If you have diabetes or are trying to lose weight, you probably are very familiar with sugar substitutes. Stevia is the newest player to hit the market and is generating a lot of buzz. Sometimes, these products can sound too good to be true. Before you start cooking with stevia, do your research into potential side effects and run the idea past your doctor. That way he can ensure it is allowable with your medical history.
Stevia Uses
The stevia plant is native to Paraguay and its leaves are 300 times sweeter than table sugar, but it has no calories. It has been used by native populations as a sweeteners for a long time, but only now is gaining popularity in this country. The Japanese also have widely used stevia as a sweetener in gum, candy and sauces, among other things, and it has proven to be safe, according to New York University. However, there are some side effects to its use that make the Food and Drug Administration wary about giving it full approval.
FDA Approval
Although stevia leaves have had worldwide usage, the FDA has been slow to approve it for use as a sweetener. According to Texas A&M University, only the highly purified rebaudioside A, or Reb-A, form of the stevia leaves is approved for use as a commercial sweetener. It can be added to soft drinks and is available as a tabletop sweetener. All other forms of the leaves are available as a dietary supplement and are not considered safe by the FDA.
Stevia Potential Dangers
In order to understand the dangers of stevia, it is important to consider the two types of the leaves. The Reb-A form that is approved by the FDA has no side effects, according to Texas A&M University, but those with diabetes or high blood pressure should still be cautious. Also, pregnant and nursing mothers should not ingest stevia without speaking to a doctor. For the general form of stevia, New York University reports that very high doses could lower blood pressure. There are some animal studies that show an infertility effect with stevia, but this is rare at normal doses.
Stevia's Future
Stevia, in its Reb-A form, already is available in some soft drinks and in a tabletop version for cooking. More testing needs to be done on the rest of the leaf extracts to determine safety. Stevia could be a great advantage to diabetics. It is natural, sweet and contains no calories, but if it affects blood pressure, there is some concern that is could be affecting the heart at higher doses. Manufacturers will keep petitioning the FDA for approval to make goods with this sweetener in the future, but rigorous testing will need to be done. This newcomer to the artificial sweetener field shows a lot of promise but more research is needed.
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