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For centuries, the leaves of the stevia plant have been used as a natural sweetener in South American countries, such as Brazil. Today stevia is found in many countries and is famous as a natural alternative to sweet. Stevia is a natural substitute, so stevia doesn’t cause any major side effects.
This natural sweetener is obtained from the plant of Stevia. Sweet is found naturally in it and it is 200 times sweeter than ordinary sugar. Its specialty is due to two mixtures: first stevioside and second ribioside.
It does not increase the number of calories in your diet. Due to which it can be a good option in place of sugar. The FDA says that stevia, such as Reb-A, are “generally recognized as safe.”
It is very obvious if we use something and use it in our regular life, then will be immense but there some minor side effects as as well. Does stevia cause any side effect? Yes, stevia cause some rare side effects.
What Are The Side Effects Of Stevia?
There is concern that raw stevia might harm the kidneys, reproductive system, and cardiovascular system. It might also drop blood pressure too low or interact with medications that lower blood sugar. Although stevia is considered safe for diabetics.
Dextrose is a glucose, and maltodextrin is a starch. Stevia might also make your carbohydrate slightly higher. If you use stevia every now and then, it may not be enough to affect your blood sugar level.
A 2019 study reported a possible link between non-nutritional sweeteners, including stevia, and a disruption of beneficial intestinal flora or gut bacteria know as probiotics. The same study also suggested that non-nutritional sweeteners may stimulate glucose intolerance and metabolic disorders. As with most non-nutritional sweeteners, one of the main downsides is the taste. Stevia has a mild licorice- like taste and is somewhat bitter. Some people enjoy it, but it is annoying for other.
Side Effects of Stevia
Kidney Damage
Stevia is a diuretic, which means it speeds up the rate at which the body excretes water and electrolytes through urine. Because the kidney is in charge of filtering and producing urine, researchers first believed that long-term stevia intake might harm the organ.
Recent research, on the other hand, suggests that stevia may help avoid kidney injury. Stevia inhibited cyst formation in kidney cells, according to a laboratory study published in 2013.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Some stevia products contain sugar alcohols, which might induce unpleasant sensations in people who are chemically sensitive.
Although sugar alcohol hypersensitivity is uncommon, it can cause the following symptoms:
- nausea
- vomiting
- indigestion
- cramping
- bloating
The potential gastrointestinal advantages of steviol glycosides have been demonstrated in several research employing rodent and human cell cultures. Stevia has been demonstrated to help limit and relieve diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms (IBS).
Allergic Reaction
There have been extremely few reported cases of stevia allergy. The FDA and the European Commission both found that the number of people who are hypersensitive to stevia or who are at risk of developing an allergic reaction to it is extremely small.
Hypoglycemia or Low Blood Sugar
Although stevia may assist persons with diabetes maintain their blood sugar, it was originally considered that long-term or heavy stevia usage could lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Except in people with abnormally low blood sugar levels, this has been proved to be exceedingly uncommon.
Low Blood Pressure
Stevia is a vasodilator, meaning it causes blood arteries to open and lowers overall blood pressure. Researchers have only looked into the possible positive elements of its application thus far.
Excessive, long-term usage of anything that deliberately decreases blood pressure can lead to health issues. People with persistent low blood pressure should consult a doctor before using stevia for an extended period of time.
Endocrine Disruption
Steviol glycosides, the sweet compounds in stevia, are not steroids. They are natural glycosides and have not been shown to cause significant endocrine disruption in humans. Human sperm cells exposed to steviol produced more progesterone, according to a study published in 2016.
The stevia plant has many health benefits, but some rare side effects or losses can also be seen when consumed.
It is very vital to use the right amount of stevia or anything. Also, some people have things that suit and some do not. So, therefore we should use the right amount of things so that we do not have any problem.