Is stevia based sweetener good for health?Does it has sideeffects?Where can I get it from?

Answer 1

According to the following statement Stevia based sweetener is harmful health...... "...as a scientist with over 15 years researching the safety of stevia and of many other plants used as food or food ingredients, I can assure that our conclusions in these various studies indicate that stevia is safe for human consumption as per intended usage, that is, as a sweetener." Mauro Alvarez, Ph.D., Brazil

"Stevia leaf is a natural product that has been used for at least 400 years as a food product, principally as a sweetener or other flavoring agent. None of this common usage in foods has indicated any evidence of a safety problem. There are no reports of any government agency in any of the above countries indicating any public health concern whatsoever in connection with the use of stevia in foods." Gras affirmation petition submitted on behalf of the American Herbal Products Association, April 23, 1992

"...various extract forms of stevia have been extensively studied and tested. These tests include acute, sub-acute, carcinogenic evaluation and mutagenicity studies. These scientific data, while not directly relevant or required for exemption under the common use in food proviso, nevertheless demonstrate cumulatively that there is no safety problem associated with the use of an extract of stevia. It appear to be extraordinarily safe." Introduction to GRAS affirmation petition submitted by the American Herbal Products Association, April 23, 1992...available at http://www.qfxz.com/yyfwy.htm?gclid=CPzH1_3Oy5ACFRsiewodVyvMOQ

Answer 2

Safe? Apparently....

Taken from Stevia website:
"Q) Is Stevia safe?

A) See chapter 6 for a detailed discussion. In general, Stevia is an all-natural herbal product with centuries of safe usage by native Indians in Paraguay. It has been thoroughly tested in dozens of tests around the world and found to be completely non-toxic. It has also been consumed safely in massive quantities (Thousands of tonnes annually) for the past twenty years. Although one group of studies, perform 1985 through 1987, found one ofthe metabolises of steviosides, called Steviol, to be mutagenic towards a particular strain of Salmonella bacteria, there is serious doubt as to whether this study is applicable to human metabolism of Stevia. In fact, the methodology used to measure the mutagenicity in this test was flawed according to a follow-up piece of research which also seriously questioned the validity of the results. For myself, I intend to use the product with both confidence in nature and respect for the healthy moderation and balance which nature teaches us."

So, is it healthy? Probably not.
Is it unhealthy? Apparently not.

It's just like any other sweetener. Just a treat for your taste buds, nothing more.

Just about any health food or vitamin store should have it.

Answer 3

It is supposed to be natural.
Our local health food store sells it in powder and liquid form.

Answer 4

you can get it at any health food store
ITs not "good" for you but it's better than artificial sweeteners
be warned that its really sweet tasting so you need to use less than sugar, honey, or the artificial stuff