Sugar substitutes have recently grown in popularity, providing those who are sensitive to sugar, such as diabetics, an alternative to sugar that sweetens but does not affect blood sugar levels. Stevia is derived from natural substances, unlike other sugar substitutes, such as Equal or Nutrisweet.
The Stevia Plant
Stevia is a plant found in South American countries, particularly Paraguay. A shrub-like plant with green leaves, the stevia plant had been previously used to heal stomachaches when researchers observed the pleasing and sweet taste of the plant's leaves when boiled. The leaves contain molecules known as steviosides, which are intensely sweet compounds that give stevia its sweet flavor.
Today, stevia leaves are turned into a white powder that is 300 times more sweet than pure cane sugar. Some side effects of overconsumption of stevia---more than the recommended serving of one teaspoon---include nausea and feelings of fullness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
More About Stevia
Stevia extract is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as a dietary supplement and for use in food. The extract's unique properties make it calorie-free, and the steviosides pass through the body without being changed by the digestive process or digestive juices and therefore are not absorbed by the blood. This allows those who have diabetes or hypoglycemia to add stevia to sweeten foods without experiencing any impact to their blood sugar levels.
Safety
Stevia extract is now sold commercially under a number of brands, such as Sugar in the Raw, PureVia and Truvia. While each brand may use different formulas to create their products, one of the chief dangers of stevia use is less about the supplement itself and more about overconsuming sweets because stevia is calorie-free. And because frequently consuming sweetened foods can cause a craving for other sweet foods, it is possible for stevia to fuel the desire to eat more sweets, according to Msnbc.com. Therefore, it is important to consume stevia in moderation.
More long-term studies will need to be conducted to conclusively determine if there are harmful health effects associated with the sweetener.
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