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<title>Latest Articles by laurielindsay</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Lowest Price Digital Cameras Review</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Technology/Electronics/lowest-price-digital-cameras-review.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Technology/Electronics/lowest-price-digital-cameras-review.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Digital cameras are the camera of choice today.  They offer so much convenience and you can get a camera with decent digital camera ratings for not a lot of money.  Just keep in mind that the less money you spend, the less options you will have.  Here is a look at some of the lowest price digital cameras out there.

Oregon Scientific DS6210

This camera has a sleek design and is very compact.  It has 2.1 megapixels.  It is compatible with emailing and sending images online.  You can have prints made up to 3x5, and it has a 1.5 color LCD to view your photos.  It also has 4x digital zoom.  It has a continuous, or burst, shooting mode, and an automatic shooting mode for still shots.  It features 16MB of internal memory storage.  You can get this digital camera for around $70.

VistaQuest VQ-5015 Camera

This compact camera boasts 3.5 megapixels.  It also has 8x digital zoom and a 1.5 color LCD.  It has 5 white balance preset settings to allow you to customize your shots.  It has a movie mode that also has sound.  It also features 32MB of internal memory and allows you to use an SD card to store additional images.  It has 3 flash modes and a self timer delay.  For the options that this camera has it is one of the lowest price digital cameras around.  It also has very good digital camera reviews.  This camera will cost you around $59.
	
VistaQuest 5MP Digital Camera

VistaQuest makes several of the lowest price digital cameras.  Their products generally have decent digital camera ratings.  This particular model features 5 megapixels.  It has a frame movie mode and an automatic exposure mode.  There is 5x digital zoom, and a 10 second self timer.  To store your pictures use an SD card or a Multi Media card.  It also has a 1.5 color LCD display.  This camera is sold for about $40.

VistaQuest VQ-3007 Camera

This VistaQuest comes in several colors and has a modern round shape.  It is perfect for teens who want a cool camera to be able to share pictures with their friends.  It has 3 megapixels and it's images can make either 4x6 or 5x7 prints.  It has a black and white LCD.  It has a frame movie mode and automatic exposure and white balance modes.  There is no zoom.  It is a very basic camera, and the price reflects that at around $29. ]]></description>
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<title>Top Rated Digital Cameras Review</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Hobbies/Photography/top-rated-digital-cameras-review.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Hobbies/Photography/top-rated-digital-cameras-review.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When you are looking to invest a good bit of money in a digital camera, you want to know that you are getting the best quality that you can.  This is why it is important to look at digital camera ratings before you buy.  Here is a look at a few of the top digital cameras so that you can get an idea of which model will best suit your needs.

Nikon D80 Camera:
Nikon is a very trusted name in the world of cameras.  They produce many top digital cameras and the D80 is one of them.  It has 10.2 megapixels for high resolution pictures.  There is a 2.5" LCD for easy viewing, and you can edit your photos right on the camera.  

It has a built in diopter so that you can view images clearly.  It is very quick to power up and is ready to shoot in .18 seconds.  It has a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 per 30 seconds and a flash sync of up to 1/200 seconds.  It has an 11 area auto focus and 7 different settings.  

The D80 has a USB 2.0 interface with direct print capability with any printer that is compatible with PictBridge.  This way you can print out your pictures without loading them into your computer first.  It has a self timer, 6 manual white balance modes, 6 flash modes to ensure the perfect shot.  

There are so many options on this camera is it impossible to list them all.  The Nikon D80 is a top digital camera with a price tag of around $900.

Olympus E-330 Camera:
The Olympus E-330 boasts 7.5 megapixels.   It has an optical zoom of 3.2x, but no digital zoom.  It's 2.5" color LCD makes viewing your pictures a breeze with it's histogram display and image rotation feature.  

It does not feature face detection, but it does have image stabilization to help with hand shake.  It has a shutter speed of 1/4000 per 60 seconds.  It has 5 different flash modes and 5 white balance modes.  There is no movie mode, but it does have an auto timer.  It also has many scene and exposure modes.  

There are many extras on this camera.  The digital camera ratings for the Olympus E-330 are positive, however some users find it costly to purchase additional accessories.  This camera will set you back about $1,000.

Pentax K10D Camera:
The Pentax K10D is a top digital camera that packs 10.2 megapixels in it's 1.8 pound frame.  It has a 35mm lens with 3x optical zoom.  As with many other top digital cameras it features a 2.5" color LCD with histogram display and image rotation.  I

The K10D has an optical pentaprism viewfinder and features image stabilization.  It does not have face recognition.  It is compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards.  It has a shutter speed of 1/4000 per 30 seconds.  It has 4 white balance modes and 5 flash modes.  

The consumer digital camera reviews on this product were unanimously positive.  The Pentax K10D camera is priced around $900. ]]></description>
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<title>SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Digital Cameras Review</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Technology/Electronics/slr-single-lens-reflex-digital-cameras-review.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Technology/Electronics/slr-single-lens-reflex-digital-cameras-review.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Many more serious photographers are converting to SLR digital cameras because of the convenience that a digital camera offers.  With a SLR, or single lens reflex, digital camera they can get professional quality pictures with the convenience of a digital camera.  There are some SLR cameras with great digital camera reviews.  Here is a look at some of the top SLR digital cameras that got a five out of five star rating.

Nikon D80

The Nikon D80 SLR digital camera offers 10.2 megapixels for startling picture clarity.  It has an in camera editing feature that allows you to touch up your photos directly on the camera.  It also has a 2.5" color LCD and a pentaprism viewfinder with a built in diopter.  It has 6 white balance modes and 6 flash modes.  It also has an orientation sensor and an external flash mount.  It includes a PictureProject CD Rom and comes with many accessories.  This is a quality SLR digital camera with many extras and will run you around $900.

Canon EOS 40D

This SLR digital camera features 10.1 megapixels.  It has a metal lens mount to accommodate additional lenses.  It has a 3" color LCD with a 7 level brightness control as well as a viewfinder with an adjustable diopter.  The Canon EOS 40D SLR digital camera has 4.8x optical zoom.  It has 9 white balance modes and 4 flash modes.  It features an external flash mount and a focus range of 2.8'-5.6'.  It is PictBridge compatible and comes with EOS Digital Solution software.  There are so many features and accessories with this camera it is impossible to list them all.  This is a highly rated SLR digital camera, and worth all of the $1,500 it retails for.

Olympus EVOLT 

The Olympus EVOLT is a wonderful SLR digital camera that has 10 megapixels coupled with a Supersonic Wave Filter that eliminates dust and debris from your shot so that you get a clear image every time.  It comes with two different lenses and is compatible with many more.  It has a 2.5" color LCD as well as a separate viewfinder.  There are over 16 scene modes and seven exposure modes.  There are seven different white balance modes and a variety of flash settings.  You can even choose your own custom color effects for each shot.  It is PictBridge compatible and comes with many accessories.  This is a great deal on a SLR digital camera for only $750. ]]></description>
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<title>Where to go to Find Digital Camera Ratings</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Hobbies/Photography/where-to-go-to-find-digital-camera-ratings.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Hobbies/Photography/where-to-go-to-find-digital-camera-ratings.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Finding good digital camera ratings can be hard because the camera companies and stores want the ratings to be good and they want the cameras to sell.  It is hard to know what information to trust, and what information may have been paid for by the companies that make or sell the cameras that you want to know about.  

One way to help you get the most out of your research is to stick to the facts rather than relying on ratings anyway.  If you know what kind of camera you are looking for and what features you really want or need, you can use your knowledge to narrow down the range of cameras and select by a preferred brand or a good price.  Sometimes, though, the price is right because the quality is not the best.  So how do you know if the camera is a good one or if it is worth much less than you are paying for it?  

A favorite method of determining the real value of the camera is to ask the consumers instead of the professional reviewers.  Stay away from the digital camera ratings sites and instead focus on sites like Amazon that allow their customers to comment on the books and other products that they sell on their web site.  

To be sure you are getting an unbiased review, make sure that the reviewer has other posts elsewhere if it is possible to check, and make sure that they don't read like an advertisement for the camera.  You should be able to get relatively good information by listening to what other people who have bought the same camera thought of it, making it easy to choose your new camera from among those that ranked highly among other consumers.  

Sometimes popular opinion is flawed, of course, and the bad review about a particular feature might have come from someone who simply didn't understand how that feature was supposed to work.  You can get your best reviews from popular opinion as long as you take that opinion with a grain of salt and don't let them convince you if your experience is different.  You can even "give back" by adding your own reviews of products that you own and use.  

There are lots of places to look for digital camera ratings, but if you are looking for an accurate picture of the camera that you want, check out the opinions of clients like you, satisfied or not. ]]></description>
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<title>What About Rose Gardening?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/what-about-rose-gardening.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/what-about-rose-gardening.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Ask anyone who has a green thumb about rose gardening, and you may need a tape recorder to remember all the advice you'll get!  Almost anyone who has an interest in gardening flowers and plants will eventually mosey into rose territory.  It's almost irresistible because of the beauty and scent of one of the most popular plants on earth.

A rose is like no other.  Rose gardening then will certainly open up grounds for controversy among fellow gardeners.  It's a subject like that of rearing children.  To the rose gardening crowd, their plants often become like their own children.  They must be fed and nourished and guided properly to bloom and flourish into their majestic beauty.

Gardeners have been known to talk to their plants to coax them into perfect health.

Rose gardening is sure to involve getting your hands dirty.  If you want to truly enjoy the experience, you must dig in with gusto and heartily embrace your adventure.  Well, there are gloves, you know; but the earth welcomes the hands-on experience.  Some say it is quite gratifying to become like one with the soil.

There is surely an art to rose gardening.  The experience can be as simple or as scientific as you so choose.  You may want to stock up on things like mulch, a shovel, a hoe, weed-killer, a watering can or hose, and maybe something called Miracle Grow or "food" for your rose plants.  Not to mention bandaids if your plants have thorns!  You're certain to get pricked at some point if you have the type of rose plant that produces thorns.  It's all part of the true rose gardening experience.

Roses have been known to contract diseases, so you want to know your plants well to be able to recognize unhealthy changes in their leaves, color, overall health.  Any living thing is susceptible to such and must be monitored.

Certainly some research is recommended should you choose to begin rose gardening.  It would be advisable to research your particular type of rose plant.  The adorable miniature roses may need different care than another type of rose plant.  Also, a rose that grows well in one area of the globe may struggle in another.

Unsure where to start?  The internet has vast amounts of information for rose gardening.  There are gardening clubs in many areas.  You can search your local library or favored book store for the proper books or magazines.  Maybe it would be a good way to meet that neighbor you never knew how to approach.  There are also many elderly gardeners who would enjoy mentoring the right student in rose gardening.

Remember, when you choose your rose plant, you may want to share the beautiful blossoms with someone special, or many someones; A child's teacher, some lonely person in a nursing home or hospital, someone who is unable to enjoy the rose gardening experience firsthand, a favored relative or friend.  So make sure you choose carefully and choose enough to share!  A rose just isn't meant to enjoy alone. ]]></description>
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<title>The Basics of Designing Gardens</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/the-basics-of-designing-gardens.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/the-basics-of-designing-gardens.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Just like the ad says "Just Do It,"; this is exactly the perspective one needs in getting good at garden designs.   You can always move plants around your gardens and as your ideas and taste change, your gardens can grow with you.  There are some simple elements of garden design.  Think of designing your garden with living art in mind being creative and free to try whatever suits your taste. There are no limitations to the creativity that is within, no comparison or fear of failure. Although gardening successfully requires learning certain skills, when all is said and done a garden's beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Just go for it and let your gardens be the expression of you.

Garden design and its principles used may be called by different names.  There are three basic concepts when combined together will bring about good garden design. Ultimately your gardens' design is up to you and should reflect your own personality and flare.

Order, balance and proportion are the basic structure of the garden.  Order is symmetrical through repeating plants or colors.  Bold or bright additions bring balance as well as adding some texture. Texture is an important ingredient.  Gardens come to life with different textured plants much like the human race.  All different but flowing together and being brought together through unity and harmony creating comfort and peace. When all of the parts of the garden are flowing together it is captivating and ones' spirit is caught up in the beauty. 

Using a limited color pattern, repetition of plants and a clear focal point creates this environment. Theme gardens are very soothing: all one color, butterfly gardens or cross gardens keep you flowing in like unity. You'll also hear a lot of talk about starting your garden with good bones. That basically means creating an outlining foundation, with trees, structures, paths, etc. for the rest of the garden to build off of.  Evergreen is a favorite of the good bones.
  
Having a focal point is a big benefit for every garden.  With no focal point the eye starts to wander here and there without every getting a grasp of a main feature. This is not creating the harmony you desire for your gardens or creating any curb appeal.  

Beginning gardeners seem to pick the same flowers or foliage over and over again which has no visual interest.  Planting an architectural, bold leafed plant, can restore this visual interest instead of the monotony of likeness.  

Last, but not least, is adding color to your gardens.  Experimenting with your favorite colors is a good way to see what works best for you.  The best advice to heed though is to start out with 2-3 colors to keep the artist palette limited.  You can always add new colors to your gardens by eyeballing it along the way.  This way you keep the living painting flowing in the harmony you wish to relate.  You will then have a peaceful retreat that you have created and enable others to share that intimate part of you. ]]></description>
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<title>Picking Healthy Plants For Your Garden</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/picking-healthy-plants-for-your-garden.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/picking-healthy-plants-for-your-garden.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When it comes to getting started with your garden, you have two choices; planting seeds, or buying entire plants. Both have their own benefits. If you plant seeds and care for them every day, you will find it is a much more rewarding experience when you have a full, healthy plant. However, this method is a lot more risky. I can't tell you how many seeds I've planted and never seen any actual plants.

If you choose to buy the plant from a nursery and plant it in your garden, it reduces a lot of the work involved in making it healthy. However, I have found in the past that many incompetent nursery workers will absolutely ruin the future of the plant by putting certain chemicals or fertilizers in. I have adapted to this incompetence by learning to choose the healthiest plant of the bunch. Here I will discuss some of the techniques I use in my screening process for plants.

It may sound superficial, but the one thing you need to check for on your prospective plants is how nice they look. As far as plants go, you can truly judge a book by its cover. If a plant has been treated healthily and has no diseases or pests, you can almost always tell by how nice it looks. If a plant has grown up in improper soil, or has harmful bugs living in it, you can tell from the holey leaves and wilted stems.

If you're browsing the nursery shelves looking for your dream plant, you want to exclude anything that currently has flowers. Plants are less traumatized by the transplant if they do not currently have any flowers. It's best to find ones that just consist of buds. However if all you have to choose from are flowering plants, then you should do the unthinkable and sever all of the flowers from the plant. It will be worth it for the future health of the plant. I've found that transplanting a plant while it is blooming results in having a dead plant ninety percent of the time.

Always check the roots before you plop down the money to purchase the plant. Of course if the roots are in absolutely terrible condition you will be able to tell by looking at the rest of the plant. But if the roots are just slightly out of shape, then you probably won't be able to tell just by looking at it. Inspect the roots very closely for any signs of brownness, rottenness, or softness. The roots should always be a firm, perfectly well formed infrastructure that holds all the soil together. One can easily tell if the roots are before or past their prime, depending on the root to soil ratio. If there are a ridiculous amount of roots with little soil, or a bunch of soil with few roots, you should not buy that plant.

If you find any abnormalities with the plant, whether it be the shape of the roots or any irregular features with the leaves, you should ask the nursery employees. While usually these things can be the sign of an unhealthy plant, occasionally there will be a logical explanation for it. Always give the nursery a chance before writing them off. After all, they are (usually) professionals who have been dealing with plants for years.

So if you decide to take the easy route and get a plant from a nursery, you just have to remember that the health of the plants has been left up to someone you don't know. Usually they do a good job, but you should always check for yourself. Also take every precaution you can to avoid transplant shock in the plant (when it has trouble adjusting to its new location, and therefore, has health problems in the future). Usually the process goes smoothly, but you can never be too sure. ]]></description>
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<title>Learn the Benefits of Greenhouse Gardening</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/learn-the-benefits-of-greenhouse-gardening.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/learn-the-benefits-of-greenhouse-gardening.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A greenhouse should provide all the important aspects in gardening. Many people take importance of the need to nurture and develop healthy plants in all sorts of climate conditions. Greenhouses are very important in providing necessary methodical ways to grow and develop plants in a more conventional and easy way. Plants can grow larger and quicker than their usual growth in normal agricultural methods of gardening. 

The traditional methods seem to supply less production and allow a farmer or a gardener to spend much of his time in laborious work and consume effort in tending to the various needs of growing his crop and plants. A farmer may encounter some inconveniences in the changing climate conditions that may occur unexpectedly, leaving him with no choice but to let the crop find its own way to survive. There are certain plants and crops that only live in a specific season of the year. 

Greenhouses help gardeners to grow plants regardless of the season. Greenhouses are built with well-planned internal systems that will provide the necessary aspects for a plant to continue its life process. There are installed heating systems and humidifying systems that will supply the exact amount of heat needed to warm and light the plants during winter season where sunlight is limited. 

Sunlight is very essential for a plant to grow and develop. It is where it allows its solar radiation to produce the photosynthetic reaction needed by the leaves and stems of the plant. This process is very essential in supplying the needed chlorophyll by the plants to grow healthier and larger.

However, too much exposure is not that good as well to some plants. Greenhouses must also be structured with proper shading and coverings to allow only the needed solar radiation. A good ventilation system is also required to have a good circulation of air that will react to the needed humidity and cooling in seasons where too much external heat affects the humidity inside the greenhouse. 

Many gardeners nowadays build their greenhouses with proper greenhouse accessories that will supply them the needed functionality to have a well-balanced environment. It is necessary to set up some basic supplies that will attend to the need of producing healthier and larger plants. Some supplies instantly help a gardener to calculate the temperature such as the thermal measuring system that sets up the needed temperature to heat and cool the plants depending on the type of internal climate. 

Rainwater systems are also important to have a well-distributed water flow in the greenhouse. He may collect water from the downspouts and gutters of the greenhouses, which is considered ecologically friendly instead of installing automated water system that can be installed with set timers and metered watering systems that irrigates the plants in specific intervals according to the set time to water the plants. 

Some people also accessorized using modernized potting benches and tools, which are very helpful every time a gardener attends to his plants. He may have the luxury of placing his tools with the proper designated places where a gardener feels comfortable and allow him to work conveniently in sowing and cultivating the soil. Potting benches are mostly featured with trays and holders serving as storage whenever a tool is not in use. 

Greenhouses are structured and are sometimes attached to the house where all the basic supplies are all provided in the systems of the house. In this way, all materials and basic needs are supplied directly into the house such as water, electricity, shadings and coverings. However, many people have more pleasure in freestanding greenhouses where they spend much of their time in enjoying and relaxing while tending to their plants. 

In some cases, greenhouses are hydroponically oriented where the use of organic chemical materials is supplied on their plants. This method is vastly accepted all over the country. This method is basically conventional because a gardener may not need the use of soil in his gardening. 

He may save more space and time in cultivating and potting his plants. The liquid solution is fed the roots of the plants allowing the roots to accept and distribute the needed nutrients to the fast growth of the plants. It also helps a farmer in increasing his production using this kind of method. ]]></description>
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<title>Express Yourself: Adding Interest to Your Garden</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/express-yourself-adding-interest-to-your-garden.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Home/Gardening/express-yourself-adding-interest-to-your-garden.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ There are many ways that you can add interest to a garden. Anything that becomes a focal point will add interest and that can range from garden sculptures to the types of plants you choose.

Adding block planting of a particular specimen can become a focal point in the garden. Even adding areas of variegated foliage can create a focal point in the
garden.

Seats are another item that can add interest to the garden and additionally they can offer a nice place to rest and relax while you admire your work.

Mirrors that are strategically placed can enhance the garden in many ways. They can bring reflected light to dark corners of the garden. They can also give the impression that the garden is bigger or alternatively they can give the impression that the open space is bigger. Placed at various angles, mirrors can add a lot of fun and interest to a garden and help to lead a visitor on to other areas.

Using hedges can also add interest to the garden while offering protection to the plants. Hedges are also an excellent way to gain privacy without feeling closed in.

Water features are a favorite for many people and the sound of running water in the corner of a garden can add an atmosphere of calm and relaxation.  Water features can also be good for the birds in the garden particularly in the summer months when they might find it difficult to find water lying around to suit their 
needs.

As with sculptures, stones, rocks and pebbles can add interest and offer areas where you can walk even when the surrounding ground might be too wet. Shells also make a good cover on the ground for paths that can remain dry in the wet season.

There are so many different things that you put in your garden to add interest. Everything from old cartwheels to wind chimes, aviaries or anything else you can imagine.

Gardens offer you one of the best opportunities to express yourself. You can often get a good idea of a person's personality just by looking at their garden. It can show you whether they are free spirited with color and plants splashed everywhere or prefer a more organized and regimented approach to life.

Planting your garden gives you the freedom to choose the colors that make you feel good. The colors and plants that make you feel happy.

You have the choice to add the flowers that have the fragrances that you love to smell or remind you of some place that you might have once visited.

You can change with the seasons just as your garden does and add color to a gray day. It gives you an excuse to get outside on a gray day and enjoy all the color that you might have missed inside avoiding the weather.

Adding colored pots and sculptures can brighten a winter and add more contrast to the colors of spring, summer and fall.

You can change the style and look of the garden as you make changes in your life so that one year is never the same as the next or you can choose to keep everything the same if you don't like change just as an old tree stands from one year to the next.

A garden can change your moods and make you feel good just being there with the beauty all around. It can make you realize that the important things in life are the little things that are all around us all the time.

There is life in the garden and the garden will always welcome anyone who wants to share in the beauty of that life.

It's no wonder that so many people love gardening, because there is so much to love about it. Doesn't that just make you want to get outside right now and get into the garden? ]]></description>
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<title>Stevia: The Herb That Is Sweeter Than Sugar Without The Calories</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Alternative_Medicine/stevia-the-herb-that-is-sweeter-than-sugar-without-the-calories.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Alternative_Medicine/stevia-the-herb-that-is-sweeter-than-sugar-without-the-calories.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ You may not believe it, but stevia's main extract, stevioside is about 300 times as sweet as table sugar. Even its dried leaves are at least 30 times sweeter than sugar. What is extremely surprising is that Stevia has no calories, no carbs, no synthetic sweeteners like saccharin or aspartame (better known as Equal and NutraSweet) and no adverse effects on diabetics. More than that, many claim that it possessed several beneficial medicinal properties, although scientific studies have yet to confirm and evaluate such claims.

Origins of Stevia
Stevia is a native of two South American countries Paraguay and Brazil. For hundreds of years, people there used it to sweeten their beverages. Now several countries in the Far East, Asia and South East Asia are cultivating and using it for similar uses. China is presently its largest producer and Japan is using it extensively in its pickles and in various other food products for sweetening. Japanese diet coke has stevia sweetening it. Several other countries like Thailand, Malaysia and India are also cultivating the herb and using it. 

Use of Stevia in the US
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has approved it only as a dietary supplement and not yet as a food additive. It does not allow any mention of the sweetening aspect of Stevia on the packing label or in ads. There is a lot of controversy on the FDA stance.  Stevia is safe because FDA has approved it as a dietary supplement. Do FDA authorities consider it unsafe when it comes to approving Stevia as a food additive? What is their logic? Does it have anything to do with the lobbying of the powerful sugar industry against Stevia? Logic or no logic, Canada and the European Union are one with the US in not allowing Stevia as a food additive. Australia and Singapore are no different.

In all these countries, while you will not hear much about many of the proven toxic effects or other known side effects of the widespread use of artificial sweeteners, you will find a lot of opposition to stevia, although based on insufficient data.

Toxicologists and other scientists have many unresolved concerns regarding Stevia. There are some studies on animals, which indicate that stevia inhibits sperm-production in males and, because of it, females produce smaller babies. There are worries about the cancer-producing properties of some stevia-derivatives. Besides, there are suspicions that the herb adversely affects metabolism. Nevertheless, in all these cases, you cannot get any conclusive proof.  Most of these claims are based on hearsay and are really meaningless.

For years scientists claimed that Nutrasweet was carcinogenic, however, what they didn't tell you was that test were done on lab rats by injecting them with the equivalent of dozens of servings of it per day.

Waiting for approval
In the meantime, look at the several benefits that the people using stevia have been enjoying. This natural herb, they say, is safe beyond any doubt whatsoever. It is non-toxic. Its use does not add calories to your body. On the contrary, they believe it reduces obesity/weight, as it lowers their level of craving for sweets. It prevents tooth-decay. 

Both diabetics and hypoglycemics contend that stevia balances their blood-sugar levels. It improves metabolism. More than anything else, stevia beats artificial sweeteners hands down in that it does not carry any of their many known risks or side effects that those in power have conveniently ignored. ]]></description>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>

