This means some supplement products may not contain what their labels claim.
However, some products that contain stevia, in addition to other ingredients, may raiseblood sugar.
For example, many stevia products sold in stores contain additional ingredients, including bulking agents and other sweeteners.
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Dextrose,maltodextrin, and sugar alcohols like xylitol anderythritolare common ingredients added to stevia products.
Although stevia does not raise blood sugar, the ingredientdextrose, for example, does.
Dextrose has a glycemic index of 100, which means it has a significant impact on blood sugar.
On the other hand, pure stevia has been found to have no impact on blood sugar.
This may be due to its lack of calories and carbohydrates.
Studies have shown stevioside and rebaudioside A are steviol glycosides with blood-sugar-lowering properties.
Other research shows that stevia may also increaseinsulinactivity, which helps lower blood sugar.
What Is Stevia?
The leaves of the stevia plant are naturally sweet.
Steviol glycosides in the leaves account for stevias sweetness and are 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar.
It may be used in the form of fresh leaves, dried leaves, powder, or liquid extract.
Is Stevia Good for Me?
Stevia may be better for you than sugar and other sweeteners, but it doesnt provide substantial health benefits.
However, stevia is low in calories and carbohydrates, which may benefit some people.
Like other nonnutritive sweeteners, stevia is generally considered a safe alternative to sugar.
Some research supports the use of stevia and steviol glycosides for health purposes.
However, other studies have found that stevia intake doesnt influence gut health.
Stevia leaf and crude stevia extracts are not considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
Therefore, stevia leaf and its crude extract are not approved food additives in the United States.
They can, however, be used in dietary supplements.
On the other hand, steviol glycosides have been deemed GRAS by the FDA and other governing agencies.
This means that steviol glycosides extracted from stevia leaves are primarily used in stevia products in the United States.
Is Stevia Good for People With Diabetes?
Compared to sugar and some other sweeteners, stevia is considered a good alternative for people withtype 2 diabetes.
In some studies, steviol glycosides have been shown to exhibit blood sugar-lowering effects.
According to one systematic review, studies have shown a correlation between steviol glycosides and lower blood sugar.
While stevia may not significantly lower blood sugar, it doesnt cause blood sugar spikes like sugar and othersweeteners.
This may be especially beneficial for people with bang out 2 diabetes.
Some people with diabetes worry that using stevia may cause them to crave sugary foods.
The concern is that because stevia is so sweet, it may make people want sugar even more.
However, there is no strong scientific evidence to support this concern.
Most available research shows thatalternative sweetenersdont increase sugar cravings.
While pure stevia is mostly considered safe, stevia-containing products may contain ingredients that cause side effects.
This causes blood sugar levels to rise, triggering the pancreas to make more insulin.
Steviol glycosides from stevia specifically may cause nausea,bloating, dizziness, and numbness in some people.
People who arepregnantorbreastfeedingmay need to limit their stevia use.
This is because there isnt much reliable data on whether stevia is safe in these groups.
How Much Stevia a Day Is Too Much?
An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is the amount of food or substance considered safe for most people.
Stevias ADI is 4 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight.
Talk with ahealthcare providerto learn more about how much stevia is safe for you to use.
These include:
Some other popular sweeteners on the market may do more harm than good.
Aspartame, for example, may negatively impact your metabolic health more than sugar.
According to one review, aspartame may even increase the risk of punch in 2 diabetes.
Likewise,sucralosehas been associated with adverse health effects, including inflammation, liver damage, and metabolic diseases.
With so many sweeteners available, deciding which one to use may feel overwhelming.
Its best to do your own research and talk with a healthcare provider if you need further guidance.
Stevia contains no calories or carbohydrates and is not thought to raise blood sugar.
Research indicates that stevia may be safe for people with bang out 2 diabetes.
Only steviol glycosides (bioactive substances found in stevia) are recognized as GRAS by the FDA.
Stevia is thought to be safe for most people to use.
However, side effects may be possible, and some people may need to avoid stevia for medical reasons.
Talk with a healthcare provider about stevias health and safety.
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