Stevia?

Pixx · Aug 19, 2017

So I just joined a gym, and have been working out nearly 3 weeks now, and when I enter or exit I walk past the front counter, where there is always someone who wants to know if I want to try one of their protein shakes. I politely decline and keep on going. However they seem so very persistent, so I stopped the other morning and asked about the ingredients in the shakes. They had a sheet that listed everything that goes into the shake. Apparently, I live under a rock as I wasn't aware of so many different types of protein! I'm not changing over from whey, but it kind of threw me off for a bit. Anyway, I immediately look at sugar content first when I examine a label nowadays because pretty much anything over 10 grams gets my heart a little too excited and my taste buds just can't handle the sugar since surgery. The entire list showed anywhere from 20-30 grams of sugar per shake. I gave them back their list, thanked them and told them I couldn't do that much sugar in a shake. One of the trainers standing there assured me that the sugar used was Stevia, "the good sugar." I didn't know what to say to that... so I just smiled, said thanks and went home. I don't know much about Stevia, I don't know what effects it has for bypass patients and I don't see my doc until October, so I was wondering if anyone had experience with it? If it is just a sugar substitute I would still not be able to take in 20-30 grams of it in one drink! Thoughts? Comments? Thanks!

Christine Seese · Aug 22, 2017

Pixx said:
So I just joined a gym, and have been working out nearly 3 weeks now, and when I enter or exit I walk past the front counter, where there is always someone who wants to know if I want to try one of their protein shakes. I politely decline and keep on going. However they seem so very persistent, so I stopped the other morning and asked about the ingredients in the shakes. They had a sheet that listed everything that goes into the shake. Apparently, I live under a rock as I wasn't aware of so many different types of protein! I'm not changing over from whey, but it kind of threw me off for a bit. Anyway, I immediately look at sugar content first when I examine a label nowadays because pretty much anything over 10 grams gets my heart a little too excited and my taste buds just can't handle the sugar since surgery. The entire list showed anywhere from 20-30 grams of sugar per shake. I gave them back their list, thanked them and told them I couldn't do that much sugar in a shake. One of the trainers standing there assured me that the sugar used was Stevia, "the good sugar." I didn't know what to say to that... so I just smiled, said thanks and went home. I don't know much about Stevia, I don't know what effects it has for bypass patients and I don't see my doc until October, so I was wondering if anyone had experience with it? If it is just a sugar substitute I would still not be able to take in 20-30 grams of it in one drink! Thoughts? Comments? Thanks!

Don't like the taste of it myself, so I avoid it, but I did a little bit of research. Like sugar, it is derived from a plant. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar, so you use less. Has no side effects and is safe for diabetics. Finally, does not raise blood sugar. I guess this is why it is safe for diabetics. My opinion, if it is showing up in a nutrition list as being over 10g of sugar, avoid it. I think it is odd that they have it as sugar since it is not a sugar. Since it is so sweet, imagine how sweet that shake is. What flavor are they trying to hide?

Stevia?

Pixx

Christine Seese