Stevia is generally considered safe by the FDA, but there are potential dangers. People with plant allergies, diabetes, or low blood pressure should exercise caution. Stevia may cause side effects and has been linked to cancer and reduced fertility in rats, but not in humans. Moderation is recommended.
Stevia, one of many sugar substitutes on the market, is considered generally safe for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. However, there are certain studies that indicate some dangers of stevia. People who are allergic to certain plants or who have diabetes or low blood pressure should exercise caution when consuming stevia. In healthy individuals, stevia can cause some undesirable side effects. There have also been some studies on rats indicating that the plant could cause cancer or reduce fertility.
One of the dangers of stevia includes an allergic reaction. This usually occurs in people who suffer from plant allergies, especially those sensitive to ragweed, daisies, and marigolds. People who experience reactions to these or other plants should use caution when using stevia as an artificial sweetener and avoid any foods containing the plant if they have had a previous reaction.
People with diabetes should closely monitor their blood sugar levels if they have eaten anything that contains stevia. Studies have found that this plant, in both raw and refined forms, can react with a number of different blood sugar control medications and lower blood sugar. Although the research is not clear on these dangers of stevia, most doctors recommend that diabetics limit the use of this plant.
Stevia may also react with some blood pressure medications in those with lower than normal blood pressure. This sugar substitute can cause a person’s blood pressure to drop dangerously low. Known as hypotension, this health problem can cause dizziness, weakness, exhaustion, and fainting spells.
There may also be some dangers of stevia in otherwise healthy people. Some people have reported feeling overly full or bloated after consuming products containing this artificial sweetener. Nausea is also a common complaint, as are muscle pain and weakness.
Since the early 2000s, researchers have been investigating other potential dangers of stevia. In some studies, the artificial sweetener has been found to cause cancer in healthy laboratory rats. However, the same results have not been found in human studies. Although stevia has been consumed in various countries for hundreds of years, there have been no long-term studies on the link between cancer and stevia; As with most things, moderation is generally suggested when consuming stevia.
In other studies, chronically high intake of stevia has been found to reduce sperm count and motility in male rats and impede the ability of female rats to become pregnant. As with cancer studies, the same results have not been found in humans. However, some researchers have found evidence that stevia was used as a contraceptive in ancient times. Although stevia is considered relatively safe for the majority of the population, most researchers and physicians do not suggest frequent and abundant consumption of the plant or foods that contain it.
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