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Stevia Extract

Stevia extract comes from Stevia rebaudiana, a plant native to Brazil and Argentina, though it is now grown in other countries. 1

What Is Stevia Extract?

An image of a stevia plant with stevia powder in a wooden spoon on a white background.

Stevia extract is commonly used as a natural sweetener and sugar replacement that is created by boiling the leaves, extracting steviol glycosides, and then “re-crystallizing” it for use in Stevia-sweetened products or direct-to-consumer sugar substitutes. (Glycosides are the compounds responsible for Stevia’s sweet taste.) 2

Is Stevia Extract Bad For You?

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes Stevia extract as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) for use in foods and beverages. However, they have not approved whole leaf Stevia as GRAS because of concerns over their potentially negative health effects and therefore this form can only be found in supplements. 3

Stevia extract is generally well tolerated by most people. However, side effects such as nausea , bloating, or dizziness have been reported. 4

Is Stevia Extract Really Healthy?

An image of a sign shapes like an arrow affixed to a tree in a forest background with text that reads Healthy Life.

Yes. Rather than being “bad” for you, Stevia extract may be beneficial for your health according to several research studies.

Studies suggest Stevia extract may:

  1. Lower blood glucose levels, which could help with diabetes management 5
  2. Lower blood pressure 6, 7
  3. Reduce inflammation 8, 9
  4. Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels 10

 

Plus, the body does not metabolize the glycosides in Stevia making it calorie free, so it may help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight when used as a replacement for regular sugar. (Regular granulated sugar contains about 45 calories per tablespoon.) This is a great benefit, as being overweight or obese can lead to many health issues and diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

Why Was Stevia Banned?

An image of the word banned written in wooden cubes on a background of wooden cubes.

In 1991the FDA banned Stevia in the U.S. due to studies indicating it may cause cancer. In 1995, the FDA reversed its ban after reviewing other studies showing Stevia consumption did not appear to lead to cancer and in 2008, approved high-purity stevia glycoside extracts for use in foods and beverages. 11, 12

The BEST Way to Use Stevia Extract

Stevia extract is a very versatile natural sweetener. It is heat- and freezer-stable and can be used for baking or to sweeten your beverages, cereals, or anything else that needs a little low-calorie “sweetness.” Stevia is about 100 to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar, though. One teaspoon of sugar equals ⅛ teaspoon of Stevia powder, so keep that in mind as you’re swapping sugar for Stevia in your favorite dessert recipe. 13, 14

Debittered Stevia extract lends a little sweetness and health benefits to Garden in my Glass, a proprietary blend of more than 30 superfood fruit and vegetable powders all in one easy and convenient package. How great is that? Click here to learn more about the wildly popular Garden in my Glassand to place your order while supplies last!

An image of a bag of SANE Garden in my Glass product.

References

1- WebMD. Stevia. Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-682/stevia

2- Lemacks J. How Is Stevia Made? SFGate. Dec 14, 2018. Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/stevia-made-7125.html

3- Stevia Benefits. What’s the Difference Between Stevia Extract and Stevia Leaves? Nov 1, 2012. Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://steviabenefits.org/difference-stevia-extract-stevia-leaves/

4- WebMD. Stevia. Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-682/stevia

5- Philippaert K, Pironet A, Mesuere M, Sones W, Vermeiren L, Kerselaers S, Pinto S, Segal A, Antoine N, Gysemans C, Laureys J, Lemaire K, Gilon P, Cuypers E, Tytgat J, Mathieu C, Schuit F, Rorsman P, Talavera K, Voets T, Vennekens R. Steviol glycosides enhance pancreatic beta-cell function and taste sensation by potentiation of TRPM5 channel activity. Nature Communications, 2017; 8: 14733 DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS14733

6- Chan, P., et al., A double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2000; 50(3):215-20.

7- Hsieh, M.H., et al., Efficacy and tolerability of oral stevioside in patients with mild essential hypertension: a two-year, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Clin Ther 2003; 25(11): 2797-808.

8- Boonkaewwan C, Toskulkao C, Vongsakul M. Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activities of Stevioside and Its Metabolite Steviol on THP-1 Cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 8;54(3):785-9. doi: 10.1021/jf0523465. PMID: 16448183.

9- Boonkaewwan C, Burodom A. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of stevioside and steviol on colonic epithelial cells. J Sci Food Agric. 2013 Dec;93(15):3820-5. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6287. Epub 2013 Jul 25. PMID: 23794454.

10- Ilias N, Hamzah H, Ismail IS, Mokrish A. Stevia: limiting cholesterol synthesis in Hep-G2 cells. Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Apr 10, 2020. DOI: 10.35118/apjmbb.2020.028.1.11.

11- Allen M. Is Stevia Bad for You? A Nutritionist Gives Us the Honest Truth. Aug 9, 2020. Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/stevia-bad-nutritionist-gives-us-050000842.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGewdeWnO5QGIaF2xP7MM4y40YVkzKSc4V_vBXF6JCJIeOHtYgy313hyamAVZ3FQ7TL2n8zSlyjRNBc38qnQWU4xK-zULbTJeloBNowhxcAEDnvybkXf7yC5iJFXkOBkcYKf2XAP8VK3aQQe6M0fpi44bHWXhIzo22L21SLF9FGB

12- Perrier JD, Mihalov JJ, Carlson SJ. FDA regulatory approach to steviol glycosides,
Food and Chemical Toxicology. Volume 122, 2018, Pages 132-142, ISSN 0278-6915,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.09.062.

13- WebMD. What is Stevia? Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/what-is-stevia

14- Sweetleaf Stevia Sweetener. Stevia Conversion Chart. Accessed Feb 10, 2021. https://www.sweetleaf.com/stevia-conversion-chart/#:~:text=For%20our%20stevia%20packets%20and,%E2%85%9B%20teaspoon%20of%20stevia%20powder.&text=A%20recipe%20using%201%20tablespoon,come%20in%2016%20delicious%20flavors.

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