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 you determine if you 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 you confirm an allergic reaction to stevia, what are your 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.
Experienced an Allergic Reaction to Stevia?
Share your experience so others can benefit and learn. PLEASE be sure to specify the type (and brand) of stevia you used, along with any other ingredients in the product (such as maltodextrin) to provide the most thorough information.
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
I got welts on my face that are pretty hard and red.
I believe I am allergic to Truvia. I had my first packet in coffee this morning and a little while later I felt a hard welt on my face. I went and looked ...
Headache, then hives
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I first tried stevia as I started on a candida diet to eliminate thrush. Very quickly afterward I had a terrible headache and felt quite ill. That evening ...
Red, itchy, burning hives
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I was so excited to try my first package of Truvia. I put the sweetener over some fresh peaches. That excitement didn't last long because I broke out in ...
Red blotches on my back
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I bought a product called "Go Greens" which is dehydrated vegetable powder you mix with water. The powder lists stevia as an ingredient (everything else ...
Members Mark Stevia
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The first stevia product I used was from Trader Joe's. I loved it and had no side effects. When it ran out, I began using some Member's Mark brand stevia ...
Throat swelling
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I felt a burning on my tongue after just a tiny taste of stevia, thought it was just an aftertaste, but after eating the dessert I made with it my throat ...
Raised, warm hives and swollen throat - difficult to breathe
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I was on a detox program that required an organic protein meal replacement (with stevia as the sweetener) in the morning. The first day and a half I was ...
Two year old covered with red splotches
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My 2-year-old boy started with a red, hivey rash on his belly yesterday, a couple hours after breakfast. The only thing he had that was new to his diet ...
Itchy Rash on Back & Arms
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My entire back itches with a rash, and my arms have small, colorless, itchy bumps. The only new addition to my diet is stevia. I've been food-sensitivity ...
Broke out with a rash that itched and burned
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A few days after switching over to stevia and getting away from sugar, I started breaking out in a red, bumpy, itchy, and burning rash. The only thing ...
Swollen lips and tongue
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I tried Crystal Light Pure Fitness today and after about 15 minutes I got a headache, my tongue felt furry, and my lips swelled. I just took a Benadryl....
Hives and migraines
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I started using Stevia in the Raw as an alternative to Splenda. When I use it I have terrible migraines and break out in hives all over. When I stop ...
It makes me EXTREMELY TIRED, huge fatigue every time I have a stevia drink, Zevia sodas, and Zero vitamin waters.
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I'm a very healthy eater, no sugars, mainly vegetables and lean proteins. Stevia drinks are causing very, very extreme fatigue for me...not good.
Itchy body
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I have been using Stevia to sweeten my tea and have been drinking the stevia soda. I love them, but I now have been itching all over my body, scalp, ears,...
I got hives on my forehead
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I bought the stevia packets and tried the first one in a cup of tea the first day I tried it. I noticed a half hour later that I had hives on my forehead....
My throat tingles/itches and my ear canals started to hurt (like they do when I have seasonal allergies)
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I was so excited to finally have stevia extract powder available in my area. Now I'm glad I only bought a small box of packets.
I don't drink soda ...
Triggered a migraine
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That about covers it. Starbucks really ought to list when they sweeten things with Stevia instead of cane sugar. Elena's comment: I completely agree. Based ...
Itchy HUGE Hives, Stomach Pain
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I've used stevia in the new Crystal Light with no ill effects (the label says "rebiana - a derivative of stevia"). Recently, I purchased and planted a ...
facial reddness
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I have used the Only Sweet brand of stevia off and on and the last 2 days I drank a cup of tea, then coffee with stevia--broke out with itchy redness from ...
My skin got red bumps.
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I made a very strong cup of tea and put three packets of stevia in the tea. During the night, I remember scratching at my face. This morning, I have a ...
Hives, mostly on my face
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I was cutting back on sugar and started drinking a chocolate protein powder with stevia extract in it. I loved the stuff, but got hives on my face within ...
I broke out in red bumps across chest, then sides, arms, and legs
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I took me weeks to isolate the source of my problem but it turned out to be the stevia sweetener packets I was putting in my coffee. Unfortunately I threw ...
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