Why Stevia Might Be Not So Good For You

Stevia is a natural sweetener that’s derived from the leaves of the South American shrub Stevia rebaudiana.

It is a natural sweetener that is calorie-free and has a glycemic index of zero. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. 

Stevia has some potential benefits. It does not cause tooth decay or contribute to weight gain, and it can help control sugar levels, especially for people who have diabetes.

Although stevia is a better option compared to artificial sweeteners, it may still have some adverse effects on your health.

Some potential side effects:

1.     A possible link between non-nutritive sweeteners, including stevia, and disruption in the beneficial intestinal flora. (Reported in A 2019 studyTrusted Source)

2.     A non-nutritive sweetener may induce glucose intolerance and metabolic disorders. (Reported in A 2019 studyTrusted Source)

3.     The steviosides in stevia may irritate your stomach and cause bloating, nausea, dizziness.

4.     The steviol glycosides can interfere with hormones controlled by the endocrine system. The sperm cells, when introduced to steviol, saw an increase in progesterone hormone (Reported in a 2016 study 5).

5.     Stevia and other artificial sweeteners may cause allergies in some people. Your body may mistake the proteins in the food you eat as pollen and launch an immune response to react. Symptoms of the allergies may include swelling and itching of the lips, mouth, throat, and tongue, abdominal pain and vomiting. 

There are several alternatives to stevia, such as coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey, monk fruit sweetener, allulose, yacon sugar, and date sugar. These options provide healthier ways to add sweetness to our lives, and there are even more options available.