Can diabetics use Stevia? Indeed, you have ever asked yourself this question since, on a daily basis, many people consume and recommend Stevia as a sugar substitute; however, they do not make sure if this sweetener is really suitable for diabetics.
That is why we’re here today, to check whether it can be a good choice. In addition, we’ll go a little deeper into Stevia and sugar, their properties, and what really differentiates them. Nothing more, we can begin.
Table of Contents
Is Stevia really good for diabetes?
Yes, Stevia broadens the spectrum of sweeteners and sugar substitutes for diabetics as stevioglycosides do not raise blood sugar levels. For this reason, Stevia is a good alternative for diabetics who don’t want to do without sweets, when consumed in moderation.
What is the difference between Stevia and refined sugar?
Now that you know that diabetics can consume Stevia, you may wonder what differentiates Stevia from sugar.
Depending on the formulation, Stevia products can be up to 450 times sweeter than table sugar. It has no calories, metabolizes independently of insulin, and for this reason, is also a good sugar substitute for diabetics.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a shrub native to Paraguay. Its leaves’ ingredients have a very high sweetening power and practically no calories, which is why the Stevia plant has a special attraction for those who wish to lose weight.
What is refined sugar?
Refined sugars are processed and isolated sugars such as glucose (dextrose), fructose (fruit sugar) or sucrose (table sugar, granulated sugar). They are cheap to produce and are therefore added to many beverages, confectionery and convenience products to sweeten and improve texture.
What are the advantages of Stevia?
Let’s delve a little deeper into another of the advantages of this spice.
At first glance, Stevia only seems to have advantages for diabetics, but not only does Stevia not increase blood sugar levels, but its ingredients also don’t promote tooth decay like sugar, nor are they carcinogenic.
On the other hand, approved stevioglycosides such as E 960 don’t damage genetic material or interfere with fertility or the healthy development of the fetus. There is even evidence that Stevia can reduce blood sugar levels in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
What do health professionals say about Stevia?
Trade associations such as the German Diabetes Society see Stevia as one of many sweeteners that are no worse or better than other sweeteners. In addition, doctors warn that it is still unclear what consequences an overdose can have.
Stevia is only really interesting for people suffering from diabetes and the rare metabolic disease phenylketonuria. However, these conditions are only suffered by very few people in Germany.
Is Stevia healthier than other sweeteners for diabetes?
People also asked if Stevia is the healthiest sweetener and now we’ll answer your question here.
Naturally sweet, calorie-free and therefore the perfect substitute for sugar, at least that’s what the manufacturer promises. However, to obtain it, simply drying its leaves is not enough. For one thing, the leaves contain only about 5% of the active sweetening ingredients; untreated, they have their own slightly bitter taste reminiscent of licorice, not a sweet taste. For this reason, the plant undergoes a complex chemical process.
The substances that give the sweet taste are isolated with solvents and enriched with other chemical components. Stevia is therefore an alternative to sugar in small doses, but no healthier than other chemically produced sweeteners. Due to its composition, the sweetener should only be consumed in moderation if you have diabetes.
SUMMARY
As you could observe, Stevia is better than sugar and it is not the same to consume the latter than the former: it doesn’t have the same benefits.
We hope that this article has clarified all your doubts about these two types of sweeteners and that of course you are encouraged to consume Stevia and include it in your diet.
Beyond the above discussion, we recommend you to read our complete guide about Stevia and other interesting foods that have much more to contribute to our health than what is usually thought.