So, a person who weighs 60 kg, or 132 pounds (lb), can safely consume 9 packets of the tabletop sweetener version of stevia per day. Therefore, it is illegal to sell these products or import them into the United States.Īccording to the FDA, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of stevia is 4 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of a person’s body weight. But the FDA does not consider stevia leaf or crude stevia extracts safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies sweeteners made from high purity steviol glycosides as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). Additionally, some people report nausea, bloating, and an upset stomach after consuming it. This can make stevia products less suitable for those with diabetes. For this reason, some manufacturers add other sugars and ingredients to balance the taste. Stevia also has a bitter aftertaste that many people may find unpleasant. However, it is often more expensive than other sugar substitutes.

It is calorie-free and does not raise blood sugar levels. Stevia has several pros and cons that people with diabetes need to consider. This highly processed and purified product is around 300 times sweeter than table sugar, which means a person needs to use only a small amount to sweeten food. To make it, manufacturers extract chemical compounds called steviol glycosides from the leaves of the plant. Stevia is a natural sweetener that comes from the Stevia rebaudiana plant.

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Equal sugar