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Could growing stevia help your Organic garden?
Though nontoxic, stevia (stevia rebaudiana) plants have been found to have insect-repelling tendencies. You didn’t know it would be a good companion plant! Their very sweetness, in fact, may be a kind of natural defense mechanism against aphids and other bugs that find it not to their taste. Perhaps that’s why crop-devouring grasshoppers have been reported to bypass stevia under cultivation. Growing this fabulous plant in your garden also suggests a statement of protest for the banning of this plant in the past by the FDA. I find it quite interesting that this past spring season this lovely plant was actually available at garden centers even in Georgia! Does this…
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Stevia as sweetener, a threat?
Stevia Plant and Flower My Blog Tweet this morning: “Stevia may be linked to genetic mutations in lab animals.” In its natural form? My doubt provokes research http://tinyurl.com/6k82ha In this linked article, it was stated that “Stevia may be linked to genetic mutations in lab animals.” This statement provokes this blog post that has required a little bit of research. I’ve read for several years now that stevia failed the FDA as a safe sugar substitute and was then approved only as a dietary supplement. Herbie folks (those that follow and study herbs) all asked the question why? Most answered the question that it was really politics and money. We…