Is There Any Health Risk Associated with Stevia?

Stevia is an artificial sugar which is used in a similar way to aspartame for those people who do not wish to use ordinary sugar products. There are a number of controversies regarding the side effects of stevia. Stevia is a part of the species of shrubs and herbs of the Asteraceae or sunflower family which is a native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. Stevia rebaudiana is the variety grown for its sweet tasting leaves and has been used for centuries by the indigenous Guarani people of South America, and was used in Paraguay and Brazil for sweetening medicines, tea and the leaves were given in a way that is similar to a candy treat. The leaves are approximately 35 to 40 times sweeter than ordinary sugar and the two glycosides that give stevia its taste, stevioside and rebaudioside are 250 to 300 times sweeter.

Stevia is now cultivated in many other parts of the world and used as a sweetener in place of saccharin, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners some of which have been suggested to be a cause of cancer. A study done in 1985 to ascertain the risks and side effects of stevia was said to be inconclusive due to data mishandling, and in 2008 a review and studies done suggested there were no problems found relating to birth defects or cancer. The Japanese have been using this product for approximately thirty years or more without any harmful side effects being reported. Many different countries have different laws regarding this herb.

The only known side effects of stevia that may occur are due to consuming large amounts of the product daily, which may occur with a high sugar diet in adults and children ingesting more than the recommended daily allowance or those using high levels of stevia extracts and other products. This can occur due to the sweetener being added to many different types of foods and drinks instead of the normal sucrose. It has been suggested that it may be useful for those people who require a low carbohydrate diet, those with diabetes as it has a minute effect on glucose in the blood and may improve glucose tolerance and others with hypertension although the research is not conclusive at this stage. According to studies and research that have been done it is suggested that there does not appear to be side effects if stevia is used in the recommended daily amounts.