Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to stevia?
Find answers to all of your stevia allergy questions here.

It's possible to have an allergic reaction to anything. But an allergic reaction to stevia is unlikely, and there is no evidence of this in the extensive research that's been done on stevia.

I found several reports on About.com's Holistic Healing forum from people who thought they had an allergic reaction to stevia. They reported itchy, hives-like and eczema-like red patches on their skin.

Before discussing stevia allergy further, though, we first need to discern between the powdered stevia herb (which is green in color), and the stevia extract (stevioside) powder, which is white. If someone takes the powdered herb form of stevia, they need to be sure that it has been grown organically. As with any other vegetable or herb, someone could have an allergic reaction to a pesticide that was sprayed on it. In the case of the white stevia extract powder, many manufacturers add a filler such as maltodextrin to add bulk. So it may not be the stevia itself that is causing the reaction.

In 2003 study published in the Phytochemistry journal, the researchers stated: "The conclusion is that Stevia and stevioside are safe when used as a sweetener. It is suited for...obese persons intending to lose weight by avoiding sugar supplements in the diet. No allergic reactions to it seem to exist." (Bold emphasis is mine.) Read the abstract for yourself at PubMed.

How do I determine if I have an allergy to stevia?

Even though those researchers gave a green light on the likelihood of any stevia allergy, that doesn't mean that it's not possible to have an allergic reaction to stevia. The easiest way to determine if you have an allergy to stevia is to have an allergy test done. But these can be expensive ($200 and up), so another way is to do an elimination diet. It just takes more patience and work.

In an elimination diet, you use the "process of elimination" and stop eating any food that may cause an allergy, including stevia. The other common food allergens include:

wheat, and other grains that contain gluten (barley, oats, and rye)
dairy
soy
eggs
fish
seafood
sesame seeds
corn
peanuts (but any kind of nut can be an allergen)
chocolate
citrus

This will limit your diet greatly. Then, start adding these foods back into your diet, one at a time. Document how you feel, including skin reactions, sneezing, postnasal drip, or throat clearing. Wait 72 hours before you add another possible food allergen back into your diet (it can take this long for your body to have a reaction to a food). This can take a while, but other than getting a formal (and expensive) blood test done, it will be hard to know exactly what's causing your reaction.

If I confirm an allergic reaction to stevia, what are my other sweetener options?

If you do find that you have an allergy to stevia, there are other safe, natural sweeteners. If you are looking for a noncaloric natural sweetener, I recommend erythritol, a sugar alcohol that is similar to the more well-known xylitol. The reason I like erythritol better is because it doesn't cause the same gastrointestinal upset that xylitol (and other sugar alcohols) can.

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