Q. In your book, Best Choices from The People's Pharmacy, you said that the no-calorie sweetener Stevia rebaudiana was not approved for use in the United States. I have some great news for you!
I found it in a nonsugar sweetener in the supermarket under the brand name of "OnlySweet." It is made by Sunwin Stevia International Corp., and their website is www.onlysweet.com.
I am a type 2 diabetic with high blood pressure. Not only does this sweetener lower my blood sugar, it also helps reduce my blood pressure. I am enthusiastic!
A. Thanks for the alert. The FDA has just approved a stevia extract for use in soft drinks. Both CocaCola and Pepsi are expected to introduce drinks containing this product within a short time.
Unfortunately, the product the FDA approved, rebaudioside A, does not seem to lower blood sugar or blood pressure in animals (Review of Diabetic Studies, Summer 2005). A different stevia extract, stevioside, brought both blood pressure and blood sugar under control in rat experiments. We were not able to determine which extract is found in the OnlySweet product you are using.
