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Stevia Health Benefits & Safety -- stevia leaf spoonful of stevia

Answer:

Low-calorie sweeteners and sugar substitutes (also known as artificial sweeteners) are often considered healthier alternatives to sugar, and some are promoted to lower blood sugar and blood pressure, as well as lose weight, but some of these claims are weak, and many of these sugar substitutes can cause side effects. Furthermore, it has been recommended that certain sweeteners (see which ones) should not be used by the general population for weight control or to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Be aware that products that contain sweeteners often contain significant amounts of other sugar-substitutes that labels don't clearly make evident.

The sweeteners fall mainly into three categories: High-intensity sweeteners that have no calories, such as stevia and monk fruit, as well as acesulfame K (Ace-K), aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose (be aware that since such small amounts of high-intensity sweeteners are needed, these are often combined with other, bulkier, sweeteners); Low-calorie sweeteners such as erythritol and xylitol as well as allulose, glycine, inulin, isomalt, kabocha extract, lucuma, polydextrose, sorbitol, and tagatose; and sugar alternatives such as agave syrup, black sugar, coconut sugar, date syrup, glycerol, honey, maple syrup, molasses trehalose, and yacon syrup.

Sign in as a member for details about the pros and cons of using each of these substitutes for regular, table sugar, including discussions of brands noted below. Also learn about which sweeteners may be suitable for people with diabetes, and safety concerns — including whether sweeteners might increase the risk of cancer, atrial fibrillation, or blood clots. You'll also see our Top Pick sweeteners for use in cold beverages, hot beverages, for baking, and for people following a low-carb or ketogenic diet.

Brands discussed in the full article include Alcohol-Free Stevia (NuNaturals), Allulose (Splenda), Allulose Zero Calorie Sweetener (Wholesome), BetterStevia (NOW Foods), Birch Xylitol Sweetener (Health Garden), BochaSweet, Chura KokutoGreat Value Stevia (from Walmart), Inulin Prebiotic Fiber Sweetener (It's Just), Liquid Monk Fruit Sweetener Extract Drops (Lakanto), Lucuma Powder (Terrasoul Superfoods), Lucuma Powder (Zint), Monk Fruit Extract (It's Just), Monk Fruit in the Raw (Cumberland Packing Corp.), Monk Fruit Sweetener (Lakanto), Monk Fruit Sweetener (Llinea), Monk Fruit Sweetener (NuNaturals), Organic Coconut Palm Sugar (BetterBody Foods), Organic Coconut Sugar (Bob's Red Mill), Organic Coconut Sugar (MADHAVA), Organic Coconut Sugar (Terrasoul Superfoods), Organic Stevia (Micro Ingredients), Organic Stevia Extract (Trader Joe's), Pure Birch Xylitol (Morning Pep), PureVia (Pepsico and Whole Earth Sweetener Company), RxSugar (Nutrishus Brands), Simply Stevia (Stevita), Stevia Extract (BulkSuplements.com), Stevia in the Raw (Cumberland Packing Corp.), Sunett (Celanese), (Cumberland Packing), Sweet Additions Stevia (from Aldi stores), Swerve (Whole Earth Sweetener Company), Truvia (Cargill), Volcanic Nectar Blue Agave (Global Goods), and XyloSweet (Xlear), as well as various other products by NOW Foods, NuNaturals, Pyure, Splenda, Stevia Select and SweetLeaf.

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315 Comments

Cindy23051
June 20, 2025

Can you add the Sweet Leaf brand of Stevia to your listing? It is the oldest commercial Stevia I know of, and is a pure extract. I have used it for decades. I prefer the powdered version they offer, not the liquid. They use water-based extraction, and I love that the powder is not mixed with any other ingredients.
I am just a consumer: I have no connection with this or competitor companies.

ConsumerLab.com
June 24, 2025

We include information about some SweetLeaf products in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sweetleaf

Patricia23038
June 18, 2025

Can you comment on ribose? It seems to reduce my blood glucose levels although I believe it has a similar caloric content to sucrose.

ConsumerLab.com
June 27, 2025

Please see the safety section of our article about D-ribose for information about its blood sugar-lowering effects: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-ribose/ribose-health-benefits-and-safety/

candy
June 11, 2025

Can you comment on a possible link between trehalose and c. diff?

ConsumerLab.com
June 25, 2025

We've added information to address your question in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#c-diff

L. Oriana22980
June 10, 2025

Are you folks unaware of research that shows that saccharine not only was falsely demonized but that it actually PROTECTS against cancer?

ConsumerLab.com
June 18, 2025
Dan22963
June 08, 2025

Thanks for the great review of the different sweeteners. Some years back Trader Joe’s sold Stevia in several different forms. The one I enjoyed using was a powder that you could scoop from the jar with a teaspoon. When they discontinued it I recreated, as best I could, the same taste from its two listed ingredients, Lactose and Stevia, only needing to work out the correct ratio. The amount of stevia used is very small and the lactose works as a carrier adding a slight amount of sweet. I bought the organic stevia extract powder (rebaudiana) from Purisure and the lactose from Now Products.
It's been great not having the extra teaspoons of sugar in my two or three cups of coffee a day. I didn’t find any bitterness in the stevia taste, only a slight difference which after a day or so wasn’t a factor. Maybe the lactose helped with that. || (I have no interest in Purisure or Now Product)

Barbara22956
June 08, 2025

Llinea monk fruit extract is grown & manufactured in China

ConsumerLab.com
June 11, 2025

You are correct that China accounts for a majority (>90%) of the world's monk fruit production: https://www.gbpuat.res.in/uploads/archive/17.3.1.pdf

Douglas22944
June 07, 2025

I heard that allulose is a prebiotic, which might make it good for your gut.

ConsumerLab.com
June 13, 2025

D-allulose has shown prebiotic potential (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40312039/), but more research is needed to confirm its prebiotic effects and possible related health benefits in humans.

thomas22284
March 18, 2025

does sucralose affect gut bacteria?

thomas22282
March 18, 2025

I've read that stevia contains hormones that can affect libido, possibly progesterone production?

ConsumerLab.com
April 04, 2025

A laboratory study using cells showed that stevia may affect hormone production (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303720716300533), but we are not aware of any research confirming this effect in humans.

Joseph22271
March 16, 2025

Perhaps I missed it, but I didn't notice any information on sweeteners in regards to internal biome health, and how these substances may affect biome health. As a customer and consumer of said products I would like ConsumerLab to also include biome health information on sweeteners too. I have no financial interest in any sweeteners or other food or supplement products.

Genghis
March 14, 2025

Will you publish the brands of honey associated with high arsenic and those that tested well?

ConsumerLab.com
April 01, 2025

Unfortunately, study did not list the brands of honey tested.

Barbara22035
February 21, 2025

Keystone Pantry Allulose from Amazon destroyed my digestion for weeks after consuming a little homemade ice cream with it. Are there natural sugar alternatives that don’t harm digestion??

ConsumerLab.com
March 05, 2025

Great question! As noted in our table about the pros and cons of sweeteners, some people may experience GI distress with allulose. Other sweeteners that are included in our table that do not list this as a possible side effect seem to be less likely to cause GI distress. Please see the following section of our article for details: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#pro-and-cons

John21982
February 15, 2025

Why isn't isomalt included in this list of sugar substitutes? It's used frequently in baking and candy making.

ConsumerLab.com
March 05, 2025

Thanks for your suggestion! We've added information about isomalt to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#isomalt

George21817
January 31, 2025

Truvia Liquid Stevia (“New”) does not contain other sweeteners.

Jane21813
January 31, 2025

This is a great review!! Thank you so much for doing a deep dive on all of these. I'll probably need to read it a few more times to grasp all it contains.

Long ago I decided if I was going to eat something sweet outside of natural fruit, I was just going to stick with sugar, and limit it overall. My primary drink is water with a few strawberries and lemon and orange slices added for a bit of flavor. Nothing quenches like water!

steven21724
January 24, 2025

I cook with about 1/3 to 1/2 the sugar called for in recipes and lately been using date sugar such as Just Date's Organic, purely for the bit of extra fiber (3g /Tbsp). I'll now try out Allulose.

Judy21057
November 08, 2024

I like Allulose and use it for most purposes, but it has a few major drawbacks. Baked goods made with it brown too quickly and It is hard to make anything crisp using it. Most sweeteners add erythritol for crispness, but if you use more than a little, I've found that it tastes horrible and makes the baked goods grainy. There are some combination sweeteners that are recommended for baking (King Arthur Flour sells one). Do you have advice for what to use for baking?

ConsumerLab.com
November 12, 2024

Our Top Pick sweetener for baking can be found in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#toppick-baking

Robert22033
February 21, 2025

I use powdered monk fruit extract as my go to sweetener.
And, yes, it takes about a day to dissolve in unsweetened
oat creamer, but I've how to learned to deal with that.

Pete20764
October 02, 2024

I get that these are all processed foods and essentially unhealthy, but sometimes one has to choose the lesser of evils if you will. With that I use allulose mostly but less than 3 tablespoons when I need to as a sugar substitute. However I just read an interesting Apple News article about thaumatin as another substitute with positive very early results on its digestive properties and hope that the team here will consider reviewing it in the future.

hooman20706
September 25, 2024

A recent article mentioned Xylitol can increase blood clotting. Is it still safe to use it?

ConsumerLab.com
October 02, 2024

Please see the following section of our article for information about xylitol and heart risk: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#xylitol-heart-risk

Richard21061
November 09, 2024

Xylitol is very protective of teeth. Recommended use after meals. Balances mouth pH which protects teeth from decay and kills the decay-causing bacteria.

Sharon22039
February 21, 2025

If you have pets in your home, please be very careful with it. Xylitol can be deadly to pets.

Karen20560
August 30, 2024

For Allulose products sold how do we find out the source of the product; is it from corn, is it from figs/raisins such as the Wholesome brand, it is hard to know what to select since most don't include source in the ingredients. How do we know natural versus synthetic?

ConsumerLab.com
September 06, 2024

Additional information has been included in the following section of our article to help answer your question: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#avoiding-gmo

Jill20373
August 13, 2024

Thank you for your always informative articles. I've been using Trader Joe's Organic Liquid Stevia in my coffee. The bottle I have says it contains 11% Organic Alcohol. Any ideas on what this means? Also, I'm assuming this is a different product than Trader's Joe's Organic Stevia Extract that is mentioned in the article. Please confirm.

ConsumerLab.com
December 18, 2024

Thank you for your question. The "11% Organic Alcohol" In Trader Joe's Organic Liquid Stevia is non-GMO, organic cane alcohol (i.e., it is derived from sugar cane). Trader's Joe's Organic Stevia Extract, which is a powdered form of stevia, is not the same product as Trader Joe's Organic Liquid Stevia.

Troy20369
August 13, 2024

As more Allulose products are coming out I hope to see an analysis. I have purchased Allulose from three manufacturers, none of them mentioned here, and all were vastly different in sweetness and other areas.

ConsumerLab.com
October 30, 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience. As mentioned in the allulose section of our article, allulose is sometimes mixed with sugar, which can alter its sweetness and flavor profile: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#allulose

Eric20367
August 13, 2024

I don't think we should be recommending sweeteners which, relatively speaking, have been less studied. In particular, I'd count allulose in that category.

Liz348
June 08, 2025

Check out what Nick Norwitz says about allulose.

ConsumerLab.com
June 20, 2025

Dr. Norwitz appears to promote allulose as having Ozempic-like properties. While there is some laboratory evidence that allulose may stimulate the release of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), allulose appears to have only limited benefit for body composition but not weight loss, as discussed in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#allulose-body-composition

John20165
July 22, 2024

I don't see the calorie content of glycine listed, nor whether it will spike blood sugar. It's listed under the "low calorie" category. So, does it have calories or doesn't it? The online sources I've found say it has 0 calories per gram.

ConsumerLab.com
July 30, 2024

Great question! We've added information about the calorie content of glycine to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#glycine-calories

Mark20372
August 13, 2024

Someone needs to do a dose titration study on erythritol and xylitol so we know exactly at what dose platelets start to display over reactivity. We need to know a safe daily dose. We know that 30 g is not safe. What about 20 g or 10 g? Where is the threshold?

ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024

You raise a valid question, but unfortunately, at this time, there is not enough information to answer it. However, the current data highlights the need for further study of long-term heart health risks from sugar alcohols - particularly xylitol and erythritol.

Stanton19928
July 05, 2024

I am 77 y/o. I have not used table sugar for many years. The only sweeteners I have, and use, are organic stevia and Manuka honey. I do not claim to feel differently than when I did use 'sugar', usually to sweeten coffee or spaghetti sauce.

MP20389
August 16, 2024

An alternative to sweetening spaghetti sauce - use baking soda. Start with a tsp and allow to bubble while stirring. Once the bubbles are gone - taste the sauce. The more baking soda you add - the sweeter the sauce will get. Don't add too much baking soda - the tomatoes get too sweet and you eventually start to taste the baking soda. Best wishes on your sugar-free journey. -mk

LIDA21067
November 10, 2024

One teaspoon of baking soda contains 1259 mg of sodium, which is nearly the recommended daily amount for those who are watching their sodium intake.

Natalia21838
February 01, 2025

LIDA21067, thank you for your comment about sodium!

John19855
June 25, 2024

I don't know what it is but my sister and I both had the same reaction to agave syrup--it's like a BLACK HOLE for sweetness. It has an anti-sweetness to it. I've eaten Fructose which indeed tastes very sweet; so it's not the fructose that does it.

Alan19713
June 15, 2024

Just stop eating sugar. Within 2 weeks, foods start tasting sweeter. The longer you do it, the better everything will taste. First the cravings disappear, then the foods with added sweeteners begin to taste sickeningly sweet. At the same time your energy will stabilize and you will likely lose some weight, if you are overweight.

Kim19850
June 25, 2024

Sounds great but I’ve tried that about 100 times. And you’re right, the cravings go away…until they come back. Between fighting pfa’s, nano plastics, meat from China labeled as US, GMO’s, pesticides, and bad vibes…life gets frustrating and I’m like screw it gimme the ice cream.

Karen19853
June 25, 2024

Yes, as a sugar addict, I quit sugar altogether, and no longer have nagging cravings and weight issues.

Deborah20393
August 16, 2024

I haven’t baked in years, quit trying to make desserts taste good with artificial sweeteners.

ndf
August 16, 2024

Great suggestion. It worked for me. After I stopped eating sugar, my taste buds adjusted within a few weeks. All fruits and vegetables taste much better now. The only challenge is to avoid sugar in processed foods so my taste buds don’t get reset.

johnwalt
June 12, 2024

What about molasses ? I don't use artificial sweeteners and watch my added sugars but I like a little molasses in my oatmeal because of the nutrients it has.

ConsumerLab.com
June 25, 2024

We've added information about molasses to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#molasses

Carolyn19687
June 11, 2024

Hello- what is your opinion on using black strap molasses as a sweetener?

ConsumerLab.com
June 25, 2024

We've added information about blackstrap molasses to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#molasses

Neil19679
June 11, 2024

The June, 2024, update on xylitol compares platelet aggregation before and after drinking a xylitol-sweetened drink. Are there similar studies for other sweeteners, for sugar, or for water? To me, such studies would be important to know how much additional risk xylitol poses compared to other options for quenching thirst.

ConsumerLab.com
June 21, 2024

We've added information about heart-related risks that have been linked with sugar intake to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sugar-heart-risks

Peter20366
August 13, 2024

I recently emailed Now Foods about xylitol use in their products. I was informed that in regards to the the study published in June 2024 in the European Heart Journal, the 30 gram studied "dose" of xylitol was about 300 times what was used in one product I had inquired about - a chewable l-theanine tablet. This helped put things in perspective.

amy19677
June 11, 2024

I am prone to canker sores so have been using Enamel Saver toothpaste for years. It contains over 30% xylitol. After reading about the potential health risks associated with xylitol, should I be concerned and try to find another brand of toothpaste? I am prone to canker sores and Enamel Saver did wonders in eliminating them.

ConsumerLab.com
June 25, 2024

Please see the following section of our article about toothpastes and other dental products: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/finding-the-best-toothpaste/toothpaste-ingredients/#xylitol-heart-effects

MICHAEL L19676
June 11, 2024

It troubles me that Consumer Labs recommends sucralose. According to Dr.s Mercola & Axe, sucralose reeks havoc on the gut biome.

ConsumerLab.com
June 21, 2024

As noted in our article, sucralose might affect the gut microbiome, but there is no clear evidence that the effect is clinically significant: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sucralose

Susan19672
June 11, 2024

The new research on xylitol is distressing for anyone with Sjogren’s . We depend on xylitol products to moisten our mouths because of our lack of saliva. All of the products use xylitol.

ConsumerLab.com
June 21, 2024

As noted in our article about toothpaste and other dental products, products for dry mouth, such as XyliMelts, seem unlikely to contribute to the possible heart-related adverse effects of xylitol, as the amount of xylitol included in these products is much less than the amount shown to increase platelet aggregation in clinical research: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/finding-the-best-toothpaste/toothpaste-ingredients/#xylitol-heart-effects

Ruth18942
March 12, 2024

The WHO recently released a warning about non-nutritive sweeteners (that are much sweeter than sugar) increasing risk of weight gain and diabetes. Do you know the rationale for this?

ConsumerLab.com
March 19, 2024

Details about the World Health Organization's warning can be found in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#who-advisory

Sue18930
March 10, 2024

I developed AFIB about eight years ago and I do use an inordinate amount of Sweetleaf Stevia. Can this be the cause of the AFIB?

ConsumerLab.com
March 12, 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are not aware of any published reports linking stevia, specifically, with increased risk of atrial fibrillation. In the study summarized in our article ( https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#artificial-sweetener-afib), the "artificially sweetened beverages" included any low-calorie beverages, but there was no subgroup analysis to determine if any specific artificial sweetener was linked with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Mary18920
March 08, 2024

Related to the study of the man with tinnitus and the sweetener via Diet Coke - I am surprised they attributed the increase in tinnitus to the sweetener and not the caffeine in the Diet Coke. Caffeine has been shown to be a contributor to tinnitus in several studies.

ConsumerLab.com
March 19, 2024

As noted in our article about tinnitus, there does not appear to be evidence that caffeinated beverages worsen symptoms of this condition: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/do-any-supplements-help-for-tinnitus/tinnitus/#coffee

Shannon18897
March 03, 2024

Coconut sugar contains inulin, a fiber that helps slow glucose absorption. Inulin functions as a prebiotic, a non-digestible fiber compound that facilitates the growth of good, probiotic bacteria in the stomach. Regular sugar feeds bad bacteria in the body!

ConsumerLab.com
March 19, 2024

Although coconut sugar does contain inulin, the amount is relatively small - only about 4.7 grams of inulin per 100 grams of coconut sugar. Consuming 25 grams of coconut sugar, which is about the recommended daily limit for sugar intake for many people, would provide only about 1 gram of inulin. This is much lower than doses of inulin used in clinical studies - typically 10 to 30 grams daily.

Cheryl19848
June 25, 2024

I am intolerant of inulin, xylitol, all sweeteners ending in 'tol' like erythritol which produce horrible gut symptoms. Wish this topic was adddressed for sweeteners.

ConsumerLab.com
June 28, 2024

Information about possible side effects of various sweeteners can be found in the "Cons" column of the following table in our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#pro-and-cons

steven18879
March 01, 2024

Your report on sugar substitues is well written and represented, however with all the types of sugar substitutes you name (to be thorough "m sure) has me somewhat confused as to what's best for my application. I'm on Keto and have been drinking only water and seltzer. I'm looking for a sweetener that won't throw me out of ketosis and isn't hazardous to my health...Help please?

ConsumerLab.com
March 19, 2024

Great question! You can find out which sweeteners are our Top Picks for those on a low-carb or ketogenic diet in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#toppick-keto

Beth18723
February 13, 2024

How about Beet sugar ? How does that compare to sucrose ? Is it healthier or not?

ConsumerLab.com
March 26, 2024

Although we have not reviewed beet sugar, it appears to be almost nutritionally identical to table sugar (both contain >99% sucrose). However, beet sugar contains other minor constituents that some find give it an "off-aroma": https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1750-3841.12670.

Huyen18708
February 12, 2024

I am diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I have been using Monk fruit extract for drinks and Monk Fruit Allullose Blend for baking. I use Wholesome Yum Besti brand which includes Monk fruit and Allullose and I have no issues with this except cost. I found that most of Monk fruit blend for baking includes Erythritol (Lakanto recently has one with Allullose but made in China) which I dont like so i go for the one blend with Allullose that has no side effect. I read about Allullose here but found no article mentioning about Monk fruit blend with Allullose for baking. Please advise.

ConsumerLab.com
February 23, 2024

As noted in our article, monk fruit does not affect blood sugar ( https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#monkfruit) and it is stable at higher temperatures ( https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#toppick-hot). Therefore, a combination of allulose and monk fruit for baking seems to be a suitable option.

MICHAEL L18680
February 09, 2024

I was told by a doctor that one single packet of Splenda (sucralose) is able to wipe out all the good gut bacteria. What is your take on that?

ConsumerLab.com
February 23, 2024

Great question! We've added information about the possible effect of sucralose on the gut microbiome to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sucralose-gut-microbiome

Vako
December 14, 2023

What about Impact's monk fruit with allulose? Didn't see this combination here. I'm pre diabetic want to know if it's safe. Also, ASIDE from the (yet to be researched and scientifically agreed upon blood clotting issue), does xylitol affect A1C levels or not? Half of Google says yes half says no. I pop 10 Epic Cinnamon or peppermint gums maybe twice a day mostly once a day??? Not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned nor any whatsoever

Mark9143
September 15, 2023

From 3 years ago up until 5 months ago I was drinking 2 or 3 bottles per day of a Xylitol sweetened beverage. At that time I had patent, back to back stents in an SVG that bypassed my left circumflex artery. Abruptly and unexpectedly, a clot formed in those stents and gave me a heart attack in April. I wonder if Xylitol had anything to do with that? My LDL on hospital admission was 88 and my TG 67 and my HDL 66. Now, I am on Repatha in an attempt to get my LDL < 50. My A1C was 5.4 so IDK what happened for sure.

Gail9144
December 24, 2023

Re. something you mentioned above, how are you tolerating the Repatha?

DEAN9136
July 03, 2023

So what would your recommendation be for the safest sugar alternative?

ConsumerLab.com
August 04, 2023

Our Top Picks for sweetening cold beverages, hot beverages and for baking can be found in the following section of our article above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#toppicks

Myriam9133
June 22, 2023

Is BetterStevia Glycerite safe?

ConsumerLab.com
July 11, 2023

We've added some information about this product to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#betterstevia-glycerite

Donna9126
May 28, 2023

The best thing I do for my body is to prick my finger and do a blood glucose test to determine how any specific product affects my glucose level. When I saw that using aspartame increased my glucose by 30%, it was immediately discarded. Everyone's body reacts differently to everything, and you're best defense is to test your body.

Sheryl RG
July 14, 2023

Exactly what my functional medicine internist and her nutritionist told me, and testing was extremely useful.

Rebecca9127
July 17, 2023

Lots of Diabetes in my family so I try to minimize sugar intake. I have been enjoying Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit powdered sweeteners but there have been some questions raised recently. For me, the benefits outweigh the costs, so it is my choice for now.

Sean9124
May 26, 2023

I have a history of high blood sugar and I can say that Monk Fruit does raise my fasting glucose. Its puts me in the pre-diabeties range. Usually 110. Without it my level is around 95.

ConsumerLab.com
June 07, 2023

Thanks for sharing your experience. We are unaware of research showing that monk fruit can raise blood sugar levels. However, be aware that some sweeteners, including some monk fruit products, contain other sources of carbohydrates (including some sugar alcohols) as fillers, and these may contribute to increases in blood sugar.

Howard9122
May 21, 2023

What about D Ribose? Tastes like maple syrup and apparently doesn't spike blood sugar

ConsumerLab.com
June 07, 2023

Although it has a sweet taste, D-ribose is not commonly used as a sweetener. However, we discuss other uses of this ingredient, and possible safety concerns, in our article about D-ribose: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-ribose/ribose-health-benefits-and-safety/

Susan9120
May 19, 2023

So what do you suggest for use in baking for someone who is diabetic?

ConsumerLab.com
June 07, 2023

Great question! Information about sweeteners that may be suitable options for people with diabetes, and those that may not, can be found in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#diabetes

Johan9118
May 19, 2023

So glycine isn’t generally considered safe? It sounds weird since it is used mainly for health benefits and not as a sugar substitute. Is it about dosage? Can someone enlighten me on this?

heidi9116
April 19, 2023

Have you all investigated Acesulfame Potassium (Ace K)? Most people do not know that this ingredient is a sugar substitute.

ConsumerLab.com
April 28, 2023

We've added information about the sugar substitute Ace-K to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#ace-k

John19911
July 02, 2024

When I used acesulfame in the past, I did so because the sweetness gave a big hit then was gone but left no desire for more sugar unlike the clinginess of all other sweeteners, including sugar itself. IMO that effect contributed greatly to my generally not desiring sweets at all anymore.

Sam**99
April 09, 2023

I used to drink a lot of diet sodas that contained aspartame and sometimes ate food products that contained it. I had quite an addiction to diet soda. It wasn’t until I got so addicted that for a few weeks straight, that all I had to drink was Diet Coke Zero. I noticed that my bladder started feeling heavy and hurt. There was no pain urinating, but could feel the heaviness and pain. I had to urinate constantly. I quit drinking the Diet Coke and switched to sparking water with no sweetener. The pain went away and I did not have to urinate as often. I tried it again a few weeks later drinking the diet soda. Again, it happened with the bladder pain, heaviness, and needing to urinate frequently. So I have quit diet soda all together now and no more issues. I do once in awhile make my own iced tea and use sucralose. I have noticed a slight raise in fasting blood sugars, but nothing drastic. Other than that, no issues.

Bob P
June 02, 2023

If one drinks "a lot" of diet colas that are probably 99% water with caffeine (a diuretic), it makes sense that frequent urinatiom is going to happen. No mystery there. ;-)

Nancy18844
February 25, 2024

I have Interstitial cystitis. This is a bladder disease, at times, causing extreme pain. I found out long ago that aspartame causes instant pain. Stay away from it!

ConsumerLab.com
March 19, 2024

Thanks for sharing your experience! We've added information about two sweeteners that might worsen bladder pain, and one that doesn't seem to have this effect, in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#painful-bladder

Theresa9109
April 02, 2023

Also, I’m confused that many people are saying that Lakanto Monk Fruit contains Erithrytol. I use Lakanto Monk Fruit Drops and the only ingredients listed are water, monk fruit extract and natural citrus flavors (as a preservative.)

ConsumerLab.com
April 07, 2023

Thanks for your comment. We've clarified that some Lakanto sweeteners do not contain erythritol in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#monk-fruit-without-erythritol

Anne Foster19892
July 01, 2024

Nearly all monk fruit contains an artificial sweetener.

ConsumerLab.com
July 09, 2024

Although many monk fruit sweeteners do contain filler ingredients or other low-calorie sweeteners, we include a list of several brands that contain only monk fruit as the sweetener in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#monk-fruit-only

Theresa9107
April 02, 2023

Hi, I’m writing with a question about agave: I use volcanic agave, which I’ve been told is healthier and has a lower glycemic index than other agaves. Is it also lower in fructose?

ConsumerLab.com
April 15, 2023

We've added information about Volcanic Nectar Blue Agave to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#volcanic-agave

Anne Foster19893
July 01, 2024

Agave syrup is known in the health world as the "high fructose sweetener" of the so called healthy products. It is also highly processed and so far from the original plant.

Loren9105
March 30, 2023

I expected to see honey (more specifically raw honey) on your list of alternatives to sugar. I understand that honey has a lot of sugars and calories attached to it, but there are also health benefits. After doing my own due diligence, I prefer raw honey in my tea over all the alternatives you write about in your article.

ConsumerLab.com
April 04, 2023

We've added information about honey to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#honey

NCCC
March 16, 2025

You mentioned high Arsenic content in honey. Is that true for all the honey tested, including organic ones?

ConsumerLab.com
June 27, 2025

As noted in our article, most of the honey samples in the U.S. contained low amounts of arsenic. The researchers did not differentiate between organic vs. non-organic honey.

Camilo9103
March 30, 2023

I would be very interested if you can include Tagatose, since it has 1/3 calories of sugar, is heat stable (I have cooked with it), has a minimal effect on blood glucose and insulin levels, while in my experience also tasting very good.

ConsumerLab.com
April 04, 2023

We've added information about tagatose to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#tagatose

SRose
March 30, 2023

Why isn't agave part of your sugar substitute review?

ConsumerLab.com
March 31, 2023
James9099
March 30, 2023

I wish you would comment on fructose. Frutose has a much lower glycemic index but tastes exactly like table sugar and seems to work the same in baking. But it has a bad reputation for weight gain, which may or maynot be substantially true. What do you think? I am naturally thin, but I get headaches easily. I have usually found that alternative sweeteners are more likely to give me a headaches (and I have tried a lot) and/or have an unsuitable taste. A normal size desert, sweetened with table sugar, will also give me a headache. I have no financial interests in any food industry products--sweeteners or otherwise.

ConsumerLab.com
April 04, 2023

We've included information about fructose, including possible health concerns linked with this sugar, in the agave syrup section of our article (agave syrup contains a higher percentage of fructose than many other alternative sugars): https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#agavesyrup

L. Oriana9096
March 29, 2023

Saccharine was deliberately falsely demonized with fake 'studies' to open the market for toxic aspartame. These studies were later refuted and the FDA ban was retracted but the general public doesn't know it. Recent studies show that accharine is actually protective against cancer, look it up.

ConsumerLab.com
April 05, 2023

Thanks for your comment. As we note in our article, and as you point out, saccharin was previously considered to be a potential carcinogen but has since been removed from the list based on evidence from numerous studies showing that it did not increase the risk of cancer. In terms of saccharin having anticancer effects, this is currently based only on laboratory studies showing that saccharin can inhibit a tumor-associated enzyme. There are no studies yet in people, but we'll keep an eye out for such studies if they appear.

Mary Ann9094
March 29, 2023

My favorite gum Orbit Bubble Gum has aspartame as a sweetener.. How much aspartame is in a piece of gum? I'm thinking that it can't be much compared to a diet soda

ConsumerLab.com
April 04, 2023

We've added information about the amount of aspartame that is considered safe to consume on a regular basis, and how this compares to the amount of aspartame found in products such as diet sodas or sugar-free gums, in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#aspartame-safe-amount

Laura9092
March 29, 2023

What about maple syrup and honey as possible sugar substitutes. Is there any value in them??

Anthony9089
March 22, 2023

Many Stevia and Monk Fruit ingredients are 80-90% Erythritol. Honey Crystals are 80-90% straight sugar. Check it for yourselves on Amazon or your grocery store. I found three stevia products, I wont mention names, that were 100% Erythritol.

ConsumerLab.com
March 27, 2023

It is true that many stevia and monk fruit sweeteners contain mainly erythritol or other sweeteners, but there are some products that do not contain fillers. Examples can be found in the following sections of our article:
Stevia products without fillers: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-without-fillers

Monk fruit products without fillers: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#monk-fruit-only

Robert9086
March 21, 2023

I understand that Consumerlab is mostly interested in health/ safety issues, but consumers may want to be reminded from which countries ingredients are sourced. Now Foods Better Stevia Extract sources its stevia from China, according to all reports I've read. Simply Stevia, on the other hand, is sourced from Brazil and is Fair Trade.

ConsumerLab.com
March 22, 2023

Like supplements, food labels are not required to include the source of the ingredients. Only the name and location of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor must be listed. Consequently, it may not be possible to find out the geographic origin of the ingredients in a sweetener.

Katherine9087
October 13, 2023

Robert27838 - I'm very interested in how ingredients are sourced, and try to avoid Chinese-made anything...impossible nowadays, but definitely food ingredients. Simply Stevia is now on my shopping list. Thanks!

CAROL18883
March 01, 2024

Simply Stevia lists as its first ingredient organic erithritol, which can be linked to heart issues, regardless of whether it is organic or not (research ongoing). I buy NOW Organic Better Stevia, which contains only stevia and inulin.

Lawrence9082
March 20, 2023

I appreciate the thoroughness of your research, but for those of us who do not have degrees in chemistry, I say thank god for "the bottom line"!

ConsumerLab.com
March 22, 2023

Thank you! To help make it easier to compare the potential benefits and possible concerns of sugar substitutes we've reviewed, we added a table to the article that lists the pros and cons of each sweetener: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#table

Sylvia9085
June 02, 2023

Ditto. I appreciate the thoroughness of your research and how much it applies to my day-to-day.

ConsumerLab.com
June 05, 2023

Thank you for your kind words!

Lali9080
March 20, 2023

Just a thought...
I am mostly against processed food, and sugar, although exists in nature, is processed in order to get it in the amount consumed in the western diet. We know today that consuming high loads of processed sugar is the reason for a myriad of really bad health outcomes. Now we learn the same about Erythritol. Our bodies synthesize it naturally, but consuming it in high quantities might cause undesired effects. The same might be true for pure Stevia or Monk fruit if we consume them processed and in high quantities.

Is there any way to investigate which one of the "natural" sweeteners (Sugar/Erythritol/Stevia/Monk fruit/Allulose) or combination of them will cause the least harm? Can we compare the harm of Erythritol to that of the sugar that it replaces? Is it more/less harmful if used to the same extent? How about the others? What is the quantity for each of these agents that would be considered safe?
Thank you for this discussion, I would love to hear what others think.

christine9081
January 10, 2024

I am also very interested in this discussion. I find myself rotating between Stevia, Monk Fruit and honey because I dont want to consume too much of any one sweetener since we dont truly know the long term affects.

David9077
March 19, 2023

You've previously reviewed supplements that may cause blood thinning like fish oil and have "antiplatelet effects" like amla powder (Indian gooseberry.) Are these effects the opposite of erythritol's effect, and could they possibly counteract the "platelet aggregation" from erythritol? I'm wondering if I should worry about erythritol if I'm also taking 2 g of omega 3's and a 1/2 teaspoon of amla powder.

ConsumerLab.com
March 22, 2023

Unfortunately, there is not enough information to answer that question at this time. There is ongoing research that may help address this, as noted in our article.

Diane9072
March 17, 2023

Have you ever taken a look at polydextrose as a sugar substitute, especially for baking since it can replace the bulk that sugar usually provides, perhaps with some additional sweetening from monk fruit and/or stevia. It is safe?
Also, I just found powdered date sugar at a store today and bought some. It seems to have about half the net carbs of sugar on a volume basis and claims to replace sugar on a 1:1 basis so it seems as though it could potentially reduce sugar carbs by half. It does say to reduce flour by 25% as well but then you reduce the yield of a recipe it seems. Anyway, Date Lady Date Sugar.

ConsumerLab.com
March 24, 2023

We've added information about polydextrose to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#polydextrose

Diane9073
April 04, 2023

I find it really surprising that in your description of polydextrose you say it is not sweet but tart tasting. To the contrary, I find it decidedly sweet tasting with no hint of tartness at all. My source has been netrition.com (with whom I am not affiliated).

ConsumerLab.com
April 11, 2023

Thanks for sharing your experience. The flavor of polydextrose can vary depending on its form. We've added information about this to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#polydextrose-taste

LYNN9071
March 17, 2023

Just tried "tureeats" from Modern Baking Co. Monk fruit and am very disappointed. The first ingredient is Erythritol, yet it's about 1/2 as sweet as sugar and does not measure like it says it does. How I missed the Erythritol when buying it, I don't know. Will never buy again. Expensive and false advertising.

Lali9069
March 17, 2023

Thank you for the clarification regarding the level of Erythritol in the blood of the study's subjects. It is still bothering me that none of the studies reported on Erythritol (or other sweeteners) intake. It is also still surprising to me to know that we produce so much Erythritol endogenously and worth an investigation of reasons for higher endogenous Erythritol. Understanding the consumption of Erythritol in the studies would have been of value.
Thanks again.

David9067
March 17, 2023

Are there any tests to measure the "platelet aggregation" effect in our own blood to make sure we're not consuming too much erythritol, e.g., any lab tests?

ConsumerLab.com
March 22, 2023

At this time, there is not enough information to recommend platelet function testing to assess the safety of erythritol use.

Alex9063
March 17, 2023

What about saccharine? Try as I might, I've yet to find any serious health concerns. I've come across a few studies here and there that may raise concern, but I'd really like to get a more definitive answer from someone who has science training, which I certainly don't.

Saccharine seems like an obvious champ: It's been used widely for well over for a century, it's cheap, accessible, and we found we got used to the overly sweet taste.

Is saccharine an answer?

ConsumerLab.com
March 21, 2023

We've added information about saccharin to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#saccharin

katherine9064
March 26, 2023

Saccharine seems safe and does not cause gut issues or clotting problems.

ConsumerLab.com
April 04, 2023

It is true that saccharin does not appear to cause gut issues (such as stomach pain or diarrhea), and it has not been linked with possible clotting concerns. However, saccharin has been linked with other potential health concerns. For details, see the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#saccharin

John-Marc9059
March 17, 2023

Why is nothing said about inulin as an alternative?

ConsumerLab.com
March 21, 2023

We've added information about inulin to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#inulin

Santosh9055
March 15, 2023

Many protein powders use sucralose. How safe is this? Do they cause insulin resistance when consumed as per suggested servings over long periods?

ConsumerLab.com
March 17, 2023

We've added information about sucralose to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sucralose

James9053
March 15, 2023

Is there any evidence that glycerin is unsafe?

ConsumerLab.com
March 17, 2023

We've added information about glycerin (or glycerine or glycerol) to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#glycerol

Linda9051
March 14, 2023

I have been using yacon syrup for a number of years now as my primary sweetener. I am hoping to know if yacon syrup, in general, has high cadmium levels (because I think the tubers are grown in the same general area as cocoa beans which are high in cadmium.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We are not aware of any published studies reporting on the levels of cadmium or other heavy metals in yacon syrup.

Susan9048
March 14, 2023

I have recently enjoyed using a small spoonful of monk fruit powder in my hot beverages. It has very little taste and dissolves instantly. It is Monk fruit first ingredient, and maltodextrin. Erythritol is not listed as an ingredient. So, what about maltodextrin, and how safe is it to consume?

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023
ann9044
March 13, 2023

Consumer Labs, Please test "Pure Cane". Sugar cane that has been fermented to a compound that is like Stevia. It also has added Erithritol to the blend. It is the best for less bitter, more sugar taste in baking.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We have not tested Purecane, but, as we explain, it is almost entirely erythritol: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#purecane

Michelle9041
March 12, 2023

What can you share about BochaSweet, derived from kambocha squash?

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We've added information about BochaSweet, and its ingredient kabocha extract, to the following section of our article above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#kabocha

Greg9037
March 12, 2023

I use Trader Joe’s powered Stevia. I also use Organic Stevia I purchase off of Amazon. One matter I have noticed with both is there come a time after a few months both simply don’t sweeten as well as when initially used. Does Stevia have a short shelve life? I am half-way through a Traders Joes container and have to use close to a .5 teaspoon to notice any sweetness in my tea or coffee.

ConsumerLab.com
March 24, 2023

Great question! As we note in our article, stevia has a relatively long shelf life, but its taste may diminish if the product is not stored properly: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-storage

Carole9034
March 11, 2023

I have been using stevia rebaudiana since 2002. I have long ago gotten used to the slightly bitter aftertaste, I hardly notice it. Now I use Pyure's organic Stevia Leaf Extract - stevia is the single ingredient - not the blend you mention in the article.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We mention several of Pyure's stevia sweeteners in the above article, including the one that you use and is only made from stevia. Here's a link to the section: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#pyure

Alison9025
March 10, 2023

Stevia: My favorite stevia is called "Stevia Select". They make a powdered one but the one I use, that I LOVE, is their liquid Stevia. It comes in various flavors - my favorites are the chocolate and the vanilla. Just a few drops is all it takes. There are no other sweeteners in the product except for Stevia.

Xylitol: I'm very concerned about the Xylitol findings. Since I have a sweet tooth but I also have Diabetes, I chew a ton of the "Pur" gum, which is sweetened with xylitol. Since the pieces are small, I chew four at a time and, since the flavor doesn't last all that long, I tend to spit it out and chew another 4. So I probably chew about 32 pieces a day. The label doesn't specify how much xylitol is in each piece but after reading about the platelet issue with xylitol, I'm now very concerned.

Sugar alcohols: I've looked everywhere for gum that is sweetened with stevia but ALL of those also contain sugar alcohols. I cannot tolerate most sugar alcohols - manitol in particular - makes me immediately have to run to the bathroom.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We've added information about Stevia Select sweeteners, and how they compare in cost to other stevia-only sweeteners, in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-select. Regarding xylitol in gum, the amount is relatively small in comparison to some other sources of xylitol, although even small amounts can add up throughout the day, as noted in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sugar-alcohol-heart

Sean9029
March 17, 2023

This is me! I go through tons of xylitol mints and gum, I also have dry mouth at night. What is a good substitute mint/gum product that doesn’t have xylitol and doesn’t promote tooth decay? So frustrating.

ConsumerLab.com
March 24, 2023

We've included some sugar-free gums that do not contain xylitol in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sorbitol

Vako
December 14, 2023

Trident splash has maltitol and aspartame ???????

Vako
December 14, 2023

According to this study xylitol does not raise blood sugar but the opposite by slowing the gastric emptying etc.
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00037.2016. Not affiliated with the study nor the ingredients mentioned in it.

ConsumerLab.com
December 22, 2023

Yes, these sweeteners are listed under the ingredients of Trident Splash gums. In fact, in products such as Trident Splash Strawberry with Lime, maltitol is the first ingredient in the list.

ConsumerLab.com
January 10, 2024

We discuss the effect of xylitol on blood sugar levels in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#xylitol-blood-sugar

Leah9023
March 10, 2023

NuNaturals powder (the tiny bottle with an even tinier little spoon) is my favorite no-filler no-taste stevia. I'm very sensitive to the black licorice taste and have tried so many brands over the years! I find it at Whole Foods.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

As noted in our article, some stevia sweeteners by NuNaturals do contain other ingredients. Be aware that at least one of these other ingredients may affect blood sugar levels: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#nunaturals

David9018
March 10, 2023

I just noticed that my sugar-free pancake syrup is largely sorbitol. Does it presumably have the same suspected blood clotting effect as erythritol and xylitol?

ConsumerLab.com
March 10, 2023

Only erythritol and xylitol have been linked with possible blood clotting effects.

Corra9020
March 12, 2023

thanks

Gerald9015
March 10, 2023

It would certainly be worth evaluating Yacon syrup as a sugar alternative. A very low glycemic response and an excellent prebiotic.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We've added information about yacon syrup to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#yacon-syrup

RC
March 08, 2023

I am using Splenda Liquid Sweetener, or Stevia Zero (both are printed on the plastic squeeze container) for tea and coffee. The ingredients listed are: water, stevia leaf extract, citric acid, potassium sorbatem and sodium benzoate, Are any of the ingredients “fillers”?

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

These additional ingredients in Splenda Stevia Liquid Sweetener serve mainly as preservatives, not "fillers." However, other stevia sweeteners by Splenda do contain non-stevia sweeteners, as noted in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#splenda-stevia

Brigid
March 08, 2023

How frustrating! I thought erythritol was the solution to my inability to drink tea without some form of sweetener to counteract the tannin effect. I managed to exclude sugar from my coffee (with milk, flat white to be exact) years ago but with tea I couldn’t go beyond a reduction to one teaspoon of sugar per cup. Other substitute sweeteners, including stevia, just left a bad taste in my mouth. Xylitol is too dangerous with pets around. I wonder if I can just have one or two teaspoons of erythritol a day safely?

ConsumerLab.com
March 12, 2023

While it is too soon to tell what amount of erythritol, if any, poses a real risk, two teaspoons of erythritol is much less than the amount shown to dramatically increase blood levels of erythritol in a clinical study -- although lower amounts will likely raise blood levels for short periods of time. See the following section of our article for more details: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#erythritol-in-food

Pamela9011
March 12, 2023

I read that steeping tea less than 2 minutes reduces the tannin. I get a dizzy reaction if I steep my tea too long. Brigid, perhaps you can try steeping the tea for a shorter time?

ConsumerLab.com
March 13, 2023

Steeping tea for less than 2 minutes will help reduce tannin content but will also reduce the amount of EGCG (an active constituent in green and black tea). See our Green Tea Review for information about how long to steep tea to get a significant amount of EGCG without creating a bitter-tasting tea: https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/green-tea-review-tea-bags-matcha-supplements/green-tea/#howtotake

Hannah9010
March 26, 2023

Have you tried NOW's Better Stevia? It works really well in my tea.

Tim and Joe9001
March 07, 2023

Thank you for this article!!!! And PLEASE continue to follow up as new science is discovered. I had my genome mapped several years ago, and found that I have a 'genetic sweet-tooth.' My Dr. explained that 'Most' people fall into one of two categories "salt or sugar", and are genetically predisposed to prefer one over the other. I have always had a strong sweet tooth.
Anyway, I read the book "Sugar is poison" about a decade and a half ago, and have almost completely removed sugar from my diet (processed anyway) more than a decade ago. I thankfully discovered stevia and have been using that in my coffee every day since (bought in bulk from Z-Natural foods).
Five yers ago I read the book "Beyond Fasting" and have done an annual 7-day water fast which requires getting into ketosis prior to the fast so as to do such in a healthy way.
Being a sweet addict, I was introduced to Erythritol, and have been enjoying foods that were once off-limits to me (can't use stevia in baking because it is too sweet whereas Erythritol exchanges 1 for 1).
I have been saying for the past several years that "it must be too good to be true. Nothing can be this perfect! I'm sure that we will find that this stuff is killing us... just don't tell me right now (as I downed another cookie made from almond and spinach flower sweetened with erythritol)... Well, all good things come to an end right???
I don't have words to express my sadness.

If anyone knows of a true sugar substitute (1 for 1) that is actually healthy, I'm all ears. I use stevia, I use Lucuma, and even have raw powdered Monk fruit. All have their pros and cons, but the biggest obstacle is baking. Recipes are made for table sugar, not these other more (or less) sweet sweeteners.

Shout out to the good folks at ConsumerLabs!!! I tell everyone that I know to join!!!

Lisa9006
March 10, 2023

I have been eating a pint of Halo Top daily for 7+ years. I stopped as soon as the news reports about this study hit. I have a cardiologist appointment next week and will ask her if I need a special platelet test. I've switched to frozen yogurt pops but those also have some strange ingredients listed. The good news is that, after 50+ years, I have stopped taking any sugar substitutes in my coffee - just a dab of 1% milk. None of the sugar substitutes seemed to be fully acceptable and I did not want to switch to sugar.

Please keep reporting on this topic!

Trinchero Lillian
March 12, 2023

I agree..a very informative newsletter !! Have been a subscriber for 10 yrs

Delia8999
March 07, 2023

I have been using dates or date syrup for years in my coffee. Using 1/2 a date in my early morning coffee required use of a noisy Vitamixer so for the sake of my husband, I switched to date syrup. I love Date Lady as it has stronger caramel notes which I like in coffee. I recently switched to Soleil Date Syrup, a bit thinner, but quite a bit less expensive. Softer caramel notes but that is a plus for sweetening other foods and drinks. I have no financial interest in any of the products being discussed in this article. I research the glycemic index of dates and found several studies. Bottom line seems to be that they have a low impact and there is not a significant difference between types of dates. This is the conclusion of one study: "The results show low glycemic indices for the five types of dates included in the study and that their consumption by diabetic individuals does not result in significant postprandial glucose excursions. These findings point to the potential benefits of dates for diabetic subjects when used in a healthy balanced diet."

I find date syrup dissolves better in warm beverages than cold. Dates are also a source of fiber and various minerals, including potassium. I'm in the "bees and trees" camp. Moderate use of a natural sweetener trumps highly processed or artificial sweetners any day.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

It's true that date syrup contains some potassium and fiber, as well as certain other nutrients, but the amounts are relatively small and date syrup contains a significant amount of sugar, as noted in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#date-syrup

Lynnette8995
March 07, 2023

What would I be looking for in blood work if my levels from Erythritol are high?
I have used it for years as a sugar replacement in almost everything I eat and drink.

ConsumerLab.com
March 08, 2023

Erythritol level is not a standard blood test, so you will likely not be able to request it (also be aware that levels will fluctuate -- being much higher within a few hours after consuming erythritol). However, as concern with erythritol is a possible effect on platelet function, a platelet aggregation test can be performed, although this is not routine and is typically only done in cases of suspected platelet dysfunction.

Sara8997
March 17, 2023

I have a blood condition called thrombocytosis. My body produces too many platelets so I found this article of particular interest. I have forwarded a copy to my hematologist so we can discuss. I was using the liquid Stevia in my coffee but have switched back to sugar. Granted the amount of Stevia I consumed in a day was very low, but better safe than sorry.

CYNTHIA8992
March 07, 2023

I am curious whether xylitol, another sugar alcohol, would produce similar lab results as the current study on erythritol. Perhaps not all polyols behave similarly in the body?

ConsumerLab.com
March 10, 2023
Christopher8988
March 07, 2023

I saw a news segment where a health professional said that there is no FDA requirement to list erythritol on the label, and because of that it can still be in food and we wouldn't necessarily know it. So I think that's a little worrisome.

ConsumerLab.com
March 10, 2023

We discuss the label requirements for foods containing added erythritol in the following section or our article above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sugar-alcohol

Nathan8990
March 20, 2023

Article says: "How much erythritol is in foods? Although food labels must disclose added erythritol or other sugar alcohols as "Ingredients,""

so the health professional claim you say you saw was false.

And it's a good thing. Eating tiny amounts of erythritol makes me miserable.

Lynn8986
March 06, 2023

I eat some cookies (Too Good Gourmet's various flavors of almond flour cookies sweetened with erythritol, and Catalina Crunch oreo-type cookies also sweetened with erythritol. How can you tell how many grams of erythritol is in a serving? Would it be the amount of sugar alcohol listed on the nutrition label????? That information would really be helpful.

ConsumerLab.com
March 08, 2023

Great question! We've added information about this to the following section of our article above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sugar-alcohol

Burrito
March 06, 2023

I'm not particularly sensitive to most things. But I decided to more actively reduce sugar. I started out with sucralose as a sugar substitute. Wowsers... waterfall diarrhea like that is not pleasant. I've been working with stevia. I can't seem to get used to the taste.

I think I just need to work harder on getting rid of my sweet cravings.

No financial interest in any of this. Although I do have mutual funds without having any idea of what they are invested in...

ConsumerLab.com
March 06, 2023

As noted in our article, some forms of stevia contain only rebaudioside A, which can have more of a bitter or metallic aftertaste: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#how-is-stevia-sold. However, other forms, including our Top Pick for stevia https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#toppick, contain whole leaf extract and are less bitter. Some people also reportedly find the flavor of allulose to be more appealing than stevia: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#allulose

Lorrie8973
March 05, 2023

I was using several teaspoons of Erythritol per day in things like tea, salad dressing, and keto desserts. I just had my blood drawn and labs done and my functional medicine practitioner was surprised to see that I had 2 elevated markers for circulation blood clotting! A day later I saw the article linking Erythritol and clotting and threw out all my Erythritol containing products. Yikes.

Steve8975
March 07, 2023

That is frustrating Iam sure! Its not worth the risk to continue using. I just recently bought a new sack of the stuff! Lol! So into the trash it goes!

Mark8974
March 07, 2023

which. markers were elevated?
hs-CRP, homocysteine? etc

Claudia8976
March 12, 2023

yep; I'm throwing out several bags of swerve, I was using it in coffee, tea, and yogurt daily plus I was using Lakanto in desserts. I definitely have the genetic sweet tooth. I've been adding half and half, honey, and Sweet Leaf stevia drops to my coffee and tea. I may switch to allulose for baking but now I feel like who knows if that's safe??

sheryl8968
March 05, 2023

I consume about 11 packets of Truvia a day on my tea and my husband about 20! With the latest update I am
Going to try something else but don’t know what!!!!

Jolene8970
March 06, 2023

Try SweetLeaf Stevia drops. It's my favorite way to sweeten tea or coffee and I've been using it for over 15 years. No Erythritol

TamaraFI
March 07, 2023

Yes! I second Jolene's suggestion. I particularly love their Vanilla Cremé liquid stevia for coffee & yogurt and such.

Janette8972
March 10, 2023

I enquired directly to SweetLeaf Stevia company....here's the response.
Jeanne Eudey, Mar 6, 2023, 11:08 MST:
Jan,

Thank you for contacting us. Our sweet drops do not contain erythritol.

Thank You,
Jeanne Eudey
Customer Service Manager
Wisdom Natural Brands

ConsumerLab.com
March 12, 2023

It's true that SweetLeaf's Sweet Drops do not contain erythritol, but note that some Sweet Drops contain other sweeteners (in addition to stevia), and SweetLeaf also sells stevia products that do contain erythritol, as discussed in this section of our article above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-without-erythritol

s8959
March 05, 2023

I have given my family Orgain protein shakes for many years and they list both Monkfruit and Stevia on the label. Do they contain Erythritol as well? I do not want to use the product if it does, and I'm sure others would feel the same, considering the new information.
It would be very helpful if you could discuss or research products that contain Monkfruit and Stevia to determine if they in fact also contain Erythritol, as it does not have to be listed on the label and it is often added to both Monkfruit and Stevia.

ConsumerLab.com
March 06, 2023

If erythritol is added to a product, it must be listed as an ingredient. If it is not listed in the Nutrition Facts label, the company is saying it is not in the product.

Kelly8967
March 07, 2023

I just threw out my Orgain protein powder this Saturday because it did list Erythritol on the label. :(

Josephine8961
March 08, 2023

I just read the label on my jar of Orgain Organic Protein Powder + 50 Superfoods shake mix and erythritol is listed as a component of their Orgain Organic Creamer Blend, which itself is listed as the second ingredient in the product. The Nutrition Facts portion of the label says one serving contains 5g of erythritol.

Lali8958
March 05, 2023

As a very informed group of people, we should be cautious when arriving in conclusion when reading a scientific report too, not only a media report. I want to start with thanks to ConsumerLab for the important information on Erythritol, its effects on blood clotting in lab studies and the amount we consume in different foods. Then, I want to share my own way of trying to avoid artificial/processed sweets altogether (including sugar) and when I can't, to combine those that are acceptable to me (lately Allulose is the star, but Stivia and Erythritol are there too).

Carol8956
March 05, 2023

I have used 365 organic stevia from Whole Foods market for years with no side effects, just smiles when drinking my sweetened coffee and tea without calories. It only lists organic stevia extract (stevia rebaudiana) as the ingredient. If erythritol is an added ingredient, must it be listed on the label? I so appreciate Consumer Labs tests and info.

ConsumerLab.com
March 11, 2023

Thank you for your kind words Carol. We've added information about this in the answer above -- see https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#sugar-alcohol.

Sean8950
March 03, 2023

Stevia causes headaches for me every time. My understanding is its due to an allergic reaction to the ragweed family.

KENNETH8944
March 03, 2023

We use LAKANTO....WITH ERTHRITOL..no side effects as of yet...and we only do 2 teaspoons per day....Anyone else out there use this item?

Gary8945
March 05, 2023

I've been using it long term. Also a couple teas. per day or so. No side effects. And I'm basically healthy. The study was done on older folks with pre-conditions, which makes a big difference in outcomes of usage, esp. at higher dosages.

Ruth8948
March 05, 2023

I use Lokanto primarily in my home made chai tea with extra herbs and spices. I also add D mannose (anti UTI) and mannitol. I also take a few herbs that are known blood thinners so if erythritol is a coagulant I may be counteracting it.

joseph8946
March 07, 2023

Loved Lakanto but the noted 'association' and my only CV risk factor is being older, 72 male, is enough for me to move on to just monk fruit extract for daily use in my coffee.

Susan8931
March 03, 2023

I checked my favorite artificial sweeteners in my grocery store- Stevia, Truvia and Monk fruit- and each included erythritol as an ingredient. Honey and sugar are poor carb options for me. What now? Is there a 'high amount of erythritol' considered too high for use on a daily basis? Would a couple packets of any artificial sweetener that contains erythritol be considered too high?

ConsumerLab.com
March 10, 2023

It's too soon to know just how much erythritol might be problematic, but we discuss amounts that have been shown to increase erythritol blood levels to much higher than normal, and compare this to amounts found in various foods, in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#erythritol-in-food

Darla8933
March 12, 2023

You can find pure monk fruit without any other additives--I get it from Julian Bakeries.

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

Darla, you're correct. We list several products that are pure monk fruit. Note that some are less expensive than the one that you are using. See our list here: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#monk-fruit-only

George8927
December 25, 2022

I was bothered by frequent headaches for several years, ---some severe. I attributed it to allergies. a friend told me about her friend who suffered with headaches for some time. She said that she had consumed aspartame sweetened drinks & on the advice of a frien had quit drinking them. Her headaches stopped. I too had been a regular & frequent consumer of aspartame sweetened drinks. out of curiousity I stopped drinking any artifically sweeted drink. I have not had a headache since. That was 15 years ago

Susan8928
March 07, 2023

Aspartame gives me headaches as well. I avoid it all together.

Greg8926
December 19, 2022

I have been using NewNaturals NuStevia liquid drops in a plastic squeeze bottle for years now with no apparent side effects. There is nothing outside my own experience that influences me to give this product a favorable rating.

Harise8925
December 16, 2022

I use the Trivia baking blend, which has a small amount of actual sugar, to make lemonade and we drink that a lot. I didn't realize the main ingredient was erythritol till I read this article. Still, we like to use these as cocktail mixers too, the lemonade and other drinks and I don't want to go back to full sugar mixers or other alternatives to plain water. We do also mix the lemonade with regular fruit juice/drinks, to cut both the sugar from one and the artificial sweeteners from the other. I'll have to check my stevia sweetened sodas now, for other ingredients.

LYNN8924
December 14, 2022

Been using Stevia for many years without problems, just in coffee and tea. I've become used to the taste, though it's no sugar. I just tried Allulose and am very disappointed. A tablespoon does not sweeten a cup of not-very-strong coffee nor green tea. Plus it's expensive. The advertising about the quantity needed to sweeten is false.

Rebecca8916
December 06, 2022

I so wanted to love monk fruit. Over the hers I've tried several different brands and forms, but alas, after a day or so it starts to trigger headaches. A no-go for me.

Paul Rosier
March 17, 2023

paul1937
Monk fruit/allulose blend is available from IMPACT at approx. $10/ lb for a 4lb bag and WHOLESOME YUM (Nature's besti sugar replacement) at approx. $18/lb for a 1lb bag on Amazon.

Bette8902
November 25, 2022

Monk fruit drops has been a lifesaver for me. I put 6-7 drops in a quart bottle and drink it throughout the day. Also, I add 2-3 drops in my morning coffee. Lost 5 lbs. and belly fat within 2 months without changing a thing in my diet. Very sweet without a chemical after taste. I highly recommend it.

lata8907
December 07, 2022

Which brand of drops do you buy ?

Dr Prakash8903
March 03, 2023

Yes but the problem is I have yet to find ANY monk fruit sweetener that doesn’t contain erythritol! And that’s a concern & no go for many people following the research on erythritol.

Diana8905
March 04, 2023

Yes, please post the brand you buy.

Kimberly8911
March 05, 2023

I agree, Dr. Prakash 27587. I have the Lakanto brand and the Monkfruit in the Raw products in my cabinet, and they both contain erythritol. I haven’t had any of the side effects mentioned, but am discontinuing their use. Does anyone have any ideas for a safe alternative? Is ANY sweetener safe anymore? I’m thinking a little honey or pure maple syrup might be the best bet.

Tracy8910
March 07, 2023

NOW organic monk fruit drops. The only ingredient is monk fruit and I am highly sensitive to erythritol! I just wish I could figure out how to bake with it!

lerene8914
March 07, 2023

Nu Naturals pure monk fruit in the powder form is excellent. A small shake adds plenty of sweetness the bottle contains over 500 servings because it is pure monk fruit. I use this product and love it. It may “seem” to cost more but it has no alcohol sugars (not diluted) so it’s actually not expensive when you do the math. All the other monk fruit products at the store are way cheaper and ALL of them have erythritol !!!

ConsumerLab.com
March 07, 2023

Hi Tracy, be aware that NOW makes several monk fruit products - some are all or mostly monk fruit, and some are mostly erythritol. We've added information about these to the article above.

ConsumerLab.com
March 07, 2023

Hi Lerene, Nu Naturals makes several monk fruit products, including two powders. Some include erythritol and other ingredients, and some do not. We've added information about these to our article.

Carol8909
March 10, 2023

I found an organic monk fruit extract powder on Amazon by Teakihut. It's a bit pricey, but a 4 oz. bag has 365 servings in it. One serving (1/8 tsp) is equal in sweetness to 1 tsp table sugar. My husband is diabetic, so I'm always hunting for safe alternatives to sugar.

Bette8906
March 14, 2023

I use NOW drops, I searched this out because I have been on a FODMAP diet for several years and learned I couldn't tolerate any sweetener ending with "ol". Here is the list of ingredients: "Ingredients: De-Ionized Water, Certified Organic Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) Extract, 11% Organic Cane Alcohol". Cane alcohol comes from sugar cane. I have recently discovered they offer an alcohol free variety, the ingredients are as follows: "Ingredients: Organic Glycerin, De-Ionized Water, Organic Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) Extract."

ConsumerLab.com
March 22, 2023

Thanks for sharing! Interestingly, the monk fruit extract powder by Teaki Hut is actually less expensive than several other monk fruit extracts that contain no additional sweeteners. However, as noted in our article, monk fruit extracts can vary widely in sweetness due to their concentrations of mogroside V, and some of the more expensive brands of monk fruit extract require a much smaller serving to achieve the sweetness in 1 tsp of sugar: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#monk-fruit-sweetness-difference

DOMINIC PASQUAROSA
November 25, 2022

I've been using the keto diet since April. I find monk fruit the best sweetener i've ever used. The liquid is excellent.

Miri8901
December 11, 2022

Where do you find the liquid monk fruit? Best brand?

Susan8898
November 22, 2022

I've tried stevia, erythritol, and allulose for making homemade ice cream and will now only use allulose. It tastes better than stevia and erythritol doesn't dissolve in cold liquids. Unfortunately, it costs $8 a lb.

LeonG
November 18, 2022

My personal reference is called Pyure. It is available in both bagged granular form as well as single serve packets. It (stevia) is, like other brands, only the second ingredient with Erythritol being the first to provide bulk. Where I live it is available in Walmart stores but few others. I have no financial interest in this, or any other stevia product.

Jennifer8888
November 14, 2022

Any thoughts on recent research findings that stevia (like other non-caloric sweeteners) affects the gut microbiome and/or whether the effects are dose dependent?

ConsumerLab.com
November 18, 2022

As we've noted in our article above, the effect of stevia on the gut microbiome appears to be mixed, although most research suggests that stevia has no significant effect or may have a beneficial effect: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#additional-safety-information

Debb
March 06, 2023

I used stevia exclusively for 5-6 years. It began causing me to have diarrhea. I stopped using it and it stopped the diarrhea. So I do believe it absolutely does change the gut microbiome.

Darla8890
April 22, 2023

When I tried stevia it also gave me diarrhea...pure monk fruit powder is the only thing I've tried that hasn't caused me problems!

amanda8880
September 21, 2022

BetterStevia Organic Extract Powder is very bitter-please note there is a tiny spoon in it because it only takes a smidge to sweeten your drink (and make it taste bitter!) I have urinary tract issues and I use Coffee tamer to reduce acid in my coffee -thank you Consumerlab for making this world a healthier and better place!

Bridget8882
March 10, 2023

Have used Better Stevia Organic Extract Powder for at least 2 years. I don’t find it bitter at all; best tasting stevia I’ve used. Use the tiny spoon!!! If you don’t you may just be using too much.

Elaine R
March 11, 2023

Stevia taste is highly individual and so you have to try until you find one that is acceptable to your taste.

On another note....I now use NOW brand organic monk fruit but just in drinks (no pun intended) and find it acceptable to me.

ConsumerLab.com
March 13, 2023

Hi Elaine, be aware that NOW makes a variety of organic monk fruit products, some of which contain primary ingredients other than monk fruit, as noted in our article above: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#now-monk-fruit

Patricia8877
March 25, 2022

If you want to use stevia, but do not like its flavor, you might try tricking your taste buds. You may have noticed that if you eat or drink something with sugar in it followed by something sweetened with Sweet'n Low, the Sweet'n Low does not seem sweet enough.
I try not to have anything sweet before my morning coffee, so when I add stevia, it tastes sweet. It's very easy to get too much so the stevia dominates. (I've used Now's BetterStevia Organic Sweetener in coffee for several years and have no financial ties to the Now company.) If I'm having sweet food with the coffee, I skip stevia entirely, and if I like the coffee enough I drink it unsweetened.
If you prefer a large amount of sugar in coffee, I think stevia is unlikely to work for you because of its distinctive flavor. It could be that products that mix stevia with dextrose or the like would seem enough like sugar to work in larger proportions. I guess it's a matter of discovering what flavor combinations you like. I've tried xylitol as a sweetener too, but did not acquire a taste for it.

Ruth8878
October 02, 2023

I think I like the way the Now organic stevia tastes in my tea and coffee and my hot cocoa. I actually am concerned that I use too much.

AnnAnn
March 15, 2022

I have been growing stevia plants for many years. I keep a couple of pots of it on my deck and grow a couple of plants out in the garden. I toss aa few leaves into anything I want to sweeten. Leaves have been used in food for centuries in South America. I'm horribly allergic to ragweed, but have never had any reaction to stevia leaves.

LYNN8876
November 11, 2022

I, too, tried stevia plant leaves, but don't like the flavor. Too bad, it grow well in my cool climate.

Mary8874
March 07, 2023

I grow it too but have never known how to use it..Just put the leaves in tea? Crush? Dry and crush? Are there any studies on use of stevia from one's garden? Thx for any info!

Keith8867
March 15, 2022

Maybe this will help others:
A side-effect of stevia for me was a heart issue: atrial flutter. I'm a very fit 59-year-old male with no prior heart issues and a calcium heart score of zero.

After months of suffering with atrial flutter, I traced the issue to drinking Zevia, which is a zero-calorie soft drink with stevia leaf extract. When I stopped the Zevia, the atrial flutter completely disappeared. I verified the culprit by restarting the Zevia, and the atrial flutter immediately returned. I stopped the Zevia again, and it went away again and has never returned in over a year now. I was drinking both caffeine and caffeine-free Zevia: two to four 12oz cans per day. I have always been a big coffee drinker, so my issue was not from the caffeine.

Shortly after I had resolved the issue, I saw a cardiologist/electrophysiologist who diagnosed atrial flutter from the EKG tracings of a Kardia Mobile device which I had used while the issue was still active. It was the first he had heard of anyone’s heart being affected by stevia, but I wonder how many people are going down the rabbit hole of medical testing and procedures (cardiac ablation – yikes!) when the problem is only resulting from something they are consuming!

By the way I have no financial interest in any sodas or artificial sweeteners, and my only reason for writing this is to help others.

ConsumerLab.com
March 17, 2022

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are unaware of published evidence showing that stevia causes abnormal heart rhythm.

Rita8872
March 06, 2023

Dear Keith24752, Thank you very much for taking the time to post your experience. It is my hope it will resolve a similar issue I've had drinking 2-4 Zevia per day. Additionally, I have daily headaches, which others here have reported they were experiencing. All the comments are really appreciated, and very thankful for ConsumerLab.com making this information available to us.

ConsumerLab.com
March 06, 2023

Thanks for sharing your experience. As already noted, we are unaware of published evidence showing that stevia causes abnormal heart rhythm, but headaches have been reported with stevia use: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-side-effects

Marilyn8856
January 29, 2020

Being extremely sensitive to alcohol sugars (sorbitol, mannitol, erithrytol, xylitol etc) that cause me to have almost immediate diarrhea, I turned to stevia because I do not want to put chemicals in my body. Well, it turns out that I can not stand the taste of stevia in ANY product. Makes me gag. So I stopped using any processed sugar and use a small amount of raw honey and maple syrup instead. My A1c dropped to 5 in just a couple of months and has stayed there. Turns out I need no artificial sweetners, no alcohol sugars, and no natural but not common sweetners of any kind. Trees and bees. That's the ticket.

Lali8861
November 22, 2022

Thank you for sharing. What was your A1C before, and how much honey and maple syrup do you consume every day?

Jessy8857
March 05, 2023

For people on keto it’s not an option. I wish it was. I wear a CGM; honey & maple definitely make your glucose go up…..stevia unfortunately is all we have left.

Marilyn8858
March 09, 2023

No, it's not. I use a product called BochaSweet which is made from a kabocha squash (Japanese pumpkin). It's called pentose and purportedly has no glycemic index and zero calories. I hope CL will do testing on it because it is a phenomenal product. It looks, tastes, and behaves like sugar and is a 1-1 replacement in all baked goods. It's great in ice cream as well. I can't stand the aftertaste of Stevia and even though BochaSweet is pricey ($13.99/lb), it's well worth it to me. I have no connection to the company except for being a recurring customer and am posting this only to provide another option. I make the best ice cream with BochaSweet as well!

ConsumerLab.com
March 14, 2023

We've added information about BochaSweet, and its ingredient kabocha extract, to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#kabocha

Susan8854
January 26, 2020

I get horrific migraines from stevia within just a few minutes of ingestion.

Teresa8851
October 02, 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.

Michael8852
September 26, 2020

I was taking large quantities for Lyme disease and after 17 days I noticed pain in one of my legs. I am very grateful for seeing this post and have stopped using it. Thanks for sharing.

Mark8848
October 01, 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!

Jessy8850
March 05, 2023

Right me too! Ever since being on keto for 3 years the dentist said my teeth haven’t “aged” at all and perfect reports!

Al8846
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.

Dr Prakash8847
March 03, 2023

Thank you for saying this! I completely agree!

Sandy8842
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.

Dr Prakash8844
March 03, 2023

Yes i too use coconut sugar. But never thought to add stevia.

Paul B8839
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.

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/what-are-the-health-benefits-and-safety-of-himalayan-salt/himalayan-salt-specialty-salt/

Susan8833
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.

Barbara8834
December 02, 2020

I too have headaches as well as a copious nasal discharge when using stevia. Couldn't figure out why until I researched it and found that stevia is part of the ragweed family. Not sure if that's why I get the headaches but it sure points a finger to the runny nose. I do not have any financial interest in stevia or other competing product.

Betsy8835
March 04, 2023

I realized I got headaches from all artificial sweeteners years ago. when stevia came out, I tried it, and found it gave me the same (maybe worse) headaches. And yes, I, too, researched is and found it's in the ragweed family.

Julie8827
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.

Dave8831
January 26, 2020

We use both xylitol and stevia. I never imagined either would lower my blood sugar per se, but I have no doubt that using them instead of sugar would do so. I went from borderline diabetes 2 to a normal blood sugar level by this substitution, and still manage to satisfy my sweet tooth! The reason fewer people are interested in xylitol than stevia, I suspect, is that xylitol still contains calories (about 2/3 those of sugar) even though it does not raise GI significantly. But it does taste better!

George8828
January 26, 2020

My understanding is that xylitol is safe for humans but dangerous for pets. I would appreciate Consumerlab providing some information on that.

ConsumerLab.com
January 27, 2020

Hi George - You are correct. We've added information about this to the answer above.

Donnie
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?

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.

Robert8822
March 06, 2023

Can you list what brands sell pure stevia extract? Im kinda of interested in trying Coconut Sugar & mixing it with alittle Stevia…Thanks for that tip!

ConsumerLab.com
March 06, 2023

See the following section of our article above for examples of stevia products without fillers or other ingredients: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-without-fillers

D21058
November 08, 2024

What about "Stevia in the Raw" . This product appears to be more pure, without fillers.

ConsumerLab.com
November 12, 2024

For information on additional ingredients in Stevia in the Raw, please refer to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-stevia-is-it-safe/stevia-benefits-safety/#stevia-in-the-raw

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