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Stevia has emerged as one of the biggest alternatives to sugar worldwide. Many prefer it to artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame, as it is extracted from a plant rather than being made in a laboratory.
According to Healthline, stevia has little to no carbohydrates and also doesn't rapidly spike your blood sugar, making it popular among people who have diabetes or poor blood sugar control. But there are possible downsides to Stevia as well.
Even though Stevia is extracted from a plant, it is still a highly refined product. Healthline says that Stevia blends often contain added fillers like maltodextrin, which has been linked to dysregulation of healthy gut bacteria. Stevia itself might also harm gut bacteria.
Stevia is way sweeter than regular sugar and is considered an intense sweetener. Some researchers have suggested that intense sweeteners may increase cravings for sweet foods.
Several studies have also said that there is no link between the consumption of zero-calorie sweeteners and improvements in body weight, and calorie intake.