Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar and calorie-free. While it has been approved for use in parts of Asia and South America, it is banned in much of Europe. The purified form, Reb A, has been approved by the FDA in the United States and is available in many grocery stores and as a dietary supplement. Some studies have shown potential liver problems in rats, but further studies have not indicated that it is dangerous.
South American Herb Stevia is a natural sweetener. Many people used to cooking with herbs feel that eating it must be safe because it is natural. Some studies have shown that it can cause liver problems in rats, but the interpretation of these findings has been criticized. Further studies have not indicated that it is dangerous, although many experts advise continuing testing.
Stevia is approved for use as a sweetener in parts of Asia and South America, but banned in much of Europe. Although it was initially banned for use as a sweetener in the United States in 1991, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a purified form called rebaudioside A (Reb A) in 2008. Additionally, it can be packaged and sold in the United States as a dietary supplement.
Since the FDA approved the purified form, the Stevia-based sweetener has become available in many grocery stores across the United States. It has also been incorporated into some soft drinks and foods, as more companies develop their own branded versions of the sweetener. As a dietary supplement, it can also be found in health food stores. It should be noted that only the Reb A form has been approved for use as a food additive in the United States; the plant itself and other extracts from it are not permitted.
Countries such as China, Japan and Brazil have also approved stevia as a sweetener. Japan is particularly known for its intensive weed testing; the researchers concluded that it has no harmful effects on health. These Japanese studies are believed to have helped sway the FDA enough to approve it as a dietary supplement.
Stevia comes from the stevia rebaudiana plant native to Paraguay. It’s 300 times sweeter than sugar, yet calorie-free. In American health food stores, it is often packaged and sold in dropper jars. It can also be purchased as a sweetener to replace sugar in recipes. Japan uses about 40% of the world’s stevia. It is approved there for use in diet sodas and is used in Japan rather than sweeteners such as aspartame.
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