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Clearly, the
problem is the troubled relationship between stevia
and the
FDA. Over the years, a lot of effort has gone into keeping
stevia off
the shelves, due to pressure from billion dollar industries that
produce sugar - they don't call it white gold for nothing,
folks!
Fortunately
though, the tides are slowly starting to change. More and
more people are coming in contact with the stevia sweetener; they are
raving about it and that's getting harder and harder to ignore. Both
the USA and Europe are finally warming up to the idea of opening up the
market to stevia. With stevia products gradually making their way onto
the shelves, everyone has high expectations!
Here are some of the
rumored potential dangers of stevia, proposed by
various authorities, accompanied by the current evidence to refute
those charges. Recently EFSA,
the European Food Safety Authority, has
found stevia completely
safe on all accounts, and approved the use of
the sweet leaf sweetener:
- Myth #1: Stevia causes
impotence
 Various experiments have been
conducted, administering stevia to rats
and hamsters in extreme doses, ever since the 1960's, because of the
tales of indegenous South American women using stevia as a natural
contraceptive. Several studies have confirmed that even with doses up
to 500 times the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI), small rodents did not
show any harmful effects on their fertility or the healthy
development
of their offspring. In fact, there was no significant difference
between both groups of rodents (those who were administered stevia and
those who weren't). Inquiries among South American natives did not
support the theory that they used stevia as a contraceptive, and there
is no evidence that suggests otherwise.
- Myth #2: Stevia causes
cancer
Japanese studies on small
rodents have taught us that there was no
difference to be found between groups that were given stevioside and
groups that weren't. The tissue and organs of these animals was
inspected after testing, and no
evidence was found to support that
stevia might be carcinogenic. On the contrary! Ironically, Paraguayan
natives have been using sweet leaf successfully to cure breast tumors
and kidney damage!
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Most
of the studies that claim to prove otherwise, were eventually
refuted because of suspicions of meddling from the FDA and supposed
funding for a number of studies by producers of aspartame. Seems they
were trying to cover up the dangers
of aspartame and to keep stevia off
the market at the same time.
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Some
scientists have openly expressed
their dismay over the fact that the FDA has lifted their findings out
of context in order to thwart the selling of stevia. Pretty harsh, when
you consider that artificial sweeteners mixed with chlorine, such as
sucralose - which you may know as Splenda - are backed without
long-term evidence to support their safety, despite the countless
Splenda
side effects that are being reported.
For each study that supports dangers of stevia, there is another one to
refute it. The FDA claims there is not enough evidence to
support the
safety of stevia in humans. Yet the best evidence of stevia being safe,
is that native South American populations have been using the herb for
centuries, and the people of Japan have been using stevioside as a
sweetener for decades, without any complaints or side effects. What do
you think: is it enough evidence for you? You can leave your comments
using the form below.
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