Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Stevia...

Hi everyone, I have a question about stevia. I have liquid stevia extract from Stevita. It has nothing in it but fresh pressed stevia extract from the leaves, water and grapefruit seed extract as a preservative. When I tested it with iodine it turned from clear to a dark orange brown. I know black is not O.K. but does this mean it has starch or I should be avoiding it? Or can I safely use it?

Elizabeth:

Welcome to the most informative place anywhere for AS.

My wife- the one with AS- uses the powdered form of Stevia
all the time and does not seem to react; however, given in context, her diet is rather impeccable: fruits, vegies and fish or some other lean protien (eggwhites/chicken). Her deserts are frozen fruit with almond milk and some Stevia; it seems to work for her.

Good luck.

Like to help but I have never heard of it. Sorry!!!!

Scotty...

Hi Elizabeth,

I am a relatively new NSDer and I still wonder the same about testing....does dark brown mean starch???

Also, about the stevia. I bought some powder stevia and it turned inky black instantly upon iodine testing. The ingredients didn't list anything other than stevia, but I suspected at the time that they omitted listing some sort of additive as an ingredient.

Not much of an answer, but maybe a point of reference for you?

For sweeteners, I've been relying on lots of raw honey and maple syrup. I also bought some agave nectar and have tried some despite Dragonslayer's warning about agave nectar having the fringe substance inulin (which is the thing in onions that makes some people react). I don't believe I react to onions, so I also don't believe I react to agave nectar. I really like these 3 sweeteners. Yum!

Ginger

Two types of starch - long straight chain amylose - difficult to digest and forms purple black iodine complexes at the chain junctions.
Many branched starch - amylopectin fohas many small lengths of straight chain connected together. The branch points make the light brown complexes - but they obviously can still form some black ones on the straights.
What does it mean?
It seems we can digest amylopectin more quickly and more easily ourselves so there is less food for Kp. This starch is similar to our body's own starch-as-energy-storage-food called glycogen.

If it goes black then toss it - if it only goes brown be wary and LSD.

Hey Scotty, I think he sings "isnt she lovely" is blind and has shades like yours. Like you havent got a clue. George