Stevia: All Natural and Calorie-Free, But Is It Safe?
Who likes stevia? All kinds of people, but in general health nuts and those in the food industry know most about this super sweetener. The reason why this sweetener gets so much attention is because it has no calories and it is completely natural. One would think that if stevia is natural it should be safe to eat and drink. However, that is not necessarily the case. Scientists have been involved in research for many years trying to determine if stevia is toxic or not.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a shrub found in South America. Its leaves are hundreds of times sweeter than refined sugar. Extracts of stevia have been available for more than a decade and it is used often in Paraguay, Brazil and Japan. Regardless of its use in other countries, the United States has not allowed it to be used here as of yet in foods. Although, it can be used as a dietary supplement. The Food and Drug Administration says it requires proof that it is not toxic.
Coca Cola Co and food manufacturer Cargill have created a stevia product called Truvia with several studies showing the product to be safe. Pepsi has also come up with a stevia sweetener that has yet to be approved by the FDA.
More than 40 years ago, scientists began studying stevia and the findings were not all positive. In female rats, they found that fertility was affected by stevia and another study in 1985 suggested that genetic mutations might occur. Interestingly enough, in Paraguay, stevia has been used for years as a contraceptive and to lower blood sugar.
The possibility that stevia might be toxic on any level resulted in the United States banning it. It was made legal in 1994 to sell stevia as an ingredient or dietary supplement, but not directly in manufactured, processed food. Many new studies have been done over the last few years and they show that stevia is a safe alternative. Many scientists believe this is the case because the extracts used are purer than ever before.
The recent studies have focused primarily on two of the plant’s main chemicals in purified forms. These two chemicals, stevioside and rebaudioside A, are responsible for the sweetness in the plant. Other studies show that stevia could potentially lower blood pressure. Some believe this is overstated and it does not effectively lower blood pressure.
However, there was a study conducted in 2000 in Taiwan with 100 adults. Taking 250 milligrams of stevioside daily lowered the participant’s blood pressure from 8% to 12% in only three months. Then, another study of 170 adults in China showed similar results.
A study in 2006 by the World Health Organization stated that many studies had been done on stevia and its chemicals and it did not appear that it would harm either the reproductive system or DNA. The food manufacturers in the US are anxiously awaiting some form of stevia to be approved for use in the US, but until then there will need to be more studies to show that stevia is in no way a harmful or toxic substance.
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Vitamin water 10 currently has stevia in it as well as erythritol. I dont like this one in orange like the regular one, but these taste good in the purple ones.