---
title: 🌿 Natural sweeteners
tags: food
description: Natural sweeteners open info (OI)
image: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/3540691454/1535710532/1500x500
---

<h1 style="text-align: center;">🌿 Natural sweeteners</h1>

# Stevia

## Refined products
- Purified/refined stevia leaf extract called rebaudioside A (Reb-A)
- Reb-A is ~200x sweeter than table sugar
- Often included with other compounds
- Dextrose: Glucose
- Maltodextrin: Starch
- Possible benefits
- Lowers insulin and glucose levels
- Lowers LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol
- Possible concerns
- Disruption in beneficial intestinal flora
- Glucose intolerance and metabolic disorders
- Recommended daily threshold
- 1.8 mg per pound or 4 mg per kg of body weight
- Based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

## Raw plant
- Not approved by the FDA (2023-10-09)
- Possible concerns
- Harm your kidneys, reproductive system, and heart/cardiovascular system
- Drop blood pressure too low or interact with medications that lower blood sugar

## Resources
- [Everything You Need to Know About Stevia](https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/stevia-side-effects) *by healthline*
- [Is Stevia Safe? Diabetes, Pregnancy, Kids, and More](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-stevia-safe) *by healthline*
- [Stevia](https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/what-is-stevia) *by WebMd*

<p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic">This is not medical advice. Do your own research.</p>