Well meant advice

Husband M asked me to pick up a case of diet ginger ale while I was at the supermarket. At the cashier this lady behind me politely asked if I knew how they made the aspartame in the diet soda. She said it was from rat poison, that stevia was no better even though it is a natural product. Her advice was to drink green tea instead. I appreciated her advice but I still bought the diet soda.  Do  you drink diet sodas?

Stevia

Welcome to February!

One of my sisters has been looking at Stevia, a new artificial sweetener.  I found this relevant article in one of our national newspapers.  We have diabetes running in the family (I don't have it yet)  and thus have an interest in artifical sweeteners.

Stevia is from a plant.  It is being marketed in the U.S. as Truvia and PurVia.  It is being introduced slowly into Canada.  Pepsico and Coco-cola plan to introduce vitamin-infused water sweetened with PurVia and Truvia.  Truvia and PurVia are allowed as table sweeteners in Canada.

According to the article, stevia 'can lead to male reproductive problems, interfere with metabolism and cause genetic mutations.'  Then it reminds us saccarin and cyclamate were banned as unsafe many years ago.  Sucralose and aspartame have also been linked with health problems.

It's scary, you almost want to just have a little real sugar every now and then.  I have cut down on my diet soda consumption but still drink it.  What are your feelings on artificial sweeteners, do you use them?  My son K has been drinking vitamin water recently saying it is good.  Fortunately the brand he has been drinking uses real sugar.  It's about 130 calories.