Truvia is a novel sweetener produced by the Cargill company that adds no calories to foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers Truvia to be safe, but it has not approved the use of whole-leaf stevia as a sweetener. Stevia is available as a dietary supplement.
Truvia
Truvia is called a novel sweetener by the FDA because it's a combination of two different types of sweeteners: rebiana and erythritol. It also contains natural flavors. According to the company that produces Truvia, it does not affect blood sugar and is safe for use by diabetics and pregnant females. The company also says the consumption of Truvia produces no known side effects.
Rebiana
Rebiana is the main ingredient in Truvia. It's a purified form of rebaudioside A, which is one of the components of the stevia plant. According to research published in 2008 in "Food and Chemical Toxicology," rebiana has no effect on blood pressure or blood sugar, and appears to be safe for human consumption. It should be noted that Cargill, the maker of Truvia, partly funded the study. Speak to your doctor before using products containing rebiana.
Erythritol
Erythritol is called a sugar alcohol, although it is neither a sugar, nor an alcohol. Erythritol is used with rebriana to improve the flavor. It's not a zero-calorie sweetener, but only a small amount is used, so it doesn't add any calories to a serving of Truvia. Sugar alcohols are generally recognized as safe by the FDA, but they can cause bloating, gas, diarrhea and can have a laxative effect. Erythritol tends to cause less of a problem than other types of sugar alcohols.
Stevia
Stevia is sold as a dietary supplement in the U.S., but is often used as a zero-calorie sweetener. It might also be used to help treat high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Stevia appears to be well tolerated, but according to "Natural Standard," a collaborative monograph focused on alternative medicine, patients taking 250 to 500 mg of stevioside each day for more than one year reported incidences of nausea, muscle pain and weakness, and dizziness, but these symptoms only lasted for one week. Speak to your doctor before taking stevia.
References
- MayoClinic.com; "Artificial Sweeteners -- Understanding These and Other Sugar Substitutes"; October 2010
- "Natural Standard"; "Stevia Professional Monograph"; Ramon Iovin; 2011
- Truvia.com: Frequently Asked Questions
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; "Overview -- the History, Technical Function and Safety of Rebaudioside A..."; M.C. Carakostas; May 2008
