Stevia is a nonnutritive sweetener. This means it has almost no calories. If you’re trying to lose weight, this aspect may be appealing. a b Keville, Kathi (April 1987). "Exploring South America's medicinal plants". Vegetarian Times. p.47 – via Google Books. Omica Organics' Liquid Stevia is a Zero-Calorie sweetener having an aromatic, dynamic sweetness, but without the bitterness associated with other stevia products Used as an extract, stevia leaves have been used traditionally in Paraguay as a women's contraceptive, administered as a daily drink. The effect has been tested in rats, finding a 57–79 percent reduction in fertility compared with the control group, the lowered fertility continuing after withdrawal of the drug for up to two months. [50]

Geuns, J.M. (2003). "Stevioside". Phytochemistry. 64 (5): 913–921. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00426-6. PMID 14561506. Use of stevia as a sweetener began in Japan, [ non-primary source needed] with the aqueous extract of the leaves yielding purified steviosides developed as sweeteners. Japanese firm Morita Kagaku Kogyo claims they were the first to commercialize stevia sweetener production, in 1971. [23] Halva is a fudgy, dense, flaky and sweet confection that is extremely popular in Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. Only certified organic glycerin and certified organic alcohol are used to help preserve and extend the shelf life.Li, Simon (27 March 2002). Fact Sheet: Stevioside (PDF). Research and Library Services Division (Report). Hong Kong Legislative Council Secretariat. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2004 . Retrieved 8 September 2003. During World War ll due to massive sugar shortages The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew started cultivating the Stevia herb here in England as an alternative to sugar.

Many people use stevia instead of sugar to cut down on calories, carbs, and added sugars in their diet. While some people are cautious about utilizing stevia due to possible long-term health effects, high-purity steviol glycosides are recognized as safe for consumption by the FDA and have been widely used since the 1970s. ( 3) We rounded up the best stevia on the market to accommodate just about anyone’s needs. Best Stevia Gastrointestinal symptoms: Sugar alcohols, sometimes added to stevia products, may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain in people who are sensitive to sugar alcohol. However, Stevia itself is not known to cause gastrointestinal issues.Geller, Martinne (26 June 2013). "Coke to sell 'natural' mid-calorie cola in Argentina". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013 . Retrieved 27 June 2013. Mäkinen KK. Gastrointestinal Disturbances Associated with the Consumption of Sugar Alcohols with Special Consideration of Xylitol: Scientific Review and Instructions for Dentists and Other Health-Care Professionals. Int J Dent. 2016;2016:5967907. Additional information about high-intensity sweeteners permitted for use in food in the United States. (2018).