Stevia is a no-calorie sweetener made from a plant native to Central and South America. Harvard's School of Public Health says it's about 300 times sweeter than common table sugar, but few long-term findings have been reported about the health effects of stevia. And although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not objected to manufacturers' claims about its safety, diabetes health officials say some sugar substitutes like stevia are appropriate for diabetics because they add the pleasure of sweetness without spiking your blood sugar. The National Institutes of Health says stevia's properties actually make it an attractive option for diabetics who are following a carb-control eating plan.
Stevia
Stevia rebaudiana is a perennial shrub in the chrysanthemum family. The extract from the shrub's leaves --- stevioside --- has been used around the world as a calorie-free sweetener. Elena Tateo, a Yeshiva University dietitian, says stevioside has also been used as part of the treatment of diabetic Indians in Paraguay and Brazil. An article published by Texas A&M University's AgriLife Extension Services says the way the body breaks down and metabolizes pure stevia leaves essentially no accumulation of the substance behind and therefore adds no calories to your diet. Since being approved first as a food additive and later as a sweetener, stevia has made an appearance in products like sodas. It has been a sugar alternative on supermarket shelves since 2008.
Stevia and Diabetes
Although the American Diabetes Association advises caution when using sugar substitutes in diabetic meal planning because some have just as many carbs as regular sugar, it says stevia is generally recognized as safe. In a review of the literature on stevia and diabetes, Tateo says stevia may actually have a beneficial impact on diabetes. For example, it may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the rise in blood sugar many Type 2 diabetics experience after eating. The Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation recommends use of stevia, recognizing its potential health benefits to diabetics. In a position statement, the American Dietetic Association said that because sugar substitutes do not greatly affect glycemic response, people with diabetes can safely use them.
Will the Real Stevia Please Stand Up?
Only one form of stevia, that derived from rebaudioside A or Reb-A, is approved as a sugar substitute. Read your labels carefully to determine whether you are purchasing an approved form of the sweetener versus a dietary supplement that come from other parts of the plant. As of 2011, the sugar substitute is marketed under the brand names Truvia, PureVia, Sun Crystals, Steviva and SweetLeaf.
Safe Consumption
The World Health Organization completed a review and concluded that "high-purity" stevia compounds are safe, the American Dietetic Association reports. The WHO set a safe daily intake level as 0 to 4 mg per kilogram of body weight. The FDA concurred with this finding and approved it as the acceptable daily intake, or ADI, in the United States. ADIs are the maximum amount considered safe to consume every day of your lifetime and are generally set as an amount 100 lower than what would cause a health problem.
References
- Yeshiva University; Stevia: Is It Time for Another Look?; Elena M. Tateo
- "HealthHints"; Sugar Substitutes: Weight Loss, Diabetes, Safety, Nutrition?; Janet M. Pollard, et al.; April/May 2010
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Has Stevia Been Approved by FDA to Be Used as a Sweetener?
- American Dietetic Association; Stevia; Julie Upton; June 2009
- National Institutes of Health; Sweet, Huh? The Green Packet; February 2010
- Diabetes Action: Is It Okay to Use Stevia If You Have Diabetes?
