Zevia: Nature's answer to diet soda
Xylitol isn't the only natural sweetener. Have you heard of stevia? This South American calorie-free herb is purported to be 300 times sweeter than the white crystals we're trying to rid our bodies of, namely sugar. Stevia is legally available as a dietary supplement (it's on grocery shelves), but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is concerned over its safety and has not approved stevia as a food additive, says Julie's Health Club's recent blog.
Hence, you can swirl it in your tea, but you won't currently find an official diet soda sweetened with stevia ... yet. Coca-Cola and Cargill are jointly developing a stevia product called Rebiana, and they'll likely be knocking on the FDA's door to allow it as a food additive. Japan's been using stevia as a food additive in products for years.
In worries over artificial, chemical sweeteners, I gave up regularly downing diet soda months ago. But I miss fizzy pop. Wouldn't it be great to have a natural alternative not sweetened with a chemical from a lab? Enter Zevia. With a tagline, Nature's Answer to Diet Soda, Zevia cannot be labeled as a soft drink, but it's stevia-sweetened and has no food dyes, phosphoric acid or artificial flavors. No sugar, carbs, sodium or fat, either. Zevia's Cola, Twist and Orange flavors come in aluminum cans (environmentally-friendly) and are currently available in a dozen states and over the internet. Wanna try it? Right now, you can order a Zevia six-pack on the internet for free --if you pony up the shipping and handling.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-13-2008 @ 3:05PM
Evan said...
FYI... the shipping & handling is $10.95!!!
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3-13-2008 @ 4:48PM
Bev Sklar said...
Evan,
Thanks for pricing it -- I figured it'd be expensive to ship liquids. It'll be sold in my region shortly, and I'm going to try it.
Bev
3-13-2008 @ 3:20PM
eckre said...
Isn't it bazaar how the FDA freaks out over something that grows naturally and used safely by millions will not even be allowed into the USA (Sugar Racket) but something like 2-4 diethyl-propinmurinol, if paid $800,000,000 by the drug companies gets their stamps of approval all over.
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3-13-2008 @ 10:27PM
marcie0305 said...
^^Amen to that. The lobbyists and corporate America are largely in charge of what we are told to consume. That said, I tend to shy away from sweets because they are addictive, for the most part, and try to eat fresh fruit when I get a "sweet" craving. But if you gotta have a soda, I often wish I were in Japan where COKES (yes, made by American Coca-Cola) are made with Stevia. Because the Japanese don't trust our chemicals. Hello? See this for more info:
http://www.carbwire.com/2007/06/01/could_it_really_happen_diet_coke_with_stevia
~Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/
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4-03-2008 @ 10:56PM
Anne said...
I recently found out Zevia will now be sold QFC. If it is not available, simple share with the QFC grocery manager your interest in the product. Hopefully he/she will be proactive and get Zevia on the shelf! The shipping could be perceived as expensive but if once comparing the price one would pay to purchase six vitaminwater or other popular beverages. Moreover, there are no calories, carbohydrates, or artificial sweeteners.
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