According to the Food Standards Agency, there is evidence from animal tests that, in high doses, stevia increases the risk of certain cancers as well as male infertility.
Stevia is also widely sold in other East Asian countries and India. Stevia is approved for sale in the United States and Canada despite some resistance among nutritionists and medical researchers, but the European Union has for decades banned it owing to health concerns.
The sweetener derived from the Stevia plant was very recently, finally, approved for use on the European market. Stevia is completely natural, 300 times sweeter than sugar and contains 0 kcal.
31 Aug 2017 --- EU Member States recently agreed that infusions made from stevia leaves now can be sold in European countries with general food safety rules applying.
Using stevia can reduce calories in foods and drinks, but it may also have some adverse effects. Possible side effects include nausea, bloating, low blood pressure, and hormone disruption. Stevia is a non-nutritive or zero-calorie sweetener made of steviol glycosides.
Whole stevia leaves and crude stevia leaf extracts are not approved food additives because there is not enough toxicological information available, according to the FDA. However, the use of stevia leaves and crude stevia leaf extracts in dietary supplements are not subject to FDA food additive regulations.
Japan currently consumes more stevia than any other country; it accounts for 40% of the sweetener market. Today, stevia is cultivated and used in food elsewhere in east Asia, including in China (since 1984), Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Being plant based, Stevia is minimally processed and less harmful to the body in comparison to artificial sweeteners.
Stevia and monk fruit extract have a history of safe consumption and are all approved for use in Australia. Natural sweeteners are used in many food and drinks but are commonly used to sweeten flavoured waters and soft drinks.
Though widely available throughout the world, in 1991 stevia was banned in the U.S. due to early studies that suggested the sweetener may cause cancer.
In fact, stevia does not contribute to increased glucose and insulin levels.
That off flavor — which has been likened to metal and licorice — is stevia's greatest drawback. Though producers have improved the taste profile of stevia extracts, the ingredient will never be a complete substitute for sugar because of its strong flavor.
Do all stevia sweeteners have erythritol? No, but most do. I've found about sixty stevia erythritol blends and list them here. Erythritol (Ah-REETH-ra-tall) is currently one of the most popular sweeteners.
However, if you want a safer option, then monk fruit sweeteners may be a better choice. They have many health benefits, and studies have found no side effects. On the contrary, stevia sweeteners have been found to cause digestive problems and allergic reactions in some people.
Stevia is safe for most people to use. However, since stevia can have blood pressure– and blood glucose–lowering effects, as well as diuretic effects, those taking certain medications or who have certain health conditions should talk with their healthcare provider before consuming significant quantities of Stevia.
The body does not react to stevia as it does with sucrose from sugar so there is no insulin production; the steviol glycosides passes unchanged through the body (as opposed to sugar) down to the colon where the glycoside is removed in stages by hydrolysis, resulting in the formation of steviol.
The World Health Organization defines the acceptable daily intake (ADI) as 4 mg of stevia per kilogram of body weight. According to an FDA estimate, that means a 150-pound person could safely eat up to 10 packets of stevia a day-way more than you actually need, considering its intense sweetness.
The FDA approved only the purified form of stevia, called stevioside, as safe to use. Products considered safe contain words in their ingredient list such as stevia extract or Stevia rebaudiana. If you see whole stevia leaves or crude stevia extracts at your local natural foods store, don't buy them.
A high dose of stevia may decrease fertility and cause kidney issues. The stevioside in stevia may irritate your stomach and cause gastrointestinal issues. Stevia may interact with antidiabetic medications and lower your blood sugar levels too much.
Some Substitute Sugars May Be Keeping You Awake
These behavioral patterns often lead to late-night snacking, a prime culprit for restlessness and agitation before bedtime. Substitutes such as Stevia lead to hyperactivity and poor sleep quality.