Is stevia recommended as a sugar replacement?
Stevia rebaudiana, commonly referred to as stevia, comes from a small shrub. In the U.S., it is promoted as a dietary supplement or sweetener. These two uses are regulated under different laws. It is legal to sell stevia in the U.S. as a dietary supplement, because no dangers have been proven to its use. Some studies suggest that stevia could help control high blood pressure and diabetes, but only a few well-controlled human studies have been done. If you really want to control high blood pressure and diabetes, you should concentrate on the primary lifestyle steps of portion control, regular exercise, balanced eating and sodium restriction. As a sweetener, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved stevia for use since adequate evidence of its safety has not been presented. In fact, research shows that the main chemical in stevia can be converted in the laboratory to a compound that causes gene changes. More study is needed to learn whether these changes could lead to cancer in
