Disease Proof

Diet Blog wants to know, is Stevia safe? Here’s some of the investigation:

Here's how stevia landed in the news recently. The FDA sent a warning letter to Hain Celestial Group Inc. chastising them for using stevia as a food additive in some of their Zinger teas. Though it is permitted as as food "supplement," the FDA considers Stevia an "unsafe food additive." (Apparently unsafe substances are allowed as food supplements but not as additives. Does this seem screwy to anyone else?)


In its letter, the FDA pointed out that there was insufficient data to conclude that stevia is safe. Even more alarming, they said that literature reports have raised concerns about stevia's effects on blood sugar, as well as possible adverse impacts it might have on reproductive, cardiovascular, and renal systems.

Many of us hadn't ever heard there were health concerns with stevia. Doesn't Whole Foods carry it? Isn't it supposed to be healthy and natural and perfectly good for you? (Some of us do complain that it tastes nasty. But to be fair, others swear it tastes just like sugar).

Now Dr. Fuhrman’s thoughts about Stevia, check it out:

Many health gurus recommend substituting Stevia in place of artificial sweeteners. Stevia is natural and its use is permitted in Japan and other countries. Despite its widespread use, there is a surprising lack of human clinical trials evaluating its safety. Unlike with saccharin, no evidence has been reported that stevioside and its metabolites are carcinogenic. However, animal reports of nephrotoxicity do exist, which suggest that Stevia is likely safer than the other sweeteners, but not entirely without risk.1 The extent of risk is unknown at this time.

You decide.
1. Toskulkao, C., et al. 1997. Acute toxicity of stevioside, a natural sweetener, and its metabolite, steviol, in several animal species, Drug Chem. Toxicol. 20 (31): 31-44.

thanks again for your valuable information about diet.

Never heard of the sweetener until I heard Whoopi pushing it on her syndicated radio show one morning. I think I will wait until a more qualifed study comes out before I jump on the Stevia band wagon.