Ethel Aardvark

Stevia, a sometimes controversial herb, is more than just a natural no-calorie sugar substitute. In addition to it’s antibacterial and antiviral properties making it a possible gingivitis treatment, Stevia reportedly produces the following health benefits:

• lowers blood pressure,
• stabilizes blood sugar levels,
• increases insulin resistance,
• aids weight loss,
• inhibits candida growth,
• soothes heartburn and indigestion,
• improves calcium absorption,
• reduces tooth decay,

Research even shows that Stevia may have anti-cancer properties.

These are the claims made by Stevia advocates and indeed most are supported by research and seemingly all of the negative reports about any danger of using Stevia have been refuted by research or discredited in some way.

Is Stevia Safe to Use?

On the one hand, it would seem pretty clear that Stevia is safe to use. After all it has a long history of use in South America (over 500 years). In Japan it has been widely used for over thirty years without complaints about side-effects.

On the other hand, it has been variously banned and unbanned in the United States by the FDA depending on the whims of Big Business. According to the FDA website certain refined Stevia preparations may be lawfully marketed and added to food products.

Stevia is banned in just a few jurisdictions (Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe) primarily because of a lack of research data indicating its safety rather than positive proof of any danger.

In addition to this lack of research data, it has been banned as a food additive by the European Food Safety Authority because of research that claims it interferes with fertility. But that research has been largely discredited¹ and even refuted².

How to Use Stevia as a Gingivitis Treatment

The antibacterial properties of Stevia make it a candidate for preventing both gum disease and tooth decay. The primary cause of gingivitis is plaque and plaque is a build up of bacteria along the gum line. When Stevia is used as a mouthwash it reportedly reduces gingivitis and other mouth infections because it fights the bacteria.

And since sugar is the primary cause of tooth decay because it provides an environment that teeth-destroying germs love using Stevia as a sugar substitute is a natural defense.

Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar and unlike some of the chemical substitutes³ on the market Stevia is a healthy alternative. Some people complain about the after taste but in my experience the chemical alternatives are really terrible. As with any new taste…the more you use it the more familiar it becomes.

So try some Stevia gum after a meal to stave off plaque until you can brush. Or use Stevia drops in a glass of warm water as a mouthwash.

If you find a healthy and natural toothpaste that contains Stevia I’d love to hear about it.

Stevia is in the Asteraceae or Compositae Family of plants. If you are allergic to things like daisies and ragweed or marigolds and chrysanthemums (to name just a few in these families) you should use Stevia cautiously until you determine whether you are allergic to it.

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