With sugar overconsumption becoming a social issue, sugar-free beverages and foods have become popular with many people because they provide a sweet taste without any guilt, using low-calorie additives known as sweeteners. Simply put, sweeteners are a general term for natural and artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners have nutritional value and flavor, while non-nutritive sweeteners have almost no calories and are common ingredients in foods, beverages, and surprisingly, everyday necessities like toothpaste.
The introduction of soda taxes has led to the widespread use of sweeteners. In recent years, a correlation has been proven between soda taxes and a decrease in people's sugar consumption in states such as California and Illinois. ¹ A study published in 2021 showed that five American cities that implemented anti-sugar campaigns saw a 20% decrease in demand for sugary drinks. ² Berkeley, California, one of the first cities in the United States to tax sugary drinks, levied $0.01 per ounce of sugar. Sugary drinks remain the largest source of added sugar, and many people are calling for the expansion of these taxes.
No new soda taxes have been introduced since 2018.
Stevia is gaining attention as a sweetener that can replace sugar. Stevia is a plant in the Asteraceae family that has almost no adverse effects on health compared to sugar and is gaining attention as a safe sweetener that can replace sugar.
Green Leaf Stevia: The least processed stevia (30-40 times sweeter than sugar)
Stevia Extract: 350 times sweeter than sugar
Research has revealed many benefits to consuming stevia. Here are some of them:
1. Blood sugar levels
One of the reasons stevia has attracted attention is that it does not spike blood sugar levels as much as sugar.⁴ Unlike artificial sweeteners and sugar, the herbal ingredients in stevia not only suppress and stabilize blood sugar levels, but also improve glucose tolerance.
2. Blood Pressure
Stevia has a vasodilatory effect, widening blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. If you are using stevia solely for the purpose of lowering blood pressure, please use it with caution and refer to the recommended daily intake amounts below. We recommend consulting a medical professional beforehand.
3. Age Restrictions
Research has shown that stevia is a safe sweetener to eat or drink on a daily basis, and there are no age restrictions for its consumption. The recommended daily intake for both children and adults is 4 mg per kg of body weight, and proper consumption of stevia can help prevent the negative health effects associated with sugar intake, including heart disease, high cholesterol, and obesity.
Stevia is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
4. Low calorie
Stevia is a non-nutritive sweetener, meaning it contains no nutritional value and very few carbohydrates, so despite its sweet taste it has zero calories. And because it is available in a variety of forms, including tablets, powder and liquid, it can also be used as a weight loss aid when used as part of a balanced diet.
5. Cancer
Sweeteners such as stevia have been shown not to increase the risk of cancer, and the compound properties of the plant have been shown to have many benefits for human health, including anti-cancer properties.
The reality is, we all need to cut down on our sugar intake, and with processed foods and sugary drinks all around us, sweeteners like stevia give us the sweet taste without the negative side effects of sugar, making them a fantastic way to realistically consume sweetness.
Source¹ https://p3rc.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/561/2021/09/Rvw-Meta-Anal-Impct-Lcl-US-SSB-Taxes-Demand_Rsrch-Brf-No.-121_Aug-2021.pdf
² https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/12/big-soda-industry-lobby-fight-ban-soda-taxes
³ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-drinks/sugary-drinks/
⁴ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900484/
⁵ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25412840/
⁶ https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/additional-information-about-high-intensity-sweeteners-permitted-use-food-united-stateshttps://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/additional-information-about-high-intensity-sweeteners-permitted-use-food-united-states
⁷ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229159/
⁸ https://www.esht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/0710.pdf
⁹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8874712/
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on facts and was accessed on February 10-20, 2023.
