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.
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.
Stevia's sweetness is very concentrated, so a little goes a long way; a half teaspoon has the same sweetness as one cup of sugar! It provides the sweetness you want with the calories you don't need. There are blends of stevia that allow you to use the same amount, as you would sugar.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In addition, FDA considers three plant- or fruit-based high-intensity sweeteners to be generally recognized as safe for use as sweeteners in the United States: stevia, luo han guo (also known as Swingle fruit or monk fruit extract), and thaumatin.
When cooking and baking, stevia can be used to replace some or all of the sugar in most recipes. Since most purified stevia leaf extracts are already blended will other ingredients, you don't need to worry about adding extra ingredients (e.g., applesauce, yogurt, egg whites) commonly used when replacing sugar.
measured the effect of stevia using human microbiome batch fermentations and observed no significant differences in the growth of Bacteroides/Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, Blautia coccoides, Clostiridium leptum, and E. coli [35].
It's hard to find a sweetener that's a perfect taste replacement for sugar, and some people find that stevia has a metallic and bitter after-taste. Since it's about 300 hundred times sweeter than sugar, it's also a bit too easy to over sweeten things by accident.
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.
"Stevia is generally regarded as safe when used in acceptable quantities," explains Feller. "However, use of non-approved whole-leaf, crude stevia may have possible health effects specifically with the kidneys, heart, and hypoglycemic episodes.
Stevia contains high quantities of diterpene glycosides, which cannot be broken down or absorbed by the digestive tract. Therefore, intake of stevia sweetener does not affect the blood glucose level.
Stevia leaf-derived products are approved for use as sweeteners in foods in Japan, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
The WHO, based on its own research, advises against the consumption of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame K, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives.
Stevia and Dopamine Activity
That is, stevia lowered dopamine-reward system activity in the brain. Studies show us that diminished dopamine activity in the brain of obese humans leads to decreased physical activity.
A sugar alcohol called erythritol, which is often added to Stevia, has been linked to blood clots, heart attacks, and death according to a recent Cleveland Clinic study.
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.
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.
Certain glycosides in stevia extract have been found to dilate blood vessels. They can also increase sodium excretion and urine output. A 2003 study showed that stevia could potentially help lower blood pressure. The study suggested that the stevia plant might have cardiotonic actions.
Stevia is a natural sweetener obtained from a shrub called Stevia rebaudiana. It is generally found on the continent of South America. It is 200–400 times sweeter than sucrose and it is a non-caloric sweetener. Hence, it replaces sugar, corn syrup with high fructose, and other artificial sweeteners.