STEVIA: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews (2024)

FAQs

What are the negative effects of stevia? ›

Using stevia as a sugar substitute can reduce calories in foods and drinks, but it may also have some adverse effects. Possible side effects include nausea, bloating, low blood pressure, and hormone disruption. Stevia is a non-nutritive or zero-calorie sweetener made of steviol glycosides.

The World Health Organization defines the acceptable daily intake (ADI) as 4 mg of stevia per kilogram of body weight. According to an FDA estimate, that means a 150-pound person could safely eat up to 10 packets of stevia a day—way more than you actually need, considering its intense sweetness.

Whole stevia leaves and crude stevia leaf extracts are not approved food additives because there is not enough toxicological information available, according to the FDA. However, the use of stevia leaves and crude stevia leaf extracts in dietary supplements are not subject to FDA food additive regulations.

Hypotension (low blood pressure)

If you have persistent low blood pressure, speak to your doctor before you start using stevia sweetener.

Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Stevia is in the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. This family includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many other plants. In theory, people who are sensitive to ragweed and related plants may also be sensitive to stevia.

A 2019 study reported a possible link between nonnutritive sweeteners, including stevia, and disruption in beneficial intestinal flora. The same study also suggested nonnutritive sweeteners may induce glucose intolerance and metabolic disorders. As with most nonnutritive sweeteners, a major downside is the taste.

Stevia is approved for sale in the United States and Canada despite some resistance among nutritionists and medical researchers, and a ban against it was lifted in the European Union in 2011.

Though stevia was initially banned in the U.S. because some studies suggested it may be linked to cancer, it's no longer prohibited. In fact, in 2008, stevia was granted GRAS status by the FDA - which stands for "Generally Recognized As Safe."

But unlike stevia's bitter aftertaste, monk fruit is more pleasant and has a fruity, subtle sweetness. There is still a mild aftertaste, although nowhere near as noticeable when compared to stevia. Some people use monk fruit as a way to reduce the calories in baked goods while still getting the taste of sugar.

Even though many people are reporting to have consumed stevia minus any evident changes in their health condition, a percentage of individuals have reported suffering unwanted side effects from consuming the sweetener. Among these side effects are heart palpitations and trouble with digesting food.

Does all stevia contain erythritol? ›

Do all stevia sweeteners have erythritol? No, but most do. I've found about sixty stevia erythritol blends and list them here. Erythritol (Ah-REETH-ra-tall) is currently one of the most popular sweeteners.

Unfortunately, Stevia does not produce glycogen, making it impossible for the body to convert T4 to T3. As a result, your thyroid works slowly (hypothyroidism), resulting in a slowed metabolism that can cause weight gain, hair loss, and lack of energy.

However, recently, a study came out in the medical journal, Nature Medicine, that consuming erythritol, a common sugar alcohol (Stevia) was associated in a 2x fold increase in adverse cardiac events, including heart attacks, strokes and even death.