Sir, I am using artificial sweeteners like 'Equal' for tea and coffee. But I am also advised by many people against its side effects. Are there any side effects while using this substance. Is there any product of stivia leaves available in the market. One dietician had advised me to buy extracts of this leaves as an alternative sweetener for tea and coffee since it has no side effects. Please advise? Thanking you in anticipation

Dr. Kritika BholaDietitian/Nutritionist12yrs exp

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Hello lybrate user, Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes, but may be derived from naturally occurring substances, including herbs or sugar itself. Artificial sweeteners are sweeter than sugar.Exposing your taste buds to these high-intensity sweeteners makes them less receptive to natural sources of sweetness such as fruit . When your taste buds get dulled, you're more likely to seek out sweeter and sweeter foods. They give a wrong signal to your gut that high calories are going to come and when they don't reach , hunger cravings develop.They have a bad effect on insulin hormone also and they make you overeat. They also increase the risk of diabetes. Stevia herb is a natural sweetener and considered 100 to 200 times sweeter than sugar, but it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels like sugar and other artificial sweeteners do. It is safe to use it in natural form but avoid it's processed form ( powder form) 

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