While people are aware about the consequences of too much sugar consumption, most of them go for artificial sweeteners or sugar free items. Aspartame and stevia are two of the most common artificial sweeteners utilized in America as well as several countries in the world today.
Found in South and North America, stevia is an herb that is claimed to be about 300 times sweeter as compared with the typical sugar and so is applied in a range of food items. There are a number of claims about the possible risks of stevia that you must be well aware of.
Possible Dangers of Stevia
The use of stevia has been associated to a number of long-term side effects which raised doubt and controversy about the product in the recent years. The following are few of the asserted side effects or dangers of stevia:
1. The product is said to be a significant obstruction in the body’s metabolism process. Daily stevia consumption may stop or slow down metabolism and so, interrupt with the conversion process of food into energy.
2. Consumption of stevia may be linked to cancer. After it has been tested inside the laboratory, it was discovered that the product has the capability to carry mutations in the genetic material or DNA of the cell. It is just an asserted side effect since it is not yet observed in humans. On the other hand, researchers and scientists have not still confirmed whether or not stevia may cause such mutation in humans.
3. Problems or complexities in reproduction are also assumed to be one of the dangers of stevia. Long-term regular stevia consumption is believed to impact the reproductive system of males specially resulting to a reduced sperm count. When tried on female animals, it was discovered that the product resulted to reduced offspring number.
These are only few of the alleged dangers of stevia sweetener. So, while “alleged”, they are only some possibilities. But then, though they are just possibilities, it is still a good idea to keep them in mind. Based on the claims mentioned above and the insufficiency of evidences, it may be concluded that there is still no infallible answer to the query about the danger of using stevia. However, it may still be a good idea to know the right amount for consumption to reduce the possibility of experiencing its side effects.
Additional Information
It is also good to know the safety of using stevia for pregnant women, diabetics, and all people with special condition. While stevia has not yet been verified to be safe by the FDA or some other comparable organizations, it is then not suggested for consumption during pregnancy. Instead of putting the life of your baby at risk, you must only consume those products, which are securely approved and are certainly safe.
This is also true among those people who are suffering from diabetic conditions. While stevia involves sweetening properties, it is good to note about the safety measures for consuming it. Or, if you want to be completely free from risks, you should learn to avoid using it.
