Stevia Sweetener

Stevia sweetener is a herbal product, synthesized from the plant Stevia rebaudiana. This herb species belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to South America. The usage of stevia plant as a sweetening agent was known since time immemorial. Stevia is commonly known as sweet leaf and sweet herb. It is the presence of glycosides, steviosides, and rebaudiosides that make the stevia plant very sweet to taste. The fresh leaves of the stevia plant can be used directly for preparation of tea and coffee. Read more on stevia plant uses.

Stevia Sweetener: Safety
Speaking about stevia sweetener safety, the foliage of the herb has been used as a sweeter in food items for several years by the native Indians in Paraguay. There was no report stating the side effects and dangers of stevia plant. As more and more people came to know about the sweetening properties of the herb, several researches have been conducted regarding the safety and dangers of stevia plant use in foods. Overall, the results are mostly positive, claiming that the stevia plant itself is non-toxic and safe for consumption.

Studies have shown that crude stevia leaves (unprocessed) and dried powder are 10-15 times more sweet than sugar, whereas the pure stevia extract is about 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. You can feel a slight bitter taste with stevia sweetener, which is somewhat similar to liquorice. Commercially, stevia sweetener is used as a sugar substitute in a myriad sweet products. You will find stevia sweetener in the form of herbal powder and stevia extract in the market. For safety reasons, make sure you purchase stevia sweetener from a reliable brand.

In recent times, several countries have approved the usage of stevia as a dietary supplement. Stevia sweetener is low in the glycemic index and contains zero calories. Hence, it is better than sugar and other sugar substitutes. The benefits of stevia in the form of extracts and as a sweetener in combating high blood sugar levels, osteoporosis and obesity has already been put forward. More clinical trials are required to confirm the curative usage of stevia sweetener in treating these health conditions.

Stevia Sweetener: Side Effects
As long as stevia sweetener is pure and unadulterated, the side effects of stevia sweetener is negligible. However, the concerning fact is that stevia sweetener is not approved by the the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as a food additive, rather it is mentioned as a safe supplement. Probable side effects of stevia sweetener include:

• Allergies - One of the proposed side effects of stevia sweetener are allergic reactions. Those individuals who are sensitive to ragweed are at a higher risk of manifesting allergic reactions to stevia sweetener.
• Lowered Blood Pressure - Ingesting a very high quantity of stevia sweetener and extract may lower the blood pressure. Considering this, people who have a low blood pressure problem should use the stevia sweetener under medical supervision.
• Malabsorption - According to a study conducted on animals, delivering high doses of stevia sweetener hampers the assimilation of carbohydrates by the body. However, further testing is to be done whether stevia sweetener has the same effect on the human body or not. Read more on stevia side effects.

Thus, we have seen that the benefits of stevia sweetener over other artificial sweeteners is still debatable. On the brighter side, the Japanese are using stevia as a natural sugar substitute in their food products for several decades without experiencing any adverse health effects.