The Great Stevia Conspiracy

[jynxxxedangel]

I was browsing the net, looking for plants to grow in my spring garden. I came across a bit of interesting information in a blurb describing a commonly available plant, Stevia Rebaudiana. This blurb was borrowed from Whatcom Seed Company, with all due respect..

"Stevia is a remarkable plant that is used in many parts of the world as a natural herbal sweetener. In Japan, for example, about 40% of the sweetener market is stevia-based. Stevia leaves are 30 times sweeter than sugar but contain virtually no calories. It is native to South America, where its use as a sweetener has been known for at least 1,500 years. In the U.S., due to pressure from the powerful sugar lobby, Stevia is regulated by the FDA and may be offered only as a dietary supplement (or skin care product) but not as a food additive or sweetener. Stevia is a tender, perennial herb that is usually grown as an annual but may be overwintered indoors. Full sun to part shade, grows to a height of about 30 inches."

Being me, I read between the lines. I think that the American people are being subjected to inhumane cruelty by the blatant market inavailability of this plant! Then again, I also see the dilemma faced by the US Department of Agriculture, in the face of keeping native industry alive.

Our population has a very high occurrance of OBESITY. I watched a documentary on PBS called, "Super-Corn Nation," which painted a very grim picture of our new dependence on corn syrup sweeteners.

The sugar cane and sugar beet agricultural businesses are almost obsolete, because of the cheapness and availability of corn sweeteners! What is really sad, is our government gives more grants to corn farmers, as it is an easier crop to grow, with the event of genetic engineering. "Super-Corn Nation" also points the finger at corn sweeteners for making our country the most statistically obese nation in the world.

Corn sugar is one of the most difficult to digest and metabolize. I know this myself, from being aware of the things I put into my mouth (on account of my hypoglycemic condition). Corn sugar (syrup) is also the most COMMON sweetener in almost every American beverage and food! Because it is so cheaply produced, and readily governmentally-subsidized, it has a very high spot on the economic totem pole in this nation.

All I have to say is-- is the economic health of our nation worth the ignorance of new ways to eat healthier? Or worth denying the history and pride of the sugar cane and beet industries--two of the crops that made this country GREAT and POWERFUL? Two of the native crops that made all of Mother Europe BEG for more, which gave us the moxy to become independent? White refined sugar and brown sugar were once kept under lock and key, in cupboards and small chests, they were so precious! I cannot see keeping a bottle of Caro Syrup in the sugar chest. In the same breath, I cannot bear to see Stevia go un-noticed as a wonderful medicine that could help many get over the consequences of a sweet tooth..

I find this very upsetting, in many ways! It pains me to see how backwards our "Brave New Nation" is becoming..

P.S. Please check out one of my favorite books about injustice in American agriculture, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes". It's a real eye-opener about the hemp industry. Here is the link to the Internet Edition:

http://www.jackherer.com/chapters.html

[hunhee]

I actually have Stevia in my cupboards, but the problem with it is it doesn't dissolve very well in liquids, I also don't remember liking it all too much, but then again, I have to get used to most new things. I found it at Kroger, so it can't be too hard to find.

Stevia isn't very cheap, that's for sure. I saw a liquid bottle of it online (2 oz.) for 19.95. 2 Oz. is a shot. That's it. I know a little goes a long way, but in this day and age when we're all trying to pinch a dollar here or there, it seems a bit exorbitant, especially when I can buy brain cancer for a LOT less (When I say brain cancer I mean other artificial sweeteners).

[Miranda]

Stevia isn't very cheap, that's for sure. I saw a liquid bottle of it online (2 oz.) for 19.95. 2 Oz. is a shot. That's it. I know a little goes a long way, but in this day and age when we're all trying to pinch a dollar here or there, it seems a bit exorbitant, especially when I can buy brain cancer for a LOT less (When I say brain cancer I mean other artificial sweeteners).

A pound of Stevia powder is worth US $120.00 current price. This plant is also has a huge market in Europe, Japan, and USA. This also cannot be cultivated on large scale farming such as corn or soybean. Smaller farmers with very intensive labor can cultivate and market with the help of the internet or through international brokers. K Ag Laboratories can help market this crop or provide brokers who can market this crop for growers.

Source: Pakissan

[hunhee]

A pound of Stevia powder is worth US $120.00 current price. This plant is also has a huge market in Europe, Japan, and USA. This also cannot be cultivated on large scale farming such as corn or soybean. Smaller farmers with very intensive labor can cultivate and market with the help of the internet or through international brokers. K Ag Laboratories can help market this crop or provide brokers who can market this crop for growers.

Source: Pakissan

Yeah, and five pounds of sugar is what? .99?

[Oh_My_Goth]

We carry Stevia at Me work.....$8.25 for 1oz

I personally think it is nasty.....I use honey to sweeten things.....

It is also used to help stabilize blood sugar levels.....

I don't believe we pay $120/lb for it, and we get the 'best of the best', I will have to look into that.....

[jynxxxedangel]

I tend to use powdered or freeze-dried honey..it's easy to carry in a small container in one's purse or satchel. I believe American honey is a terrifically patriotic and healthy product to buy.

http://www.blossomland.com/hnp5.html

It's not too expensive (actually less expensive per lb. than liquid honey), and it tastes wonderful. It can also be mixed with a high ratio of cornstarch or arrowroot to make a naturally antibiotic (and yummy) dusting powder for the body. .

[Rev.Reverence]

I tend to use powdered or freeze-dried honey..it's easy to carry in a small container in one's purse or satchel. I believe American honey is a terrifically patriotic and healthy product to buy.

http://www.blossomland.com/hnp5.html

It's not too expensive (actually less expensive per lb. than liquid honey), and it tastes wonderful. It can also be mixed with a high ratio of cornstarch or arrowroot to make a naturally antibiotic (and yummy) dusting powder for the body. .

NOW THAT'S SOME SHIT I AIN'T HEARD OF!

THANX&SPANX DOLL!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Man, it's about TIME the FDA finally got their head out of their a$$ & approved stevia as a sweetener.

I've known about this stuff for about 12 yrs, after studying what is being used in Japan. Did you guys know that in Japan, Nutrasweet is *banned*? Yeah, the Japanese figured out that Nutrasweet has way too many side effects & so they banned it from ever being used. It's pretty funny because the Japanese FDA is extremely strict (unlike our own, which approves things like Phen-fen & then wonders why the hell everybody keels over from heart attacks 5 yrs after they approve stuff!!!) BTW, Phen-fen was NEVER approved in Japan because, again, the Japanese FDA looks out for their people & found it to be "too dangerous!"

I say we fire our American FDA, and hire the Japanese FDA.....!

FYI - for all you health-conscious folks out there, you can get the organic dried cane juice called "Sucanat" at any Whole Foods market. It's not cheap, but it does have all the vitamins/minerals intact, unlike pure white cane sugar. So if you don't want to do stevia, you can do the Sucanat instead. And Sucanat IS real cane sugar, it's just the "minimally-processed" version.

[jynxxxedangel]

Here is another natural sweetener I've come across:

http://www.agavenectar.com/product.html

I MUST try this stuff. Sounds like it would be great to help keep my blood sugar in balance.

It's a bit expensive, though. I'll wait until I go to Mexico and buy it from a native producer, instead of these hucksters. The farmers who made the stuff aren't making shit, I'm sure.

[hunhee]

Here is another natural sweetener I've come across:

http://www.agavenectar.com/product.html

I MUST try this stuff. Sounds like it would be great to help keep my blood sugar in balance.

It's a bit expensive, though. I'll wait until I go to Mexico and buy it from a native producer, instead of these hucksters. The farmers who made the stuff aren't making shit, I'm sure.

This was what I mentioned before, I have some, you want me to bring some to you to try next time I see you? *becomes an alternative sweetener pusher*

[pomba gira]

Interesting fact: nearly every food item in a North American grocery store contains some form of corn, was fed or fertilized with corn products, or was processed with corn products. The only exception is fresh wild-caught fish. (this and other fascinating food facts, from Much Depends on Dinner by Margaret Visser)

As for the FDA, it's basically useless due to being sooo in bed with Big Pharma and agri-biz. Look at how they have us all eating GMO foods. This was a HUGE issue in Europe, but there was almost no public discussion here... it was all decided behind closed doors.

[peelingchrome]

I read a disturbing fact earlier today. Apparently, the US govt enforces sugar quotas. That means that our government limits the amount of sugar that can be imported. Basic economics tell us that less competition will lead to higher prices. Ever wonder why soda tastes better in other countries? It's because sugar is too expensive as a result of these quotas (or so I read), and that corn syrup is simply cheaper.

I wonder if anyone else has heard about this.

[jynxxxedangel]

I read a disturbing fact earlier today. Apparently, the US govt enforces sugar quotas. That means that our government limits the amount of sugar that can be imported. Basic economics tell us that less competition will lead to higher prices. Ever wonder why soda tastes better in other countries? It's because sugar is too expensive as a result of these quotas (or so I read), and that corn syrup is simply cheaper.

I wonder if anyone else has heard about this.

Yes, I was aware of this fact, peelingchrome. It is mentioned in the documentary I saw, "Super Corn Nation." There actually used to be many cane farms in the U.S., but the lack of subsidies, the demand for corn as a cheap commodity, and the cost of labor has become so high, most have been forced out of business. As for the sugar quotas, they make about as much sense to me as that ridiculously-outdated embargo we have with Japan.

We are basically being forced to suck from Lady Corn's genetically-engineered and government-subsidized tit.

Do you think Lady Liberty realizes Uncle Sam has taken Maize for his mistress, and Big Oil as his gay lover?

Thomas Jefferson and Old Ben Franklin are spinning "Hamill Camels" in their graves, I'm sure of it.

[peelingchrome]

Yes, I was aware of this fact, peelingchrome. It is mentioned in the documentary I saw, "Super Corn Nation." There actually used to be many cane farms in the U.S., but the lack of subsidies, the demand for corn as a cheap commodity, and the cost of labor has become so high, most have been forced out of business. As for the sugar quotas, they make about as much sense to me as that ridiculously-outdated embargo we have with Japan.

We are basically being forced to suck from Lady Corn's genetically-engineered and government-subsidized tit.

Do you think Lady Liberty realizes Uncle Sam has taken Maize for his mistress, and Big Oil as his gay lover?

Thomas Jefferson and Old Ben Franklin are spinning "Hamill Camels" in their graves, I'm sure of it.

I think she realized as soon as she arrived at Git-Mo.

[pomba gira]

Yes, I was aware of this fact, peelingchrome. It is mentioned in the documentary I saw, "Super Corn Nation." There actually used to be many cane farms in the U.S., but the lack of subsidies, the demand for corn as a cheap commodity, and the cost of labor has become so high, most have been forced out of business.

Which is one reason the state of Florida is able to buy all that sugar land for the Everglades restoration project. I doubt the company would sell it if they thought it was going to keep making them $ down the road. At least SOME good can come out of the dreadfully unfair situation.