Stevia: The Future of Sweet?

Find out why this controversial natural sweetener may become an important weight loss tool...

Stevia is a plant that is commonly used as a sweetener in many countries around the world. Originally from South America, it has been used for centuries by the Guarani indians of Brazil and Paraguay - both for sweetening teas like yerba mate and for treating health conditions ranging from high blood pressure to obesity. The Japanese have been using stevia as an alternative to artificial sweeteners since the early 1970s. It is found in many types of food, including candies and sodas, and is so popular in Japan that it now accounts for 40% of the country's sweetener market.

The chemical components that give stevia its sweetness -- called steviosides and rebaudiosides -- are 250 to 300 times sweeter than ordinary table sugar (sucrose). What makes them especially interesting from a health and fitness point-of-view is that, despite being so sweet, they do not significantly alter blood glucose levels. Also, stevia is practically calorie-free. These characteristics makes it a very useful sugar alternative, especially for diabetics, people with weight problems, and anyone who wants to avoid the many harmful effects of sugar consumption. With the recent interest in low-carb and low-sugar foods, more attention has been focused on stevia than ever before.

The "Problem" With Stevia

Despite the fact that millions of people have consumed large amounts of stevia for decades -- with no known harmful effects -- it is not legal for use as a food additive in the United States. In the US and several other countries, stevia can only be used as a "dietary supplement." Why? Because a single European health study found that stevioside depressed the virility of male mice. Also, there is some highly questionable evidence that a component of stevia may cause cancer in animals. There is, however, much evidence that shows stevia to be a safe alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

The Future of Stevia

As more studies are done on stevia, more information will become available regarding this very promising natural sweetener. Hopefully, it will be shown that stevia is a completely safe food additive and the FDA will "legalize" it in the United States. Then, food companies will be able to begin offering low-calorie and no-calorie foods containing stevia instead of aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame-k, etc. -- artificial sweeteners that many experts consider to be highly toxic and much more dangerous than either sugar or stevia.

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Related resources:

Stevia Q&A

Documents and Resources on Stevia