I have only recently discovered flavored water made with the Stevia artificial sweetener. I absolutely love the no-calorie Sobe Lifewater, and convinced my self that because it's no calorie I can drink as much as I want.

So what's the truth? How much or how little of this stuff should I drink? Can I expect problems later on in life due to the "natural" Stevia sweetener?

I'm neither a scientist nor a doctor, but it's my understanding that stevia is just an herb, so the long term health effects are likely about the same as any other herb like basil, mint or parsley.

Really? Herbs and plants contain potent chemicals which have effects on the body. Some are tasty. Some are medicinal. Some are toxic.

Some plants with medicinal effects have a wide therapeutic range. That is, a little bit is tasty. More is perhaps therapeutic -- like Basil is said to be for gastric distress. For these, it's hard to overdose -- you cant really eat enough to hurt yourself.

Heart failure patients take digitalis. It comes from a flower. Too much and you die. A very narrow therpeutic range. I'm not sure if the flower is even tasty.

The fact that stuff comes from a plant does not mean it is healthy or safe. Would you eat poison ivy? Amanita Phalloides?

I certainly would not eat poison ivy. I had to google Amanita Phalloides, and after discovering what it was i can say for sure I would not knowingly eat it. Then again I am not aware of any cultures that have been eating those plants for hundreds of years without any apparent side affect. On the other hand herbs like stevia, basil, and mint HAVE been used consumed by many cultures for centuries without any apparent side effects.

I eat mango it has the same chemicals that cause irritation as poison ivy....

some interesting info about it on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia#Health_and_safety

sounds like most things -- in moderation it's fine.

i remember reading somewhere that the FDA has really crazy guidelines for artificial sweeteners because some people drink vast quantities of soda every day...

I resemble that remark.

I'm always a little bit perplexed when I hear people saying that this or that product is "natural" and, as such, could do no harm to you (as if there is something "supernatural" in this world), or that they don't drink or eat something as "they are full of chemicals" as if there is something material that is not composed of chemicals . . .

I'm of the same mind as you. There has to be a catch somewhere. I think the problem is that there is a lack of sufficient long term studies.

I do question how "healthy" and "good for you" ANY product is that is so refined that the original ingredient is unrecognizable. Stevia is not found in nature as a fine, white powder. How much of it's usefullness is destroyed in the refining process.

As for herbs, I could get my mom on here. We'll never hear the end of the purported benefits of herbs and spices such as parsley, cumin, anise etc.

The "catch" for me is the strong licorice aftertaste. Ick.

I drink club soda (I have one of those CO2 soda makers) with a squeeze of lemon or lime or in a 4:1 soda:fruit juice ratio (my favorites are cranberry cocktail and orange-pineapple juice).

The main problem with artificial sweeteners is that they can trick the body into thinking that it is getting sweets. When it isn't it kinda gets upset, so when you get actual sugars it hoards them, which can actually add weight on.

So like everything that is enjoyable in life. Moderation is key.

We have discoverd the joys of distilled water at home and we wouldn't revert to any bottled or simple filtered water. It is joyfully sweet and pure tasting - as it should be. It's made it's way into our tea, Gaggia, Zoji ... and even into our humidifier.

Do you take mineral supplements?

Distilled water can totally flush your body of salt and nutrients it NEEDS, and drinking distilled water is quite bad for you if you have no other supplementals.

I was genuinely waiting for that ......

You would be right .... or more accurately you might have been right ... if you believe half of the rubbish written ... AND if all we drunk was distilled water. But do you really think anyone knows?

I drink a lot of beer. I drink a lot of wine. I drink diet Coke. I drink milk. Most of the vegetables I eat is 90% water. I am out quite a lot so drink whatever I'm given. My wife makes tea from the tap when unsupervised - and she makes most tea. I also take some supplements for other reasons. And where in the equation is the taking into account all of the rubbish that I would hve been drinking but is on the side of the distillery? So when I choose to drink water - if I choose distilled rather than bottled or the smelly stuff from the tap - do you really think I'm at risk?! Do you really think the fear that has been instilled by a couple of article seeking doctors is really worthy of serious concern?

When I die, I promise it it won't be because I drink some distilled water. Many more people will die from drinking water over 80 years when the contents of which are impure rather than the odd person like me who enjoys distilled water. Trust me. Everything you read that warns you about almost everything is always contradicted.

My BIL lives on diet soda because he thinks it's better for him, otherwise consumes not too much food or fat calories. Weighs more than 300lbs. I think ingredients in diet sodas make people just as fat as "real" sugar.