Stevia’s controversial past includes studies linking it to liver mutations, fertility problems, and disruptions in energy metabolism.4 A December 2008 study in chicks fed a diet of either dried ground whole stevia leaves or pure stevioside (an extract of stevia comparable to rebiana), reported that both the dried stevia as well as the extract decreased blood levels of T3 thyroid hormone.5This study is a concern because T3 is your active thyroid hormone, and low thyroid activity is linked with weight gain and a whole host of health problems.

Like many other substances, the negative effects of stevia are seen in animals only at very high levels of intake, and we don’t know if these effects will carry through to humans. So light to moderate usage is probably safe, and unlike the artificial sweeteners, I have yet to see any of my patients experience headaches or muscle pain from stevia.

Remember stevia is a sweet plant, so my guess is it will turn out to be much better than the artificial sweeteners. But until further research on the stevia extracts can clarify their effects, I recommend using stevia only in moderation like other sweeteners.

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