Stevia, fine its an herb.  As for the rest of this
stuff(splenda, optisweet...)I don't know, I've never
been interested.

To use this stuff to help other people who are sugar
addicts is fine IMHO.  It can be a valuable stepping
stone.

Ever tried juicing a pinapple and coconuts and other
tropical fruits, Then freezing the pulp to make an ice
creamy treat?

--- matesz <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dori Zook wrote:
>
> >>>>And here's my humble opinion.  I gave up pizza,
> Ben & Jerry's ice cream,
> homemade bread, corn on the cob, potatoes, even the
> such paleo foods as like
> bananas and pinapple which would cause an insulin
> rush.  Then I went paleo
> and gave up dairy and peanut butter, which I love
> even more than dairy
> foods.  I'm not complaining, but think about it;
> I've made MAJOR changes in
> my diet.  I've also enjoyed MAJOR benefits.  But I
> like a tall, cool glass
> of stevia-sweetened lemonade or a nice coconut milk
> pudding every once in a
> while.  Apart from lightly sweetened drinks
> (lemonade, natural tea), a glass
> of which I have once or twice a day, I have a sweet
> treat maybe twice a
> week.  Two oranges in a week.  I feel no need to
> apologize for that.  And I
> DON'T go on binges.  One helping and I'm happy as a
> clam.  I'm clearly doing
> something right.
>
> I agree with you completely.  I see no harm in
> making puddings, mousses, ice
> cream, lemonaide, smoothies, nut cookies, and other
> sweet treats using
> low-impact, healthful ingredients.  Such things can
> open the doors for many
> people to taste an alternative!  You can bring joy
> to someone knowing you
> are not undermining their health.  I do it all the
> time and I don't
> apologize for it either!!!
>
> If you have family members, friends, or guests  who
> are used to eating sweet
> treats (that's 99.99% of people I believe!), or if
> you want to help other
> families make healthier treats, why the HECK Not????
>  You can do so in good
> conscience!
>
> Most people are going to eat desserts and sweet
> snacks, so if you can serve
> them or show them how to make healthier treats--
> without all that sugar,
> flour, dairy products, margarine, artificial
> flavorings, etc.  ALL THE POWER
> TO YOU (and TO ME!!!).  If you have ever been in the
> position of an
> educator, a person who  helps, nudges, inspires, and
> invites people to make
> changes in what they eat, you know that there is
> power in showing people how
> to tame the sweet tooth and kick the sugar habit.
> There are many people
> cannot imagine life without doughnuts, Ben & Jerry's
> (or whatever brand is
> in vogue!), brownies, bon bons and other sugar
> things they eat regularly!
> You have the potential to help them change their
> lives by making and serving
>  healthier desserst!!!  It could be a turning point
> for that person!!!  It
> could plant a seed, open their eyes, delight their
> palates (sans sugar
> hangover!), and move them to explore their sugary
> addiction.....and change
> the way they eat.
>
> Btw, stevia does not have side effects; it is an
> herb!  Herbs and
> plants--leaves, roots, stems, and barks....they have
> probably been used for
> eons!  How do you think the Chinese Pharmacopia came
> to include the
> properties of literally thousands of herbs????
> Experience.  Long term
> experience, dating back to the stone age, I believe!
>
> Sure, fruit is sweet and so are many vegetables,
> once your taste buds are
> awakened, but..... with all of the foods people let
> go of when they change
> to this way of eating, a little stevia or dried,
> powdered, kiwi sweetener in
> this context, is not that big a deal and I can't see
> the harm of it!  It's
> splitting hairs!
>
> >>>I'm curious; 500-700 kcal of carbohydrates equals
> how many grams?  I don't
> know if that's close to what I eat a day or not
> since I count total grams
> minus fiber grams.  The figure stated above sounds a
> bit like French to me.
> I may eat what you think is correct.
>
> Divide the # of calories by 4 and you get a figure
> which is the number of
> grams of carbs.  Put another way. If you eat 50
> grams of carbs, that's 200
> calories.  If you eat 10 grams of carbs, that's 40
> calories.
>
> Keep posting as you do.  Your input is valuable and
> there will always be
> people who will learn from it and/or relate to what
> you think, feel and
> believe.  As for the naysayers--- they can skip the
> stevia sweetened
> lemonaide, limeaide, macaroons, custard, and coconut
> ice cream!  No harm
> done!
>
> Rachel
>
>
> _____
>


=====
-kb.
[log in to unmask]
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com