Jakarta –
Stevia is popular as an alternative sweetener that is healthier for consumption. It turns out that there are several considerations from experts regarding the side effects of stevia.
Data on diabetes sufferers continues to increase from year to year, making people continue to rack their brains. Until finally an alternative sweetener solution emerged which is believed to be healthier and suitable for consumption every day.
One of them is stevia. This alternative sweetener is popular for adding to drinks and sweet foods. Almost all healthy diet activists choose stevia as a source of sweetener they consume.
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But is stevia really completely healthy? In fact, there are several considerations that experts are also concerned about regarding the side effects of stevia.
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 Stevia comes from the steviol glycoside content in stevia leaves. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/Rocky89 |
Referring to the Cleveland Clinic (28/6/24) stevia was officially declared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an additional ingredient that was safe for consumption in 2008. Stevia itself comes from steviol glycosides contained in stevia leaves.
It is stated that the sweet taste provided by stevia is 400 times sweeter than sucrose or processed sugar. The steviol glycoside component is obtained from the extraction of stevia leaves which are brewed like tea.
After the leaves are brewed, the liquid between water and the thicker consistency will be filtered to separate. The thicker liquid is the stevia extract which will be converted into powder through the drying process.
Even though stevia is declared safe for consumption, the FDA also has requirements for stevia to be safe for consumption. Namely stevia which contains steviol glycosides at a level of 95% or pure stevia. But additional sweeteners such as Enliten, PureVia, Stevia in the Raw, and Truvia are still allowed in the mix.
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 Even though it is considered healthy, nutritionists are still worried about the possible side effects. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/yul38885 yul38885 |
The FDA further stated that there are several types of stevia that have not been approved as healthy alternative sweeteners. Raw stevia in the form of whole leaves, roots, twigs and other parts of the stevia plant cannot be called a sweetener suitable for consumption.
Behind the many health benefits of stevia, a study in 2022 shows that there are side effects from consuming stevia. One of the first things discovered was its effect on the imbalance of microbiota in the gut.
However, in follow-up research in 2024, no evidence was found that stevia could harm the intestines after 12 weeks of observation. But the findings do not rule out the fact that stevia may cause nausea or bloating.
Natalie Cristalic, a certified nutritionist, said there are concerns that stevia can affect hormones. Some nutritionists confirm this concern, but further and more in-depth research is needed to prove it more clearly.
(dfl/odi)
