Do you use Stevia?  Did you know it was poisonous?  Who would know?  It is supposed to be all natural isn’t it?  It comes from a naturally growing leaf.  How could it be poisonous?  This is crazy.  I don’t know if I could believe that Stevia is poisonous.  It couldn’t be.

BUT IT IS.

According to Wikipedia:

The majority of this information has come directly from the Internet.  I have never found an instance in my clinical practice in which stevia supported anyone with their health.  In fact, I have always found that all forms of stevia are toxic.

Symptoms caused by Stevia

According to a recent survey, people who have been using stevia as a sugar substitute have reported numerous ailments that appear from time to time. Stevia side effects have reported considerable damage to the metabolism. Both the sexes have complained about infertility issues. Both men and women have shown their concern about the adverse effects of stevia on their fertility. It is also known to cause enormous harm to the central nervous system. In rare cases, traces of psychosomatic behaviour have also surfaced. Common fever, headaches, migraines, nausea and weakness are some of the stevia side effects seen largely among the users. The symptoms can get much worse with time. It is highly recommended to immediately stop the usage of stevia sweeteners if any of the above symptoms are reported. The damage it can cause to the central nervous system is irreparable. It is high advised to begin the treatment for stevia side effects as soon as possible.

HERE IS SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOXICITY OF STEVIA:

Here’s what troubles toxicologists:

Reproductive problems. Stevioside “seems to affect the male reproductive organ system,” European scientists concluded last year. When male rats were fed high doses of stevioside for 22 months, sperm production was reduced, the weight of seminal vesicles (which produce seminal fluid) declined, and there was an increase in cell proliferation in their testicles, which could cause infertility or other problems.¹ And when female hamsters were fed large amounts of a derivative of stevioside called steviol, they had fewer and smaller offspring.² Would small amounts of stevia also cause reproductive problems? No one knows.

Cancer. In the laboratory, steviol can be converted into a mutagenic compound, which may promote cancer by causing mutations in the cells’ genetic material (DNA). “We don’t know if the conversion of stevioside to steviol to a mutagen happens in humans,” says Huxtable. “It’s probably a minor issue, but it clearly needs to be resolved.”

Energy metabolism. Very large amounts of stevioside can interfere with the absorption of carbohydrates in animals and disrupt the conversion of food into energy within cells. “This may be of particular concern for children,” says Huxtable.

Click on this link to learn more about stevia. 

Many countries such as the United States, do not allow stevia to be added to pre-packaged food products. The U.S. isn’t alone. Canada doesn’t allow food companies to add stevia to their products. Nor does the European Union. Last year, the scientific panel that reviews the safety of food ingredients for the EU concluded that stevioside is “not acceptable” as a sweetener.