Xylitol vs Stevia? Pros/Cons of each?

[birdley123]

I've been reading the various differences between using Xylitol and Stevia for back sweetening, so here's my question:

What do you think the pros and cons of each are? Why do you like/use one over the other? I have both, I just want to get a good solid consensus before I make my decision...

Thanks,

 

[phug]

beware of xylitol in high quantities.

read the reviews here if you have a dark sense of humour and are not about to eat. http://www.amazon.com/Haribo-Gummi-...WKC/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

Xylitol has no known toxicity in humans. In one study, the participants consumed a diet containing a monthly average of 1.5 kg of xylitol with a maximum daily intake of 430 g with no apparent ill effects.[34] Like most sugar alcohols, it has a laxative effect because sugar alcohols are not fully broken down during digestion; albeit one-tenth the strength of sorbitol.[clarification needed] The effect depends upon the individual. In one study of 13 children, four experienced diarrhea when consuming over 65 grams per day.[35] Studies have reported adaptation occurs after several weeks of consumption.[35]

As with other sugar alcohols, with the exception of erythritol, consumption in excess of one's laxation threshold (the amount of sweetener that can be consumed before abdominal discomfort sets in) can result in temporary gastrointestinal side effects, such as bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea. Adaptation, an increase of the laxation threshold, occurs with regular intake. Xylitol has a lower laxation threshold than some sugar alcohols, but is more easily tolerated than others such as mannitol and sorbitol.[35][36]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol#Safety

It's good for your teeth though, and may help reduce cavities. Just don't overdo it on the Xylitol, or you may not feel like eating much.

Stevia

Safety[edit]Steviol and rebaudioside A are not mutagenic at doses and routes of administration at which humans are exposed to them.[42][43][44] Two 2010 review studies found no health concerns with stevia or its sweetening extracts.[45][46]

The WHO's Joint Experts Committee on Food Additives has approved, based on long-term studies, an acceptable daily intake of steviol glycoside of up to 4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.[47]

While the FDA does not consider whole-leaf Stevia or crude Stevia extracts to be "generally recognized as safe" ("GRAS") food additives,[48] several companies have submitted notices to the FDA that they consider specific rebaudiosides to be GRAS for use as food additives, and have had these notices accepted by the FDA.[49]

The European Food Safety Authority evaluated the safety of steviol glycosides, extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, as sweetener and expressed its opinion on 10 March 2010. The Authority established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for steviol glycosides, expressed as steviol equivalents, of 4 mg/kg bodyweight/day. On 11 November 2011, the European Commission allowed the usage of steviol glycosides as a food additive, establishing maximum content levels for different types of foods and beverages.[50]

Potential health effects[edit]A 2009 review study found that stevioside and related compounds may have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions.[51] A 2011 review found that that use of stevia sweeteners as replacements for sugar would likely benefit diabetic patients.[45] Furthermore, the report noted "stevioside has shown some evidence of pharmacological effects in patients with hypertension or with diabetes mellitus type 2,"[42] but concluded further study was required to determine proper dosage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia#Potential_health_effects

so keep an eye on total content of stevia, and try not to exceed quantities that would result in more than 4 mg / kg of bdy weight per day. so um, for the average guy, you could have say, 260 mg if stevia per day, which would have to be spread amongst the number of drinks you're having. let's say 6 for argument's sake, so 43 mg per serving, which works out to 2340 milligrams per 5 gallon batch. so just over 2 grams per 5 gallon batch.

 

[phug]

btw, I have no idea how 2 grams of stevia in a 5 gallon batch would taste. I haven't used it, so I don't know what normal usage is.

 

[Archer]

Is Truvia the same as Stevia, or what is the relationship there?

 

[hoobaga]

Is Truvia the same as Stevia, or what is the relationship there?

Stevia is the name of the sweetener, where as truvia is the brand. Different brands usually have different types of Stevia products with different concentration levels. Some are 1:1, and some are definitely a lot stronger.

 

[Sandow]

Taste them both in lemonade. I did a broad swath of sweeteners with friends and we all pretty much had the same conclusions. everyone hated the stevia after a few sips. It starts way too sweet and then ends up less sweet and kind of bitter as your taste buds saturate. Most people could taste the agave and disliked it. Everyone could taste the sucralose but most were more or less indifferent to it. Zero complaints about the xylose. Half the people preferred it to table sugar and described its flavor as "bright". Try them and decide what you prefer.

-Sandow

 

[Beernik]

I accidently bought Stevia instead of turbinado. It was the worst tasting fake sugar that I've ever had.