Are you one of those folks who counts calories but avoid artificial sweeteners such as Splenda or Equal? If so, you may have considered switching to the natural stevia instead.
Stevia is a South American herb that is naturally hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and has no calories. It is natural and plant-based, so it must be safe, right?
Many of us hadn’t ever heard there were health concerns with stevia (also known as Reb A, Rebiana, Sweet Leaf, PureVia, Truvia).
Mixed Opinions over Safety
- Originally, the main concern was for those of reproductive age, small children, babies, and pregnant women as stevia was thought to have mutagenic(damage DNA) properties. However, those were early studies, and research has been more thorough in recent years as stevia gained popularity.
- For years, FDA banned stevia in the USA as an additive, but it was permitted as a food supplement. Now they have changed their minds and you can find it in many beverages and yogurts! FYI, their studies were done on hamsters.
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest doesn’t like Stevia much. Back in 2000, they warned of concerns.
- The World Health Organization and European Union currently deem stevia as safe.
Good News for Stevia
- Japan has been using stevia for centuries and they are all doing just fine with their health. However, Japan uses stevia in small quantities in pickling and canned products mostly.
- Research has shown stevia is a promising sugar substitute for diabetes or those with heart disease. There has been a wealth of positive research within the last 5 years. But, is this due to big business funding that research? Or, is it just a coincidence?
- In countries with big business like America, there is always the chance for exploitation of a product for money. The fear is that we will find stevia in large quantities in soda and sweetened beverages. We don’t know what the effects are for long term, high dose human stevia use.
The Future of Stevia
Will natural foods advocates find themselves on the same side as the Big Food and Beverage Companies, arguing that stevia is safe?
In the meantime, lots of people are using stevia. I use a packet in my oatmeal, or on a sweet potato, here or there. Take caution, read your label, and as with everything, use in moderation.
Do you use sweeteners other than sugar? And how much does research and FDA opinion affect your choices about what you use?
I think FDA is bought & SOLD! They are not our friends & are a corrupt part of government like all the rest of government!!!
Hear, hear!!!
Andy do you have a reference link for information on the studies done in the 80′s being dis-proven etc? I’m curious bc I’m trying to get a company to use it vs sucralose and they’ve commented on stevia being toxic to the liver which I just shook my head in disbelief. I can’t find it on the web anywhere, their source or yours. They are looking into Lakanto as an option as well. Thanks.
The FDA…trust them and you will surely die. My dog died after 1 dose of Deramaxx. I sent her information to their Vet dept for review to get this Rx off the market. They would NEVER respond to my requests for their findings. Hmmmm? Many dogs have died after one or two doses.
I have used Stevia for more than 12 years. I’m very healthy. My stress has caused more issued than stevia. I hear or read there are toxic issues with it per the FDA etc but have yet to see a study. However there are many studies shown online about it’s high level testing in mice etc without any side effects at all. I still use honey, real maple syrup and sugar if the recipe calls for it. They are all natural and in moderation are fine.
A new sweetener from Japan is also beginning to get more attention it is called Lakanto. Research seems great with it that I can see so far. A must read or reveiw on Splenda/sucralose is necessary and I’d google it with Dr Mercola’s name to watch video. His book Sweet Deception is an eye opener and challenging.
Always take only half doses of anything a Dr. reccomends. Thousands of deaths occur from prescriptions yearly. They are not GOD.
Well, after doing my research for a report I was writing, I’ve found that the cola companies paid FDA commisioners to give the okay to put artifical sweeteners on the market becuase it’s cheaper than regular sugar. I’m sure that they’re lying about this stevia thing. It could be bad or good. ASPARTAME AND SPLENDA, AMONG OTHER ARTIFICAL SWEETENERS CAUSE CANCER. DON’T TRUST FDA. THEY’RE KILLING US HERE! Eat healthy and eat natural- it’s the best way to go if you want to live!
I have been a diabetic since 1996 (diagnosed). I’m not a person who likes sweets or sugary things. I’m currently using stevia as a sugar substitute. I and other diabetics I have introduced to stevia have told me that their blood sugar levels have dropped by 1 mmol or better.
The stevia plant was used extensively by the Guaraní people for more than 1,500 years, and the plant has a long history of medicinal use in Paraguay and Brazil.
Diabetics shouldn’t use sucralose. Sucralose is a sugar alcohol and your body converts alcohols back into sugar. Alcohol does not have to be in a liquid form. Sucralose may and in most cases does cause your blood sugar levels to rise.
@ A nelson… have you noticed the negative light of corn sugar these days? Corn sugar and syrups acts exactly the same in the human body as sugar but the government isnt obligated to buy surplus corn so they discourage its use. they only want people to buy sugar(sugar cane) products because if the sugar isnt sold the government has to buy it. Corn sugar is made from corn and sugar is made from sugar cane. They dont have to buy the corn if it isnt consumed.
The US government degrades any sweetener that isnt sugar because the US holds a monopoly in sugar production to itself and forbids the purchase of sugar from other countries. In the US sugar costs 22 cents or more per pound, it costs around 6 to 7 cents a pound else where and when there is a surplus the US government has to buy that surplus at the designated rate of 22 cents per pound (or more by now) This is the main reason the FDA is against any sweetener that isnt derived from sugar. You have never seen stronger advertising than those for Splenda and note how quickly splenda was put on store shelves and added to soft drinks…. Amazing really. Splenda is derived from sugar and is another way to promote the consumption of sugar in the US so that the government doesnt have to buy the sugar that isnt consumed. this is my personal opinion
It’s reached a point where, if the FDA disapproves of something, I look into its possible use. If they approve of something, any more, I have a tendency to look at the item in a very suspicious light.
I don’t trust the FDA any further than I can throw them. Another bureaucracy that’s become outdated, and badly in need of reform. I suspect that corruption there runs absolutely rampant. They’re too firmly in the back pockets of the large agri-businesses and Big Pharm.
The reason for all the “concern” is that the Sugar Lobby is so powerful that they can even continue, unfettered, to dump their cancer feeding toxin on us and our children with ZERO regard for our health…oh wait, that’s right…they relabeled themselves (corn sugar, etc)…so everything is ok now right?
NOT!!!
My personal opinion says it’s safe. The FDA is corrupt, and all the other artificial sweetner companies know if a natural substitute comes out as being WAY safer and tastes better they will be done for. They will do anything to keep the money flowing. Japan has been using Stevia for a very long time and they are a lot healthier than us.
Your are completly right Ashley. This is pretty interesting, Stevia extract as a sweetner has been used for over 50 years but some early research in the 80?s indicated that it may be toxic to humans. The problem with the research was that it was severely flawed and was even dismissed by the scientific community.
Unfortunately, the results of the study were taken out of context and lead to the ban by the FDA and European Union. Years later and hundreds of scientific double-blind studies later have proven Stevia extract to be safe and non-toxic to mammals even at very high concentrations.
It appears that the other artificial sweetner companies also had a part in placing pressure on the FDA to ban Stevia extract and this is an alarm bell for me once again that the FDA is heavily influenced by commercial companies who have one interest in mind – business and making money from their own products.
This is the same thing that happened with coconut oil people! The people who produce and sell vegetable oils among other types of unhealthy oils didn’t want coconut oil to become popular, why? Because it’s so much better for you people would be dumb not to switch so they told people it causes heart disease, that is is full of fat and rich in cholesterol. In reality coconut oil has saturated fats, those are good fats and it has no cholesterol. I don’t believe anything the FDA says this country is full of greedy liars! research for yourself, try to find unbiased stuff. it’s the best way to go.
i am confused with stevia just clarify me whether it should be used or not clearly?