Truvia???

[Zero V]

So i open a packet of Truvia today. It is supposed to be the new sugar replacement that is natural and healthier than sugar or its artificial counterparts.

Well I sprinkled some in my mouth. No weird aftertaste, and its actually good. One small packet has the sweetness of 2 teaspoons of sugar.

A packet has zero calories
3g carbs
3g of Erythritol.
and it has rebiana in it.

So what is everyone's take on this new sugar substitute?

Also

""Erythritol ((2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol) is a natural sugar alcohol (a type of sugar substitute) which has been approved for use in the United States[1] and throughout much of the world. It occurs naturally in fruits and fermented foods [2]. At industrial level, it is produced from glucose by fermentation with a yeast, Moniliella pollinis[1]. It is 60–70% as sweet as table sugar yet it is almost non-caloric, does not affect blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is absorbed by the body, therefore unlikely to cause gastric side effects unlike other sugar alcohols. ""

Impressive if this stuff pans out.

 

[elabor]

This article from the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology says Rebiana (aka rebaudioside A) is safe. But it was also funded by Coca Cola, probably to support future efforts in diet sodas sweetened with rebiana.

Overview: the history, technical function and safety of rebaudioside A, a naturally occurring steviol glycoside, for use in food and beverages.Carakostas MC, Curry LL, Boileau AC, Brusick DJ.
Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company, 1 Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313, United States.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Jul;46 Suppl 7:S1-S10. Epub 2008 May 16

Rebaudioside A is a sweet tasting steviol glycoside extracted and purified from Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni). Steviol glycosides can currently be used as a food ingredient in only a handful of countries. Questions on specifications, safety and special population effects have prevented steviol glycosides from obtaining a legal status permitting their use as a sweetener in most countries. A set of papers reporting results of research studies and reviews has been compiled in this Supplement to definitively answer unresolved questions. Specifically, recently completed studies on the general and reproductive toxicity of rebaudioside A corroborate studies carried out with purified steviol glycosides demonstrating safety at high dietary intake levels. Comparative metabolism studies provide further affirmation of the common metabolic pathway for all steviol glycosides and the common metabolism between rats and humans. Finally, clinical studies provide further evidence that purified rebaudioside A has no effect on either blood pressure or glucose homeostasis. This paper summarizes the information used to conclude that high purity rebaudioside A (rebiana) produced to food-grade specifications and according to Good Manufacturing Practices is safe for human consumption under its intended conditions of use as a general purpose sweetener.


A more recent article from the journal Pharmacology and Therapeutics says that stevia extracts may actually be beneficial:

Stevioside and related compounds: therapeutic benefits beyond sweetness.Chatsudthipong V, Muanprasat C.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Jan;121(1):41-54. Epub 2008 Oct 27.

Stevioside, an abundant component of Stevia rebaudiana leaf, has become well-known for its intense sweetness (250-300 times sweeter than sucrose) and is used as a non-caloric sweetener in several countries. A number of studies have suggested that, beside sweetness, stevioside along with related compounds, which include rebaudioside A (second most abundant component of S. rebaudiana leaf), steviol and isosteviol (metabolic components of stevioside) may also offer therapeutic benefits, as they have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions. It is of interest to note that their effects on plasma glucose level and blood pressure are only observed when these parameters are higher than normal. As steviol can interact with drug transporters, its role as a drug modulator is proposed. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the pharmacological actions, therapeutic applications, pharmacokinetics and safety of stevioside and related compounds. Although much progress has been made concerning their biological and pharmacological effects, questions regarding chemical purity and safety remain unsolved. These issues are discussed to help guide future research directions.


So, truvia (and stevia in general) gets my vote out of all the non-caloric sweeteners.

 

[Steveoph]

Truvia is de-bittered stevia. See 3rd paragraph of Wiki , Invalid Link Removed