Is Stevia Safe?

The sugar substitute stevia is getting more popular – but is it safe?

Payoff:There are lots of sugar substitutes out there – and stevia is among the most popular now – just don’t call it a sweetener. It’s made from the leaves of the stevia plant and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries in South America. Here in the U.S., the FDA refuses to import stevia as a sweetener. That’s why importers call it a supplement. That makes it a lot easier to get around the regulations.

So is stevia safe? According to Andrew L. Rubman, director of the Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, research has shown stevia to be relatively safe, but there are still concerns that it could have harmful effects on blood sugar control, the kidneys, and the cardiovascular and reproductive systems. Dr. Rubman says more testing needs to be done and suggests you limit your intake any sweetener, natural or not – including stevia.