20 Oct Does Stevia Effect Blood Sugar?

Does Stevia Effect Blood Sugar? Do artificial sweeteners effect blood sugar?

OK… This is going to be a long post… but, what I feel is an important one. I was asked by a consumer the following after they heard me on Glenn Johnson’s podcast Live Fit and Lean find it at http://www.livefitlean.com/podcast/114/  — Here’s the question…

“I found your show on Stevia very interesting but I have one question:

Stevia does not seem to raise Insulin levels as much as fructose BUT it does to certain extend as it sends “sweet” signal to the brain. Stevia is “sweet” on the palate, so the body assumes it is receiving sugar and primes itself to do so. Glucose is cleared from the bloodstream and blood sugars drop, but no real sugar/glucose is provided to the body to compensate. Do you think this can have negative affect on someone who consumes Stevia Products for a long time?”

“I asked because I’m more interested on using Stevia products for my kids. I personally don’t use stevia at all since i don’t care for sweets. I do eat whole fruit and that’s plenty sweet for me.”

http://www.fooddive.com/news/lawsuits-say-diet-soda-claim-is-misleading/507740/

This is an interesting article.

I am not a physician and I do not give medical advice. However, I have been involved with stevia and natural sweetening systems for nearly 20 years.

I have done many controlled studies on the short term and long term effect of stevia usage. In my research I have found evidence that stevia does not effect blood sugar level nor does it elicit a hormonal response.

What I have found is both aspartame and sucralose do effect blood sugar levels in some cases. I say some cases because my test group consisted of three subjects including myself.

I am asserting that the sweet constituents in the stevia leaf are classified as glycosides. Glycosides are found in several plant species in varying amounts. Your brain and gut have receptors that recognize glycosides and the body knows how they are to be metabolized. Aspartame, neotame, AceK, sucralose and any derivation of the aforementioned are not recognized compounds therefor the body reacts organoleptically and sensorial as though these compounds are sugars eliciting a hormonal response. It is true that these manmade artificial sweeteners are effective for calorie abatement or reduction, this could aid in weight loss. However, your body is acting as though it has consumed sugar. This, I believe, can lead to exacerbate metabolic response and ultimately contribute to metabolic disease.

Again, I emphasize, I am not a physician and this is not to be misconstrued as medical advise.