Health Section

Click here for information on erythritol.
Erythritol has about 0.2 calories per gram (per Wikipedia).
Included is information on the possibility that it may have negative effects on one's health.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythritol

Dextrose has about 4 calories per teaspoon (per Sharon Kumm of the University of Kansas School of Nursing).
(Refer to http://classes.kumc.edu/son/nurs420/unit9/predicting.htm )

According to very informative comments (5-star) by Baron on Amazon (on October 17, 2009) for the Truvia natural sweetener (80-packet), it GREATLY matters HOW MUCH of these sweeteners is USED and WHAT it is being putin (e.g tea, cakes).

I make "sugar water" -- 1 packet of Truvia or Stevia Extract in the Raw or 2 packets of Zsweet in about a cup of cold water -- and eat it with Kellog's Special K (original) or other things.

To me, Truvia and Zsweet taste pretty good, a little better than Stevia Extract in the Raw. (To me, Purevia didn't taste very good -- probably because the amount I used was a lot.)

A packet of Turvia is a little cheaper than a packet of Zsweet.
But since I use either 1 packet of Truvia or 2 packets of Zsweet per cup, Zsweet cost about twice as much as Truvia for me.

Stevia Extract in the Raw (I use 1 packet per cup) is cheaper than Truvia.
I only buy Stevia Extract if there is no Truvia in stock.
(Above information modified on 5-5-2010)

Truvia
Truvia is a good-tasting, Natural sweetener with less than 1.0 calorie per packet.

Erythritol has about 0.2 calories per gram (per Wikipedia)
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythritol ).
Since there is about 3 grams of erythritol in a packet of Truvia, Truvia has about 0.6 calories per packet.

(Note: I hardly drink tea and I don't drink coffee, so I can't speak of using sweeteners in those areas.)

For the amount of Truvia and Zsweet I use, Truvia is more affordable than Zsweet for me.
Truvia was jointly developed by Cargill and The Coca-Cola Company.

I purchase Truvia from a nearby Safeway.
http://www.Truvia.com    (summarized on 12-16-2009)

Truvia Zero Calorie Natural Sweetener (80-packet)

Truvia Natural Sweetener (40-Packet) from Amazon.

Truvia is a good-tasting, Natural sweetener with less than 1.0 calorie per packet.

Stevia Extract in the Raw
Stevia Extract in the Raw is a good-tasting, Natural, low calorie (maybe 4 calories per packet) sweetener.

The ingredients stated on its box is "Dextrose and Stevia Extract (Rebiana)."

Dextrose has about 4 calories per teaspoon (per Sharon Kumm of the University of Kansas School of Nursing).
(Refer to http://classes.kumc.edu/son/nurs420/unit9/predicting.htm )

According to "The Inside Scoop," the FDA allows products to be described as "0 calories" ("zero calories") if there is less than 5 calories per serving.
(Refer to: http://zsweetallnaturalsweetener.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html )

Stevia Extract in the Raw (I use 1 packet per cup) is cheaper than Truvia.
I only buy Stevia Extract if there is no Truvia in stock.
I purchase mine from nearby Safeway.
Made by Cumberland Packing Corp.
www.SteviaExtractInTheRaw.com    (summarized on 12-16-2009)


Purevia
To me, Purevia doesn't taste very good. Purevia is a Natural, Zero calorie sweetener.
PureVia is the PepsiCo and Merisant brand of sweetener.
http://www.Purevia.com    (summarized on 10-30-2009)



Information on Some Cold and Flu Home Remedies

When I feel I'm coming down with the flu (typically, an itchy throat), I usually drink ginger tea.
Most of the times it will stop the flu or cold or stop it from getting worse.
I was taught to make a ginger tea that is similar to the one in the link below, except a tea bag is thrown in.
(If I really have to "attack" the flu, I take half a cup or a cup of it every 2 or 3 hours.)
(summarized on 3-17-2010)

"Special-Tea" Cold and Flu Home Remedy (opens a new window)
LearningHerb.com provides a free cold and flu home remedy
made of ginger, lemon juice and honey, which John Gallagher calls his "Special-Tea."
www.learningherbs.com/flu_home_remedy_tea.html    (summarized on 3-17-2010)



Health - General

"Steep Risk"
According to this Snopes.com article, "refrigerator tea" is safer than "sun tea", which can be a good place for bacterium to grow. Sun tea doesn't get hot enough to kill the bacteria alcaligenes viscolactis, which is commonly found in water. Refrigerator tea (sometimes called "refrigerator-brewed tea") is safer.
http://www.snopes.com/food/prepare/suntea.asp    (summarized on 6-20-2009)

Health organizations

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
http://www.acsm.org    (added on 6-17-2009)

American Council on Exercise (ACE)
http://www.acefitness.org    (added on 6-17-2009)



(This page was last modified on 9-6--2012.)