Stevia is a plant used as sweetener for many years. It is native to South America; however, China is its largest producer, other regions include Kenya, Zambia, India, Vietnam, Brazil and some other countries. Stevia is considered to be 200-400 times sweeter than sugar, depending upon the product.
Leaves and flowers of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana)
Benefits of using stevia as sweetener include:
A low-calorie diet, as it is a calorie- free alternative to sugar and thus help in weight management while having the sugar- like sweetness from or even more from stevia.
Blood sugar remains controlled as it is not affected much by taking stevia.
Stevia does not cause tooth decay, unlike the sugar!
Although, stevia is recognized as safe to use in some specific forms by FDA and EFSA, still major health concerns are associated with it, some of them enlisted here:
It may cause issues related to kidneys and heart, especially its crude extracts or whole stevia leaf.
It may adversely affect stomach’s good bacteria thereby causing bloating.
It may interact with other medications and disrupt the normal required levels of blood sugar and other biochemicals or fluids in the body.
Caution is required while using stevia or other such food items, even if it is natural, one must consult the doctor before adding them to daily diet. What can be the other healthy options for people having sweet-tooth to substitute the sugar in their diet?
Healthier sugar substitutes include fresh fruits, a small amount of dry fruits, jaggery/coconut sugar in moderation, cinnamon, vanilla, and dark chocolate to satisfy sweet cravings naturally.
Honey is the best alternative for sweetening. Other than that many sweeteners are available in the market, maple syrup, dates syrup, molasses, vanilla essence.
