Medical Edge Newspaper Column

Stevia — a New Zero-calorie Sweetener

September 18, 2009
Readers:
These days the new kid on the zero-calorie block is stevia, which recently got the nod from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as a sweetener in foods and beverages. Stevia is an herb native to South America, where it's been used for years. Extracts of stevia taste 200 times sweeter than does sugar, but with no calories and no effect on blood sugar, so it could be an appealing choice for people with diabetes.

The FDA recognizes stevia as safe in moderate doses, but some groups still have questions. Until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should probably avoid stevia-based sweeteners, and others should consume no more than one or two servings a day.

— Adapted from Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource