Dangers of Stevia

Much has been speculated about the potential dangers of stevia and despite this great confusion, it is still popularly used as an artificial sweetener by many people around the world. The high calorie content of sugar has prompted people to search for various alternatives, and many have found stevia to be the perfect solution for them. It is said that stevia possesses 300 times the sweetening power that sugar does, and this fact tends to make many individuals overlook the potential dangers of stevia. It has been over 20 years now, since the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) classified stevia as an unsafe food additive. They have also listed out a bunch of stevia dangers to deter people from using it, but this sweet herb still remains extremely popular with the masses. The herb is primarily found in South America and Central America and is most used in Japan. In Canada and the US you can find stevia only as a diet supplement, not as a sweetener or food additive but this changed in 2008, when the FDA officially announced the herb as a sweetener.

Benefits of Stevia

Before, we get into the potential dangers of stevia, let us first see some benefits that the herb carries. The advantages of stevia sweetener can be seen for people who are diabetic, as, it works as an excellent alternative for sugar. Given below are some of the commonly seen benefits of stevia as a sweetener:

• Helps to lower high blood pressure.
• Helps in managing cases of obesity, as it helps in drastically reducing the amount of sugar consumed.
• It is also said to enhance an individuals glucose tolerance.

Stevia Dangers

There are many scientific reports that accurately list out the dangers of stevia though, and in spite of all the advantages, this herb is something that causes more harm than good. The dangers of stevia can be divided into 3 categories - reproductive problems, cancer, and energy metabolism problems.

Reproductive Problems
In 2006, some European scientists found that difficulties with the male reproductive system can be traced to the consumption of stevia. These tests were carried out on rats, but they are applicable to human beings as well. It is not just the male reproductive system that is in danger though, as even the female reproductive system gets affected. But, in males the difficulties are more apparent, as the production of sperm cells is considerably reduced. This is one of the primary stevia dangers.

Cancer
There is not enough evidence to substantiate the claims that consumption of stevia can actually cause cancer but it is a well-known fact that over consumption of this herb can cause some mutation in an individuals DNA. Stevia qualifies as something that is known as a mutagen, so one needs to be cautious about the amount of stevia being consumed. Too much of it is not advisable, as it makes a person susceptible to all the potential dangers of stevia.

Energy Metabolism Problems
This is one of the stevia side effects that regularly afflicts children more than grown adults. What stevia does is obstruct the process of carbohydrates absorption in animals and human beings, and this ultimately, results in inadequate amount of energy being produced within the body. This makes an individual very weak and lethargic, and brings a whole host of other problems along with it. At the end of the day, the dangers of stevia are just as rampant and common as the side effects and dangers of other artificial sweeteners or diet supplements.

So is stevia dangerous for you? The answer to this depends entirely on the amount that is being consumed. If this consumption is carried out in moderation, the potential dangers of stevia can be avoided. But, just like any other diet supplement or nutritional supplement, too much of it can harm you. You should know that there are many people around the world who use stevia regularly, but face no stevia dangers, while there are others who suffer from some consequences almost, instantaneously. Knowledge about these dangers of stevia will aid you avoid any untoward complications.