Stevia’s Sweetness May Come With Some Side Effects

Stevia is the herbaceous plant family with more than 200 species growing in the tropical and sub-tropical America, mostly Central and South and some parts of North. Stevia the sweetener is regarded as the stevia rebaudiana, both plant and leaves, which can be grown and used with or as tea (traditionally, it was paired with the yerba mate in many parts of South America) or powdered and dried as sugar substitute. It is not too difficult to grow, and with a very sweet raw leaf.

Before discussing Stevia side effects, lets take a look at its benefits first, bringing about the need for people to continue to use it today.

 

Stevia’s Benefits:

1.  Stevia is nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar, and it has been used for many centuries as a healthy food and as a plant that can be used for healing. The effects of Stevia on the blood sugar levels are also negligible and do not really interfere with the natural insulin balance of the body system. This is unlike what you have with many other synthetic sweeteners. Therefore, it is the favorite of many diabetic patients. It really helps in stabilizing the blood-sugar level.

2.  You can cook or bake with Stevia because it is water-soluble and is resistant to high heat. For this reason, people like to use it as a sweetener in whatever they do, whether for a vegan cake or tea. It can also help in protecting your teeth against plaque and decay, making it much better than sugar.

3.  Stevia can also help in weight loss because it does not have calories. This is a very good thing because there are millions of people struggling to lose weight today. It will help in reducing your craving for fatty and sweet foods which can give you excess weight. It is also a very good thing for people suffering from hypertension.

4.  Stevia can help in preventing many infections because it hinders the growth of certain bacteria. According to some studies, it is claimed that it can help in preventing colds and flu. Many tests have also supported the antimicrobial properties of this plant against streptococcus mutans. The power it has over the growth of certain bacteria makes it very useful in the treatment of gum diseases, wounds and sores. It is also a very good thing for people suffering from yeast infections or reoccurring strep infections, the two conditions that can be made worse through the consumption of white sugar.

 

Despite all the different benefits Stevia does come with some side effects.

7 Side effects associated with taking Stevia:

1.  Stevia is likely to lead to a reduction in blood-glucose level.

2.  Stevia can cause a reduction in the production of sperm cells as it was in male hamsters given high doses of the plant, though this may be different in humans.

3.  It is believed that Stevia may cause problems with energy metabolism, especially in children. The plant is capable of blocking carbohydrate absorption, leading to inadequate production or conversion of energy, and it shows in the form of fatigue and weakness.

4. Instead of helping in weight loss, Stevia may also lead to obesity because it is more than 250 times sweeter than sugar, this tricks the body to overeat since you are not getting any calories from Stevia itself. This is more of an indirect side effect of Stevia specially when you consume big amounts of Stevia over an extended period of time.

5. Another side effect is that it can lead to addiction to sweet things because of the high level of sweetness.

6. Numbness, gas, bloating, nausea and dizziness are some of the other Stevia side effects which have been noticed in some people, though for a short duration.

7. It is believed that the plant can increase the risk of cancer, though there has not been enough evidence for this. Many studies have been carried out to show that if Stevia is used excessively, it can lead to DNA mutation, which may lead to cancer. The case of genetic mutation has been seen in animals, and it is not yet clear whether the same thing can happen in human beings.

There are also different controversies about Stevia side effects among pregnant women, and it has been advised that you should make use of other types of sugar when pregnant. People with an allergy to ragweed and the related plants of the Compositae/Asteraceae family are also advised to consult the doctor before using Stevia or any supplements containing the plant as an ingredient.

 

In many parts of the world, the Stevia side effects have been very controversial over the years, especially in the US and Europe. Many people believe that most of the side effects mentioned are due to some other things happening in the life of the individual and may not be directly attributable to the use of Stevia. Despite the fact that there are different views on this, it is very important to consult the doctor if you have some doubts about how to use it or if you have been experiencing side effects from using Stevia.