana, Reb A...they are various name forms of the laboratory manufactured artificial stevia-based sweetener that is getting ready to sweep the market. And it's not a good thing, I believe, for our health.
The FDA recently approved Reb A as having GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status for use in food and beverages in concentrations with 95% or higher percent purity. "It separates it completely from stevia extract, which doesn't have that kind of purity level as Reb A." *
That high level of purity initially sounds good and fastidious, but Reb A is extracted from the natural stevia plant, isolated and then enhanced with sugar alcohol and "natural flavors." Of course, the whole plant can't compete in percentages with an artificially concentrated mere fraction of the plant. What the whole plant has that a fraction will never have is synergistic nutrition.
Reb-A, known as the brand Truvia from Coca Cola and PureVia from PepsiCo, will possibly be known by endless names from lesser known corporations. And it will BE IN EVERYTHING.
MSG - a known food enhancer and malady culprit - is know and hidden under
a string of names, and the same, I predict, will be done with Reb A because.....
Reb A is being looked at, not only as an artificial sweetener, but also as a flavor enhancer. It will become like a mutant sweetener crossing with MSG which will surely create a food additive that will appear in MUCH? MANY? MOST? processed foods.
This is not a victory for consumers. Instead it is another crime against trusting people who think the FDA is looking out for their health and keeping them safe. There are no long term studies for Reb A, but if I were a gambling person, I'd bet money it will eventually gain the reputation of aspartame (NutraSweet), saccharin (Sweet 'n Low) and sucralose (Splenda). If you care about your health, you would be well advised to avoid all artificial sweeteners.
The first products to hit the market with Reb A are Coca Cola's Sprite Green and Odwalla juice drinks and PepsiCo's SoBe Lifewater drinks in three flavors. BEWARE! Read your labels.
The evidence is showing that the use of artificial sweeteners is backfiring on body weight. In efforts to eat or drink sweets without gaining weight, people often opt for sugar-free, artificially sweetened varieties. The studies are showing that the use of artificial sweeteners stimulates a desire to eat and leads to compensatory eating. So in the end, those who use artificial sweeteners may very well gain weight rather than lose or maintain weight.
It's better to eat real, whole and preferably organic, raw natural sweeteners like molasses, agave, honey and....yes, stevia...in moderation. The body will have its sweetness cravings satisfied and you'll be free to move on. Your body won't be duped by fake sugar and then seek the real or processed (white sugar) variety in unhealthy quantities.
Live Light, xo-C.
Further Resources:
My fear over the Truvia/Purevia fiasco will be that CSPI - who for many years have been putting out anti-Stevie propaganda - will use illness caused by Truvia and Purevia and any other Stevia derivatives to say "we told you Stevia was bad for you" and that people will end up associating all Stevia derivatives with Stevia itself and call for Stevia itself to be banned.
Posted by: Darth Chaos | January 12, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Hidden Sources of Splenda
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/04/04/hidden-sources-of-splenda.aspx
Posted by: OneHealthyGirl.com | January 15, 2009 at 09:36 AM
New Chemical Alternative to MSG That is Coming Soon
(PS - and it's not any healthier or safer!)
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/01/08/chemists-cooking-up-mysterious-quot-fifth-taste-quot.aspx
Posted by: OneHealthyGirl.com | January 15, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Hiiden Names for MSG - a list
http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm
Posted by: OneHealthyGirl.com | January 15, 2009 at 01:37 PM