Truvia is a sugar substitute manufactured by the Cargill Company in conjunction with Coca-Cola. It is a zero-calorie natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant, according to Cargill's website. Stevia, native to South America, has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener. In recent years, stevia has become a popular sugar alternative found in natural food shops. While it is true that Truvia is derived from stevia, it is a chemically-processed sweetener, leading some experts to caution that Truvia and stevia are two entirely different compounds and that Truvia is not as healthy or natural as Cargill claims.
What Exactly is Truvia?
According to the Truvia website, Truvia has three ingredients: rebiana, erythritol and natural flavors. Rebiana is a Cargill trade name to describe a particular extraction of the stevia plant. Erythritol is a fermented sugar alcohol Cargill also developed, which has been shown to have many negative side effects on individuals and rats in several tests. The Cargill website does not detail its process for making Truvia, nor does it elaborate on what constitutes "natural flavors." There is no evidence that Truvia is either natural or safe, according to the Regulatory Affairs unit of the Public Health and Medical Fraud Research Cooperative.
Concerns
The Food and Drug Administration, FDA, does not approve the plant stevia as a sweetener but approves Cargill's chemically-processed version. Although stevia has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener, the FDA's research findings showed in the early 1990s that it could be a carcinogen when consumed in high amounts. The Public Health and Medical Fraud Research Cooperative believes that because Cargill is a multinational corporation with a strong influence over the FDA, it was able to manipulate the system. In essence, Cargill and Coca-Cola petitioned the FDA to endorse rebiana as a safe "purified" form of the plant. The Cooperative also notes that it would be nearly impossible to consume the amounts of stevia described in the study, since stevia is between 100 and 300 times sweeter than natural sugar and is therefore used more sparingly.
Potential Side Effects
The most common side effect of erythritol, one of the main components of Truvia, is digestive problems. In many individuals, consuming erythritol causes a laxative effect because the chemical compounds in the sweetener are not completely absorbed into the digestive system. In 2008, the Public Health and Medical Fraud Research Cooperative performed an extensive study that showed erythritol caused calcium and potassium loss through the urine that could damage kidney function over time. Nutritionist Sarah Vaughter, founder of Vaughter Wellness, compiled a database of personal accounts of Truvia reactions, which included bad breath, a metallic taste in the mouth, headaches, lethargy and even insomnia.
Natural Alternatives
Every individual is different, and many people use Truvia every day without any side effects. In fact, Truvia's marketing campaign has been extremely successful, including a strong community on social media sites such as Facebook. However, the Public Health and Medical Fraud Research Cooperative poses the question, "Why process an already natural product?" Individuals encountering negative side effects when using Truvia should consider using one of the many natural alternatives to sugar and processed sugar substitutes. Agave nectar, maple syrup, honey and date sugar are all natural sweeteners that make a sweet replacement for refined and processed sugars.
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