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NAVITAS NATURALS LAUNCHES SWEET TOOTH

New Line of Organic Sweeteners Offers Health Benefits in Addition to Delicious Flavor & Gourmet Appeal
Novato, California (June 10, 2009) - Since 2003, Navitas Naturals has been re-discovering ancient foods cherished by cultures around the world and introducing these nutritious curiosities to an eager audience of health- and foodie- minded consumers in North America. Today, the California company is continuing to expand culinary horizons with the announcement of a new line of certified organic and kosher sweeteners. Sweet Tooth includes three delicious sweeteners that have been celebrated by South American (Yacon Syrup and Green Stevia) and Asian (Palm Sugar) cultures for centuries.

Many people are avoiding conventional sweeteners such as corn syrup and cane sugar due to ‘empty’ calories, over-processing, dental concerns, high glycemic indexes and environmental issues associated with their harvesting and production. Excess dietary sugar and unstable insulin levels are among the leading causes of disease and health challenges in the U.S., including the rising epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Wary of synthetic low-calorie substitutes, consumers are seeking out real, traditional alternative sweeteners like Sweet Tooth. In addition to health concerns, many alternative sweetener shoppers are simply seeking delicious new flavors and textures.

Sweet Tooth Organic Palm Sugar is naturally low on the Glycemic Index (GI), and therefore it offers benefits for weight control and improving glucose and lipid levels in people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2). With a GI rating of 35, this traditional Asian sweetener compares favorably to other sweeteners such as honey (GI 55), cane sugar (GI 68) and agave (GI 42). Sweet Tooth Organic Palm Sugar also offers a nutrition profile that is superior to all other commercially available sweeteners. It is especially high in amino acids, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron and is a good natural source of B vitamins. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the World Bank has reported that palm sugar is the most sustainable sweetener in the world. Coconut palm trees produce an average of 50¬75% more sugar per acre than sugar cane and use less than 20% of the nutrient inputs to achieve that production.

Sweet Tooth Organic Palm Sugar is made from the sweet juices of coconut palm sugar blossoms. Traditional sugar farmers climb high into the canopy of coconut trees and harvest the nectar by gently slicing the flower. Once collected, the nectar is kettle¬-boiled into a thick caramel and then ground into a fine brown crystal. Offered in 8-ounce ($3.29) and 16-ounce ($5.49) re-sealable pouches, this evaporated palm sugar is 100% organic, unbleached and contains no preservatives. Sweet Tooth Organic Palm Sugar has a unique caramel sweetness, and it can be used in recipes as a 1-to-1 substitute for cane sugar. For delicious and healthy recipes that feature Sweet Tooth Organic Palm Sugar, such as Navitas’ Banana Bread, please visit http://www.navitasnaturals.com/recipes/palm-recipes.html.

Sweet Tooth Yacon Syrup is a raw traditional sweetener derived from the tuberous root of a perennial plant that grows in the rugged Oxapampa region of the Peruvian Andes. The syrup is extracted from yacon roots that have been washed and peeled, double filtered, and flash pasteurized to preserve the nutrients. With only about half the calories of conventional cane sugar and a unique and mildly sweet ‘lemony’ flavor, organic Sweet Tooth Yacon Syrup is similar in appearance, taste and recipe utility to molasses. For delicious and healthy recipes that feature Yacon Syrup, such as the Oatmeal Mulberry Cookies, please visit http://www.navitasnaturals.com/recipes/yacon-recipes.html.

Yacon is a healthy alternative sweetener because it contains inulin, a complex sugar that breaks down slowly in the digestive tract and helps promote prebiotics in the colon. It is an excellent source of nutrients including bio-available protein, potassium, vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and phosphorus, as well as fiber. Yacon is also an excellent source of antioxidants and is known to help strengthen the immune system and to improve the quality of life for people suffering from chronic liver disease, kidney ailments and the symptoms of diabetes. Sweet Tooth Yacon Syrup is offered in an 8.8 ounce jar for $11.99.

Although no-calorie stevia is new to North America, it has been enjoyed for centuries by indigenous people in South America where they use it in their herbal medicines and teas. Sweet Tooth Organic Green Stevia is a premium raw stevia in the pure, traditional whole-leaf form that is ideal for people with diabetes and those that are intolerant to sugar, seeking weight control, or trying to avoid tooth decay. After the stevia leaves used in this new product are collected, they are dried and milled into a fine green powder at low temperatures to protect the nutrients of the plant. Stevia leaves contain glycosides and are incredibly sweet, tasting as much as 30 times sweeter than sugar, but they contain no sucrose, calories or carbohydrates. Therefore, despite its sweetness, Sweet Tooth Organic Green Stevia does not affect the body’s insulin levels. Sweet Tooth Organic Green Stevia is offered in an 8-ounce resealable pouch for $11.99. For delicious recipes that feature stevia, such as Camu-Berry Lemonade, please visit http://www.navitasnaturals.com/recipes/stevia-recipes.html.

Navitas Naturals’ mission is to provide premium organic power foods that increase energy and enhance health. Their products are of the highest quality, sourced directly from farmers, and are cultivated sustainably and in accordance with fair trade practices. “We look to the past for inspiration,” says Adelman. “Our products come from the wisdom of ancient cultures and their traditional use of plants for both culinary and medicinal purposes.”

Navitas Naturals products are widely available at hundreds of stores throughout the U.S. and Canada including Whole Foods Markets, and on many websites including www.amazon.com and www.navitasnaturals.com. In addition to Sweet Tooth, Navitas Naturals also offers make-your-own Organic Superfood Chocolate Kits, and a wide variety of organic superfoods from around the world including raw cacao, mesquite, lucuma, acai, mulberries, maca, camu camu, goldenberries, pomegranate, chia, flax, goji berries, hemp, and raw cashews. For more information, please visit www.navitasnaturals.com.