Stevia what is it good for

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I've heard it's good for weight control. Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R. With Katherine Zeratsky, R. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.

Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references What refined stevia preparations have been evaluated by FDA to be used as a sweetener? Additionally, stevia could potentially cause allergic reactions in people with an allergy to ragweed, as they belong to the same family of plants.

However, this has never been reported nor studied in structured research. Stevia sweeteners are available online or at most local grocery stores, both in powdered and liquid form. For green leaf technically considered a supplement in the U. For a purified extract the only food-approved type in the U.

Stevia leaf extract is available in both powders and liquid forms. The liquid varieties are useful for sweetening coffee, teas, healthy smoothies or natural stevia soda recipes. Powders work best for cooking and baking — and a little goes a long way.

Excess sugar consumption is associated with a slew of negative side effects, including heart problems, diabetes, liver disease and weight gain. In fact, just one teaspoon contains around 16 calories. Stevia, on the other hand, is free of calories and has been linked to several potential health benefits, including decreased cholesterol and hypertension and increased insulin sensitivity.

Sucralose also known as Splenda is another popular sweetener that has been presented as a healthy alternative to aspartame since its approval in the s. However, there are reports that sucralose may also be problematic, particularly because the body metabolizes it differently than most artificial sweeteners.

Sucralose has been thought to be safe in high-heat cooking, but a report reviewing the safety of this substance found that it generates toxins called chloropropanols when exposed to high temperatures. Another major difference between stevia vs. Splenda is that sucralose may negatively impact glucose metaoblism and insulin sensitivity. To avoid artificial sweeteners, many people choose items sweetened with sugar alcohols SAs , which are low-calorie sweeteners such as erythritol, xylitol , mannitol and sorbitol.

Another key distinction between SAs such as erythritol vs. Besides stevia, there are several other natural sweeteners that you can enjoy in moderation as part of a healthy diet. In particular, raw honey , dates, coconut sugar, maple syrup, blackstrap molasses, balsamic glaze, banana puree, brown rice syrup and real fruit jam are all healthy sweeteners to consider using.

Keep in mind, however, that these do impact caloric intake and insulin release. However, they often provide important micronutrients and offer several health benefits as well. Josh Axe is on a mission to provide you and your family with the highest quality nutrition tips and healthy recipes in the world What Is Stevia? Benefits Is It Safe? More Nutrition Dr. Axe on Facebook Dr. Axe on Twitter 2 Dr. Axe on Instagram Dr. Stevia, also called Stevia rebaudiana, is a plant that is a member of the chrysanthemum family, a subgroup of the Asteraceae family ragweed family.

In fact, many stevia products have very little stevia in them at all. Reb-A is about times sweeter than table sugar. Some stevia brands also contain natural flavors. The U. You can grow stevia plants at home and use the leaves to sweeten foods and beverages. Reb-A sweeteners are available in liquid, powder, and granulated forms. Stevia is a nonnutritive sweetener. This means it has almost no calories.

However, to date, research is inconclusive. If you have diabetes , stevia may help keep your blood sugar levels in check. One study of 19 healthy, lean participants and 12 obese participants found that stevia significantly lowered insulin and glucose levels. It also left study participants satisfied and full after eating, despite the lower calorie intake. And according to a study , stevia leaf powder may help manage cholesterol.

Study participants consumed 20 milliliters of stevia extract daily for one month. It may also drop blood pressure too low or interact with medications that lower blood sugar. Although stevia is considered safe for people with diabetes, brands that contain dextrose or maltodextrin should be treated with caution. Dextrose is glucose, and maltodextrin is a starch. These ingredients add small amounts of carbs and calories. Sugar alcohols may also slightly tip the carb count.

If you use stevia now and then, it may not be enough to impact your blood sugar. But if you use it throughout the day, the carbs add up. A study reported a possible link between nonnutritive sweeteners, including stevia, and disruption in beneficial intestinal flora. The same study also suggested nonnutritive sweeteners may induce glucose intolerance and metabolic disorders.

As with most nonnutritive sweeteners, a major downside is the taste. In some people, stevia products made with sugar alcohols may cause digestive problems , such as bloating and diarrhea.