The Polotics of Stevia

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I've got a really sweet secret: Stevia, the undeniably sweet herb you can grow in your garden. When its leaves are dried, stevia becomes powdery green. Sprinkle it into soups, stews, salad dressings or anything you might want sweetened up.

Stevia is often concentrated into a brown super-nutrient-dense viscous fluid. It is also processed into a less-nutrient dense but still low-glycemic clear liquid, also used by the drop ...with a dropper. Only the raw form of stevia and the brown concentrate are therapeutic. Stevia is often used in skin and hair preparations. Stevia brown concentrate can be applied directly to skin wounds to seal them up and heal them from the inside out.

James May is President of Wisdom Natural Brands. He is truly a healer and has fascinating tales to tell about the transformative powers of stevia and his line of teas at http://www.sweetleaf.com/

JUST DON'T CALL IT A SWEETENER! That's against the law, according to the F.D.A. On the nutrition label, by law, manufacturers are prohibited from listing stevia as a sweetener or as a sweetening agent. It is a "supplement". Foods and beverages are "supplemented" with stevia.

Who do you think was behind this political game? Yes, the manufacturers of EQUAL, who wanted stevia to STAY OFF THE MARKET! It was too much competition for those big boys. So, they threw their weight around and did what they could to toss a wrench into the stevia industry. Incidentally, I do get severe headaches, feel awfully edgy and uneasy when I consume ANYTHING with EQUAL or SUCRALOSE. But, that's just me. We are all different.

Stevia is low-glycemic because it contains no carbohydrates. Therefore, it helps to manage blood sugars by not causing them to spike, yet satisfies that yen for something sweet. You really must experiment with this "supplement" (chuckle, chuckle).

Now, http://www.sweetleaf.com/ provides a variety of exciting new, simply delectable flavors: English Toffee, Valencia Orange, Lemon Drop, Chocolate Raspberry, Apricot Nectar, Vanilla Cream. Add these clear liquids to plain yogurt, shakes, sparking water, plain water... whatever you please!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Just, DON'T CALL IT A SWEETENER. Even though it really is!

Roses are red, so is this tea. Rooibos is therapeutic, and sweet as can be!

Are you one who sips on beverages all day long? You simply must discover Red Rooibos tea. Hot or iced, it is a delight. If you like your beverages sickeningly sweet, experiment with stevia to avoid adding carbohydrates. Or, you can try xylitol (which fights tooth decay and is low-glycemic!) A low G.I, (Glycemic Index) syrupy sweetener is agave [which comes from a cactus] and is pretty expensive, and easy to over-do. Lemon juice is a flavor-enhancer, so you might add it to iced red tea. Or a splash of 100% fruit juice will sweeten it, naturally. Like an ounce of apple juice, cranberry or pomegranate!

My friend, Nira Levy owns the Rooibos Tea House on 533 N. Fairfax Avenue, down the street from the CBS station. She LOVES TO COOK WITH THE TEA. Her website is http://www.africanredtea.com/ Check out a few flavors. Nira notes, "the longer you cook the tea, the stronger the anti-oxidants become" [I am not certain where she got that information, but, it could be true]. Nira advises to re-use the tea and to not to dump it after the first cup. I take her advice. She is the tea lady. I recommend buying in bulk and using a stainless steel or natural cloth tea strainer.

Red Tea has been identified as an "anti-aging beverage" by scientists at the Institute for Science at AICHI Medical University in Japan. Their studies revealed red tea contains a powerful anti-oxidant that fights free radical damage: S.O.D. or Super Oxide Dismutase. The researchers felt red tea can significantly delay the aging process.

Rooibos has been used to treat mild depression (contains tryptophan, which raises serotonin), as well as nervousness/anxiety/insomnia, digestive disorders, and is helpful for asthmatics to assist breathing. It also helps build bones and protects the immune system.

The minerals in Red Tea include:
iron, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, fluoride and sodium.

Red Tea contains the phyto-nutrient and flavonol, Quercetin, to fortify and strengthen capillaries, which feed the cells.

Green Tea, Shmeen Tea. Dive into a cup of Red, Red, Rooibos, tonight.