What are the health benefits of stevia? Is it safe?

Join Now! | Sign In | Contact Us

Product Tests

Select a Review

ConsumerLab.com Answers

Question:
What are the health benefits of stevia? Is it safe?

Answer:
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is generally promoted as a natural, non-caloric sweetener and an alternative to other sweeteners such as sucralose (Splenda) and aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal). It is sometimes promoted for lowering blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, and even as a treatment for Lyme disease, but the evidence behind these claims is weak, as explained in the full answer >>

See other recent and popular questions >>

COMMENTS

Add Comment

Teresa15620 October 2, 2017

I have no financial interest in any sweeteners, and I thought Stevia was great and used it for about six months until I noted my gait became different, odd. I immediately went online and found others who report similar side effects, most mentioning it causing leg problems. I stopped using it and still have a slight issue with my gait, but it is better. Stevia is not completely safe for everyone.

Comment on Post

Mark15618 October 1, 2017

I have been using stevia for about 10 years to sweeten my coffee and Cheerios. I still consume cookies and pies, both of which are sugared. Before I started using the stevia, I had one dental cavity after another. For the last 10 years, I have had NO cavities. My dentist said ,"Don't tell anyone, it might be bad for business!

Comment on Post

Al15592 September 27, 2017

I think ConsumerLab's analysis is pretty fair and accurate. I use very small amounts of stevia in the least-processed form I can find from my local natural foods store. It is a loose very fine (almost like talcum) dark green powder in bulk that I scoop out of a bin. I would avoid any brand-name stevia containing erythritol or dextrose which are most likely made from GMO corn. While getting any food product not grown in your own garden or locally, from its natural state to your kitchen involves a certain amount of processing, highly processed, modified, compounded, or enhanced products are not your friend. Doing online searches for "dangers of processed stevia" could give you more insight.

Comment on Post

Sandy15586 September 27, 2017

I have been a consistent user of stevia for over 20 years. At first I found it to be bitter and had a hard time using it. However, after carefully adjusting the dose, I have learned to love it and know it is healthier for me and my family than most other sweeteners. When baking, I substitute coconut sugar for regular white or brown sugar and then augment it with a little stevia (because coconut sugar is not as sweet as regular sugar). Coconut sugar is much healthier because it has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar.

Comment on Post

Paul B15575 September 25, 2017

Greetings all; Speaking anecdotally, I have had no bad reactions to any of the various forms of stevia I use (going on 16 years of daily use). On the rare occasion I have come across bitterness, a small pinch of either sea salt or Himalayan salt in the beverage has eliminated the bitterness (it is a delicate balance with bitter vs. salt; but once achieved, you taste neither). Thanks for the opportunity to comment.

Comment on Post

ConsumerLab.com September 25, 2017

Thank you for sharing your experience with this Paul. You may be interested in our CL Answer about Himalayan salt: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/_/Himalayan-salt-specialty-salt/

Comment on Post

Susan15566 September 24, 2017

I find that stevia, besides tasting very bitter, also gives me horrific headaches. Neither I or my family have any financial interest in stevia or other competing product.

Comment on Post

Julie15565 September 24, 2017

I have not found stevia to be accepted by my family's pallet as much as Xylitol (I have no financial interest in either product). I purchase the Xylitol made from birch trees as opposed to GMO corn. Other than the cost being prohibitive, I'm surprised many people I encounter are not familiar with it. Does anyone know of studies on xylitol's safety similar to those mentioned in this article on stevia? Thank you.

Comment on Post

Donnie 15561 September 24, 2017

Thank you for this information. I am confused, however, about why the extract would be recognized as safe, but not the natural whole leaf it comes from? I grow Stevia and have been putting a few leaves into my salad straight off the plant. Would that not be advised?

Comment on Post

ConsumerLab.com January 25, 2018

Hi Donnie - Stevia leaf is not necessarily unsafe, but apparently no one has submitted documents to the FDA about the safety of plain stevia leaf or crude stevia extract, only companies selling pure stevia extract have done that.

Comment on Post

Share your thoughts and comments about this topic in the space below. Please abide by the following rules:

If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
Please be respectful in your tone.
Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will comments that exceed 2,500 characters.

For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.

Comment:

Share your thoughts and comments about this topic in the space below. Please abide by the following rules:

If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
Please be respectful in your tone.
Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will comments that exceed 2,500 characters.

For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.

Comment:

You can modify your comment below. Please be aware the comment will have to approve the changes before they will be shown:

Comment:

Your edit has been submitted and is being reviewed by ConsumerLab.com prior to publication.

This CL Answer initially posted on 9/23/2017. Last updated 1/25/2018.

ConsumerLab.com members may submit questions to CLAnswers@ConsumerLab.com. We read all questions and try to answer those of popular interest.

BECOME A MEMBER

Instant Access to Reviews for OVER 1,000 Products!
Quality Ratings and Product Comparisons
Expert Insights and More!
Listen to CL's founder discuss more benefits below!

JOIN NOW

WARNINGS

RXBAR Protein Bars Recalled

Another Green Tea Study Retracted

See All Warnings

Product Reviews

Fish Oil /Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements

Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices

Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements

CoQ10 and Ubiquinol Supplements

CBD & Hemp Extract Supplements

Apple Cider Vinegar

... and More!

ENCYCLOPEDIA

In addition to our product reviews our encyclopedia covers the following:

Herbs & Supplements

Conditions

Drug Interactions

Alternative Therapies

MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

VISIT OUR PARTNERS

PharmacyChecker.com

MedicareDrugPlans.com

ConsumerLab.com

Join \| Sign In
Product Tests Brands Tested Health Conditions Encyclopedia CL Answers Clinical Updates	News Recalls & Warnings RDAs Where to Buy Products	Raw Materials Tests Testing Program How Products Were Tested	Join CL Today Testimonials Join Free Newsletter Group Subscriptions Gift Membership	About Us The CL Seal CL Survey Privacy Policy Sitemap Contact Us/Help

©2019 ConsumerLab.com, LLC. All rights reserved. A single copy of a report may be printed for personal use by the subscriber. It is otherwise unlawful to print, download, store or distribute content from this site without permission.
ConsumerLab.com name and flask logo are both registered trademarks of ConsumerLab.com, LLC. This site is intended for informational purposes only and not to provide medical advice.