Have you grown stevia?
@GardenGerty (157907)
United States
May 13, 2007 6:12pm CST
I went to the garden center yesterday, and bought something extra, it was a stevia plant. You powder the leaves and use them instead of sugar, it is five times ss sweet as sugar, and is avilable in health food stores. I hope I have good luck with this plant. Have you ever grown it?
4 people like this
8 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
13 May 07
I'm not familiar with this plant. Do you know what the carb content is? Where does it get its sweetness? I'd be interested in trying this as an alternative. I have a diabetic daugher who doesnt like any of the alternatives to table sugar. If its any good I may check into it. If you can get this info, I'd really apreciate it.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
13 May 07
You can find it as a powder in health food stores. I had never tried it, but I love plants. I tasted a leaf, and it was very sweet. I would look at package labels at a store, talk to your daughter's doctor, and then consider it. You may be able to learn what you need to know online, too.
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
13 May 07
Look at stevia.com, there is good information. It says that stevia actually stabilizes blood sugar, is calorie and carb free. I still would talk to her doctor
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
14 May 07
I use it all the time. I looked at the box and it doesnt list carbs in the contenets it has Insulin Fiber and Stevia leaf extract that's all. Four packets equals the amount of fiber in a bowl of cereal. It also come in a liquid form.
1 person likes this
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
13 May 07
I have heard of stevia before but have never tried it. Let us know how it goes. Do you grow iy in the ground or in a pot indoors? Thanks for posting this. It has definetly gotten me curious.
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
13 May 07
I will probably put it in a large pot outside, and bring it in this winter. It says it is hardy in zones 10 to 12. I think I should have looked it up online before starting this discussion.
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
16 May 07
I´ve never grown it, but I use Stevia all the time. It´s suitable for diabetics (I know someone with diabetes who uses Stevia). It´s good for your health, because it contains a high amount of magnesium, doesn´t cause caries and contains very few calories. I had an inflammation on my gum once, it actually went dark blue, I put some Stevia powder on the dark spot and it disappeared straight away (not joking, I was surprised myself). I´ve got the information on this natural sweetener from articles in health magazines and from a doctor from Paraguay, where they cultivate this plant.
Good luck with yours.
Dana
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
19 May 07
Thanks for the extra information re: magnesium and healing of sores. I know honey heals wounds outside of the mouth. Magnesium is something I take, as it prevents headaches, and it helps prevent muscle cramps and charlie horses. That extra info is what earned you the best response. :
@erminiasanjose (1588)
• Philippines
14 May 07
Actually, this is my first time to hear of stevia and thanks a lot for I am informed of another health food or medicinal plant. I hope that they can grow well here in the Philippines. I'd be looking for something to plant. I hope I could learn how to propagate this plant and multiply it.
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
15 May 07
It should do well, if your weather never freezes. I see from what one friend posts it is related to sunflower, but I also read it is related to chrysanthemum. I am not a botanist, so I do not know. I think it would be a pretty foliage plant in a hanging basket.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
14 May 07
I have never grown it but I use it all the time. I found out how bad for your health all the other sweetners are, including Splenda, after a lot of research I learned about Stevia. I started using it and now I would not use anything else. I was getting it in the health food stores now I see they even have it in Krogers heath food dept.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
15 May 07
I will have to look at our Krogers (Dillons) store, thanks!
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
21 May 07
Wow, I have never heard of it! I would love to try it. I'm sure that it isn't available in my town. There is only a walMart and a Food City here. So very interesting that one can grow it at home too! I would REALLY like to try that!
@pinkofhealthzfera (60)
• Philippines
18 Jun 08
i want to grow stevia too. but i can't seem to find it here in the philippines. i even heard the plant can't be imported here.. if anyone has stevia seeds and like to share, i'm willing to have some...:))
