This One's For You...Martha and Ryan (the girl)

I need to apologize to Ryan and Martha because I just now "discovered" two comments that they had made and questions I need to answer and should have answered over two months ago...I am sorry for not being 'on top of things'. Anyway, two questions were asked (1)about the sweetener stevia (2) and information on spirulina...

So here goes....Stevia is not an artificial sweetener but a natural one.  It has been around for many years. The FDA just barely approved it as a sweetener but before that it was used as a health supplement. Stevia Rebaudiana is a small shrub that is native to China, Paraguay and Brazil. I actually have some nonprocessed stevia (which is the leafy part) that has been ground up and it is very, very sweet. Stevia contains steviosides which makes it the sweetest herb in the world. Stevia in its natural form is 20 to 30 times sweeter than common table sugar.  Stevia gives you a feeling of energy whereas sugar depletes the body of its energy reserves.

Many countries have actually done studies on stevia to test for its safety and all have reported that it is without risk. If you lived in Japan, you would find that stevia is used to sweeten just about everything. I have heard that stevia has hit the mass market and can be found in grocery stores across America.  I have not looked at these products to see what is in them...if it is a pure stevia product or not. Stevia comes in different forms...powdered and liquid.  As I mentioned earlier, it is very, very sweet so a little goes a long way. 

You can find it on the shelves at Cottonwood Health Cottage, Sprouts, or Vitamin Cottage. Some liquid stevia contains alcohol...I would avoid that. I use the brand...Sweet Leaf...comes in a liquid and has many flavors.  I have heard that you can bake with stevia by purchasing the powdered form and because it is so sweet you can significantly reduce the amount of sugar that is called for in a recipe...However, since I don't bake much any more and I bet as my children are reading this...they are thinking...did Mom ever bake? :):) but I did...you just don't remember...hehehe...anyway, I don't have much information to offer as to how to bake with it. 

I do know it tastes great in teas or smoothies...think green drink...yum yum. Stevia has also been found to be beneficial at helping control high blood pressure,  lower blood sugar levels , control sugar cravings, as an energy booster and weight loss aid. It has many other health benefits so that is why stevia is a good choice as opposed to refined sugar.

Now on to spirulina. Many, many years ago when I first started on my journey to better health...spirulina was the very first thing I used and it produced this green water that I would drink throughout the day. :):)

Spirulina is a blue-green one-celled form of algae that lives in warm, alkaline fresh bodies of water. It has a long history for being used for human consumption and has many health benefits. Did you know that the Mayan and Aztecs used it as a central part of their diet?

Spirulina is popular because it is a power house in nutrition. It's a great source of vegetable protein, high in vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin E, zinc, B-complex vitamins, copper, calicum, and magnesium. It is also rich in beta-cartotene which is a great antioxidant and contains the essential fatty acid GLA.

In case you are not sure what GLA is...here is a brief rundown. GLA can be found in spirulina or also in the supplements Evening Primrose Oil or Borage oil. It is a fatty acid which may be useful in helping treat inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, allergies, eczema, high blood pressure, premenstrual syndrome and other hormonal issues. Do not supplement with evening primrose or borage oil if you are pregnant or nursing without a doctor's approval.

Back to spirulina...It provides energy because of the protein and B-vitamin factor. It is low in calories and is only 7% fat...which is from the good fatty acids. It can also help with appetite cravings. The fatty acids contained in spirulina help break up cholesterol in the bloodstream and it is also beneficial for hair, skin, and nail health.

Again, Ryan and Martha..I am sorry for not posting this sooner. xoxoxoxooxoxox