Truvia?

[daisy.girl]

Can anyone tell me if this sweetner is safe for epilepsy/migraine sufferers?
The advertisment says it is all natural. I have reactions to aspartame, as do most epilepsy/migraine people....but haven't heard much about this new one.

 

[Nakamova]

Truvia is made from Stevia, which is a plant, so it's not chemically-related to artificial sweeteners like aspartame or saccharine. It's supposed to be better than regular sugar (and good for low-carb diets) because it doesn't affect glucose levels too much.

You should be okay with it, but pay attention to how you feel when you try it, just to be on the safe side.

 

[Endless]

Interesting you should ask this. I've been looking this up lately, too.

The manufacturer's website lists these ingredients:

Truvia™ natural sweetener is made from rebiana, the best tasting part of the stevia leaf, erythritol and natural flavors. See our ingredients page for more detailed information.

http://truvia.com/about/qa/default.aspx#

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol. I haven't seen anything bad about Erythritol except for digestive upsets (bowel problems) if you eat too much or have irritable bowel syndrome. The manufacturers claim it's "all natural," but it fact it's highly processed. Sort of like Rum is certainly no longer cane juice. So if you are natural-only kind of person you may want to give the Erythritol and therefore the Truvia a miss.

I have no idea what the "natural flavors" are in the Truvia. It could be anything - including MSG (which some also claim is "natural.") The website does not define what those natural flavors are, but I'm suspicious it's MSG based on their description. Here's what they had to say:

Natural flavors are used to bring out the best of Truvia™'s natural sweetener, like pepper or salt or any other spice that would be used to heighten the taste of food.

http://truvia.com/about/qa/default.aspx#

I just go for all-natural Stevia without all the additives. You can get it at the health food store. Plain stevia is good for almost everything. But don't put it in coffee. It makes it taste really weird.

 

[Jan4you]

Yes its the ONLY kind of "sugar" my nutritionist recommends. I stopped aspartame, major no no, then switched to SPLENDA which he told me was "bleached sugar".

My nutrtionist is a guru when it comes to knowing chemicals, foods and interactions.

Hope it works out for you.

Jan

 

[hootie]

I choose not to use stevia because it makes my cheeks red and it makes my son pick his nose when he uses it (sorry). I wonder if it is an allergy reaction for us.

 

[Jan4you]

Well it is a plant and ANYthing can cause an allergy!! But picks his nose? That's new. At least you aren't smoking it LOL

Jan

 

[hootie]

Artificial vanilla (vanillin) makes my right nostril crack inside...within an hour of eating it. It really hurts, especially when I'm washing my face and water touches it. OUCH. Needless to say...I try to avoid the stuff!

 

[Jan4you]

FOLKS..try it..you may just like it.. and.. its good for you!!

Jan

 

[Mrs. H]

Each of us has different triggers; however, fruit alcohol sugars are known to cause seizures and truvia is one of them. If it has "tol" at the end of it, I steer clear. I have a find who used stevia to control her hypoglycemia. I stayed with her and ate her food and drank her sweet tea. I had SEVERAL seizures over that weekend and didn't put it together until I researched sugar alternates to join THM (Trim Healthy Momma.) I stick to sugar, honey, and pure maple syrup and try to limit all of them.

 

[Frink]

Stevia (the plant extract) itself is not a sugar alcohol, products like Truvia (and other brands) are blends of Stevia and other ingredients like Glycerol and Erythritol which are sugar alcohols.

I do not use Stevia because it does not taste sweet to me.