Sweeteners are often used as alternatives to sugar because they are both sweeter than sugar and low or no calories. Stevia is a natural sweetener obtained from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). Although it has zero calories, it is 200 times sweeter than table sugar, so it is preferred by many people who want to lose weight and reduce their sugar intake. Steviol glycosides are recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, stevia leaf and raw stevia extracts are not currently approved by the FDA for use in food products due to lack of research.
Although stevia is generally considered safe, there are studies showing that it negatively affects health. A meta-analysis including seven studies concluded that frequent consumption of zero-calorie sweeteners such as stevia may contribute to increased body weight and waist circumference over time. Some studies have shown that zero-calorie sweeteners such as stevia reduce the beneficial bacteria in the intestine by changing the intestinal microbiota.
In recent years, it has been discovered that there are taste receptors in tissues that do not have a sense of taste. It has been shown that there are taste receptors not only in the mouth but also in the intestine. GLP-1 hormone, which we call incretin hormones, are intestinal hormones that stimulate pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin when released into the bloodstream. Studies show that zero-calorie sweeteners such as stevia stimulate the taste receptors in the intestine, trigger GLP-1 hormone and insulin release, increase insulin resistance, and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
However, more research is needed to better understand the potential effects of stevia. It should not be forgotten.
Whether or not you decide to use sweeteners such as Stevia is a personal choice. When making this choice, attention should be paid to the acceptable daily intake. JECFA has stated the acceptable daily intake for steviol glycosides as 0–4 mg/kg. In other words, a 70 kg person can safely consume 280 mg of steviol glycoside per day. Steviol glycoside is sold in the market in the form of cubes, tablets, powder and syrup. Label information The amount in one unit should be learned by paying attention to the amount and the acceptable daily intake should not be exceeded. As Paracelsus said:
Every substance is a toxin, the difference between a toxin and a non-toxin is the dose.
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