Q: What is Stevia? Is it safe to use as a sweetner?
A: Stevia is a shrub native
to Paraguay.Stevioside and Rebaudioside, two compounds
found in stevia leaves, give stevia a taste 200 times
sweeter than sugar. Stevia is so sweet that one or two
drops of liquid extract is all that is needed to sweeten
a beverage. Stevia is available as a leaf or herbal extract
in health food stores.
Is Stevia safe? Well, that depends on whom you ask. That
natives of Paraguay have used it safely for 1500 years.
In the last century no research anywhere in the world
has shown stevia leaf to be harmful in any way. In fact,
research has revealed a wide range of health benefits
from stevia’s phytonutrients. Stevia has no calories
and can lower blood sugar in diabetics. The FDA argues
that steviol, a stevioside metabolite, may be harmful.
However, steviol is never created in the human body because
humans lack the necessary enzymes to convert stevioside
to steviol.
The only thing unsafe about stevia is to call it a “sweetener”.
In a transparent move to protect sugar and artificial
sweeteners the FDA has made the labeling of stevia as
a “sweetener” illegal. The FDA’s decision
is inconsistent with past food regulations and clearly
shows industry manipulation of scientific data. Aspartame
(Nutrasweet, Equal), a substance shown to cause brain
damage, is found in over 5000 food products and has generated
more consumer complaints than any other additive ever
used. In Japan stevia is used and aspartame is illegal.
In 30 years, not one consumer complaint has ever been
registered about stevia. The evidence indicated that stevia
is a healthy, wonderfully sweet substance especially helpful
for diabetics. It has no calories and doesn’t raise
blood sugar! You can even grow it in your house. Just
don’t call it a sweetener or you might smell the
stink of FDA (ir)regulations breathing down on you. |
