How sweet it is

HOW SWEET IT IS - by Pearl Anderson ..OMGA NEWSLETTER

SUGAR IN OUR LIVES - You want to cut down on sugar, but the fact is - sugar is addicting. It makes flavors more - more flavorful.

And the American public is used to massive amounts of sugar in everything from cereal, beans, peanut butter, bread, and even soup.

There are a number of alternate sweeteners that make a reasonable substitute. However, many of those leave an "aftertaste" and are often not quite satisfying. An added problem is some people are allergic to some of the artificial sweeteners. Now as gardeners, you have a choice. Stevia rebaudiana (sugar leaf), a South American shrub, contains a sweetening ability more than 100 times that of sugar. While the taste is not ;exactly the same as sugar, it substitutes well for sugar, with the plus that it can be cooked and retain it's sweetness. It has NO calories, a true bonus for weight-conscious folks. A vast array of tests on the plant, and it's products, has revealed negative results for toxicity.

At this time, almost 50% of Japan's commercially prepared foods such as candy, frozen desserts, low calorie foods and baked goods contain Stevia.

If there is someone in your family who needs to reduce sugar intake, or has a diabetic condition, this may be one of the "sweetest deals" you have found yet (be sure to consult with a doctor in the case of a diabetic).

The plant is grown as an annual, although it can be overwintered with care. The leaves can be dried and powdered to use as a sweetener. It has been estimated that one Stevia plant, well cared for and grown in good soil, can provide sweetener for a family of four. Stevia can be found advertised on the internet and Nichols Nurser in Albany usually carries a few plants. There may well be other nurseries in the area that can provide Stevia plants. So if you enjoy growing your own supplies, this is a definite possibility.

If you choose not to grow the plant, many health food stores carry Stevia in either liquid extract form or powdered. It may seen expensive, until you realize that roughly 1/3 - 1/2 teaspoons of powder equals one full cup of sugar. There are even cookbooks out that center around using Stevia. An excellent one is "Baking with Stevia" by Rita DePuydt and is available from the Amazon Book Store on the internet at amazon.com. You can also find reams of information about research, tests, botanical information and more on the internet.