Studies have shown that stevia lowers high blood pressure without affecting normal blood pressure. The Guarani Indians of Paraguay have used stevia for centuries without any negative effects.

Brazilian scientists recorded steviosside's ability to lower systemic blood pressure in rats in 1991. Then in 2000, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken with 106 Chinese hypertensive men and women. Sixty subjects were given capsules containing stevioside (250 mg) or placebo thrice daily and followed up at monthly intervals for one year. After three months, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the stevioside group decreased significantly and the effect persisted over the whole year.

Several earlier studies on both stevia extracts, as well as its isolated glycosides, demonstrated this hypotensive action. The best thing is that a very small quantity of Stevia can give the desired sweetness, so there is no risk of “hypotension” while consuming Stevia as a sweetener. This makes it a perfect sweetener for people with hypertension, or high blood pressure as commonly known.