Is Stevia Good For You?
Stevia is a zero-calorie, ‘natural’ sweetener used to replace sugar in several low-sugar, low-calorie drinks. But what actually is stevia? Is it safe to consume? Well, here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about stevia.
What Is Stevia?
Stevia is a ‘natural’ sweetener that is about 300 times as sweet as sugar. It is made from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana, otherwise known as the sugar leaf or sweet leaf plant. This is a part of the sunflower family and is native to various countries in Central and South America, including Paraguay and Brazil.
Steviol glycoside compounds extracted from the plant's leaves are purified to make Stevia sweeteners. You can also dry the leaves and grind them into a powder. One spoonful of stevia powder is equivalent to about a cup of sugar in taste. The difference is that Stevia does not add calories, affect blood sugar or insulin levels or help tooth decay.
Is Stevia Safe?
Stevia has been used for medical and nutritional purposes for thousands of years in some parts of Central and South America and was available globally. Stevia was only first approved for sale in the UK in 2012. Since then, it has grown in popularity.
But it has had a rocky history. In 1991 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States banned the use of Stevia. This was due to the results of a study which suggested that Stevia could be carcinogenic. However, these results were quickly refuted in many follow-up studies, so in 1995 Stevia was once more deemed safe in the US. However, as is often the case, the negative image of Stevia as unsafe has stuck with it in some places, even though these have clearly been shown to be untrue.
On the contrary, in recent years, there have been studies suggesting that Stevia could even be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension and gut health. It has also been recognised as having anti-inflammatory properties.
Stevia has been in use in various parts of the globe for thousands of years. It has been one of the most popular low-sugar sweeteners in Japan for the last 40 years and has many studies proving that it is safe in the short term.
There is, however, still more to learn, and the long-term effects of Stevia have not been studied as much. That said, there are plenty of studies to suggest that Stevia is completely safe to consume at the acceptable daily intake of 4mg/kg of body weight.
Is Stevia Safe For People With Diabetes?
Extensive research shows that Stevia does not raise or affect blood glucose levels. It has been deemed safe for diabetics by many different organisations including Diabetes UK.
There is increasing evidence that Stevia could be useful in the management of type-2 diabetes. Some studies suggest that Stevia can increase glucose tolerance and induce the pancreas to release insulin.
A little note of caution, people with insulin-related illnesses should be careful because brands sometimes mix stevia with other sweeteners that cause changes in insulin levels. So always make sure to check the ingredients.
Which Alcohol-Free Drinks Contain Stevia?
One easy way to cut sugar levels is to start drinking alcohol-free. Alcohol is high in sugar whereas many alcohol-free spirits, beers and other drinks are low-sugar. Many of these do not use added sugars at all.
Some of our favourite alcohol-free spirits and low-sugar mixers that do use Stevia include Mahala Botanical, Grapefruit & Rosemary Tonic Water by London Essence and Gallybird Tonic Waters
Sign Up for a JOMO Subscription
Looking to dive more into the world of alcohol-free goodies? Then sign up for a JOMO Club subscription. Each month we send a subscription box that has been mindfully curated using only the best alcohol-free drinks out there.
Each alcohol-free subscription box comes directly to your front door and contains the following:
One full-sized alcohol-free spirit
Paired cocktail recipes and mixers
Garnishes
A range of ready-to-drink alcohol-free drinks
Delicious snacks
A glossy magazine with everything you need to know about your new goodies.
Need your subscription box to be low in sugar? Then make sure to make a note when you order and JOMO will curate a low-sugar box especially for you.
So why not dive right in and start tasting alcohol-free drinks you won’t find in the supermarket? You’ll soon find the joy of missing out!