Ladies and gents, I'm going to post the exact details on my Low Carber (our fellow menu blogging amigo) inspired "luo han guo vs. stevia challenge" later today.
I'll post the info. here and in the comment section of my original post (
Luo Han Guo- Another Sugar Alternative).
I hope some of you will join me in this little experiment. No pressure though. Just mentioning it in case it might be of interest.
I'll put up my own results (and the results of anyone who participates
*) in the common weeks. More details on that to come.
* I can certainly post your results anonymously, if any of you would prefer that.
Here are the Official Healthy Fellow Luo Han Guo Experiment Guidelines:1. Conduct a "blind" taste test on at least 3 people.
Example: Make two identical drinks (like coffee, lemonade or tea). One should be sweetened with a serving of stevia. The other drink needs to be sweetened with luo han guo.
Give each drink to a family member or friend to try. Get their impressions. Which do they like better? Ask them to rank their satisfaction for each drink/sweetener, on a scale of 1-10 (1 being complete dissatisfaction and 10 being complete satisfaction).
2. *If* you have a blood glucose monitor: Collect blood sugar readings prior to drinking and 30 minutes after drinking a stevia sweetened drink for 3 days (they need not be consecutive days). Then repeat this exact procedure using luo han guo as a sweetener for another 3 days.
Try to collect your blood sugar readings under similar circumstances. For instance, if the afternoon is a good time for you ... collect all your readings in the afternoon. Try to keep your eating schedule the same too. As an example, don't eat a snack prior to having a sweetened drink on one day and then have no snack with your drink the next day.
3. *If* you have any other medical devices at home, such as a blood pressure or pulse monitor ... please use them in a similar manner.
Personally, I will use my blood pressure and pulse monitor in addition to the blood glucose monitor.
Any questions? Please feel free to ask them.
I hope to collect all the results within the next 2-3 weeks. But I will of course accept any and all late entries. The more information we collect, the better.
10:45 am+
The Wowee Zowee Meal Replacement Shake (Version 2.0) - 4 oz of
organic heavy cream, 3 oz of purified water, 2 scoops of
natural vanilla whey protein powder, 1 scoop of
Orac Energy Greens, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, a pinch of
pure stevia, and 1/4 tsp of
Also Salt)
Note: Doh! I forgot to take my coconut oil again - will do so later (again). I've been aiming for 2 tablespoons, split up twice daily.
1:45 pm+ an organic tomato, sliced and topped with organic sour cream, raw sheep's milk cheese and natural prosciutto
+ a tbsp. of organic coconut oil
5:15 pm+ a large mug of
ChocoCoffee+ 1 tbsp. of organic coconut oil
8:45 pm (pictured above)+ 2
Italian Spinach Hamburgers - "Italian Creamed Spinach" piled onto two hefty beef burgers
More to come ... I hope!
8 comments:
Sounds very cool :) I will try to do some new recipes for your project :) I actua;;y have a hard time finding Stevia alone here in Japan.. it is used commercially but packaged under different names here and usually combined with other sweeteners.. but I will look on the internet and try again.
ps How much does a blood sugar kit cost?? I would assume you get them at diabetic supply??
reminder to self: take coconut oil.
I can't wait to see your results with the sweetener challenge!
'evening, LC.
I've been looking around at stores in the neighborhood and it appears that the blood sugar monitors are very cheap. But the measurement strips are kind of pricey.
It looks like I'll need to shop around - maybe even on the 'net.
Looking forward to your recipes for the project!
Thanks, Ms. V. Me too! It should be fun. :-)
I'm actually enjoying taking the coconut oil.
Do you have a favorite brand? Of the ones I've tried, I like the Nutiva product the best.
I did some more research and I found a farm located one hour from me that grows Stevia. They actually do not process the leaves but rather sell the leaves whole.
Here is a link..its all in Japanese though..
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/takedayakka/003/
and for three dollars I can get my own stevia plants to raise in my house...
Yay as I was writing this my daughter found liquid stevia by natures way..
I will try to make the ribs again with Stevia but it looks like turn around time is 10 days..
Hope I make it..
I think you have to be careful with the unprocessed stevia. It's perfectly safe but the taste is very different from the highly refined stevia extracts that are used as sweeteners.
That's why Coca Cola and Cargill spent millions of dollars to develop the extraction process that's used to make Truvia! :-)
Yay for your daughter! Is she the one that also cooks?
In my experience, Nature's Way is a reputable brand. Good find!
JP lookin forward to hearing results from the sweeteners blind taste testing. Ive enjoyed the liquid splenda but am not really likin the stevia/truvia all that much. As far as me trying octopus...........if its anything like calamari Im all about the deepfried rings with ranch dressing on them but I totally steer clear of the little leggie ones!!! lol
I'm looking forward to it too, Deborah. :-)
Low Carber has already begun using luo han guo in a few of his recipes - with good results.
http://losingvialowcarbs.blogspot.com/2009/04/pressure-cooker-bbq-ribs-using.html
I've found that stevia is very hit and miss. Some products work out very well and others ... not so much.
re: the octopi
One day, when you're feeling very adventurous, order it a fine restaurant. Then, Sadekat and I will be vindicated and you will become an octopus convert! :-)
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