Stevia is a natural, non-calorific sweetener made from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties, and is widely used as a sugar substitute in low-calorie beverages. But is stevia extract inflammatory?The answer is not straightforward. Studies have shown that stevia leaf extract can reduce levels of substances that cause inflammation in the blood.
However, it can also lower blood pressure and blood glucose, and have diuretic effects, so people who take certain medications or have certain health conditions should talk to their healthcare provider before consuming significant amounts of stevia. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers stevia leaf extract to be safe for consumption and unlikely to cause side effects in most people. However, stevia mixes that contain sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in people with a sensitivity to alcoholic sugar.
Uses of Stevia
Stevia comes in several forms, such as a liquid extract, powder, and leaves, which can be used to sweeten foods or beverages. The sweetness of stevia is due to the compounds present in the leaves that are extracted when these leaves are soaked in water. Unlike widely available artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, experts found no health consequences of stevia. However, since it can lower blood pressure and blood glucose and have diuretic effects, those who take certain medications or have certain health problems should talk to their healthcare provider before consuming significant amounts of stevia.In Vitro Metabolism of Glucoside Sweeteners
In vitro metabolism studies have been conducted on the mixture of stevia and enzymatically modified stevia in the human intestinal microflora.Another study found that rats given stevia leaf extract had lower levels of substances that cause inflammation in their blood compared to rats that were not given the extract.
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