Stevia Pros and Cons

Stevia, an herb native to South America that is related to sunflowers, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in late 2008 for use as a sweetener in foods and beverages. The FDA recognizes stevia as safe in moderate doses. Although it does have several beneficial effects, there are some negatives with stevia use as well.

Stevia

• Stevia rebaudiana is an herb that grows in semiarid areas of Brazil and Paraguay. The leaves of the plant have been used for years as a sweetener throughout South America and Asia. Until its recent FDA approval in the United States, stevia was marketed in the states only as an herbal supplement. Stevia extract is 300 times sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way. Health gurus and people needing a no-calorie sweetener are fond of stevia, while others warn that stevia's long-term effects have not been tested.

Pros

• A study by P. Chan and colleagues published in the "British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology" in September 2000 looked at stevia's use as an antihypertensive in 106 Chinese subjects with hypertension. The study showed that oral stevioside, a natural plant glycoside from the stevia plant, was well-tolerated and effective in lowering blood pressure. Another study in "Metabolism" in 2004 by S. Gregersen and fellow researchers found stevioside to reduce postprandial blood glucose levels in 12 type-2 diabetic patients. The researchers felt the herb could be advantageous in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. An Indian study, published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" in 2007 found extracts from the stevia leaf to be high in antioxidants that prevent the DNA damage that leads to cancer. Head researcher Srijani Ghanta reported that the extracts were found to contain the antioxidants apigenin, kaempferol and quercetin.

Cons

• Since stevia has been shown to lower both blood pressure and blood glucose levels, it should be used cautiously with people with low blood pressure and low blood sugar. Mayo Clinic reports that sweeteners containing sugar alcohols, such as highly refined stevia preparations can cause stomach upsets, including diarrhea, gas and bloating. These effects are more likely at high dosages. Like most artificial sweeteners, stevia is not recommended for use by pregnant or nursing women until further research about long-term effects is known.

Cautions

• People trying to lose weight sometimes go overboard on artificial sweeteners. According to Mayo Clinic, artificial sweeteners, even naturally occurring ones, should be used in moderation. Although stevia is considered safe, there have not been long-term studies on people ingesting large amounts of it. Additionally, processed foods containing artificial sweeteners generally do not offer the same health benefits as whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables.