Stevia causes depression?

This sweetener is in a lot of foods and although its "all natural" I've read articles saying it can inhibit both serotonin and dopamine,I've experienced it myself along with headache and fatigue,I'm sure I'll get wooed a lot but anyone else?

Replies

namasara

I'm an anti-stevia and anti-sweetner person. It just doesn't make me feel good. I'm supportive of people that can use it and feel fine, but it's just not for me. I get headaches too, so I completely understand @whitpauly - but you are right, I'm thinking we are in the minority.....

Spliner1969

I've had no issues with it, and I've been using it for about three years now. I don't use it exclusively, just in my coffee. I still eat sugar from time to time although I try and limit it. If I have the option of eating a 'no sugar added' product I choose it, but otherwise I don't feel sugar is off limits since I'm not diabetic. I simply choose to use Stevia because it has no calories and I drink a lot of coffee and can't stand it black lol. I save a couple hundred calories on a normal day by using it. Having said that, I've noticed no problems after using it long term. It's not as tasty as sugar, that's for sure, but for me it's probably the lesser of the sweetener evils out there.

gamerbabe14

Lots of natural things can cause depression in different people. Everyone falls onto a very wide spectrum. Our bodies are fascinating that way!

kelsully

I have some crazy weird reaction to stevia. It reminds me of gallbladder attacks or a heart attack. I feel horrible when I consume stevia. I once tried a product that was "all natural" supplement that made me think I needed to go to the ER. I know others who love all things with stevia. I guess it is like so many other things..if it works for you go with it

Poisonedpawn78

Were these peer reviewed scientific articles or the lasted garbage from a click bait website?

DaddieCat

I haven't seen any peer reviewed articles about this, but I did read some a few years back about some other potential side effects in small percentages of the populace.

I don't use Stevia because I hate the way it tastes. I prefer to use Aspartame or Sucralose because I don't hate those flavors as much.

MichelleWithMoxie

um, no.

Atlaslift

Nope.

Beautywalk

If you believe your fatigue and headache are not diet related (actually sugar detox among numerous other reasons can cause these symptoms), then check with your doctor. I just searched for peer reviewed studies and find nothing about the effect of stevia on neurotransmission other than glutamate (not implicated in depression). Now, this doesn't mean something wasn't very recently done but not listed. Or it could be an o.k. study but not peer reviewed. If you have a link to what you read I would be interested in looking it up.

whitpauly

Just feelings I've had and a google shows some articles,,no proof of course just wondering,I can handle sugar,aspartame and sucralose fine,its just Stevia that bugs me but it's popping in more and more foods cuz people are afraid of artificial sweeteners so it's getting harder to avoid lately

sky_northern

Stevia taste funny to me, but otherwise I haven't noticed anything different the few times i have used it. I prefer the taste of other sweeteners.

lucerorojo

I use a little every morning in tea or coffee. I have for a few years. No reactions at all. I agree it tastes funny but it is very sweet so I use only a tiny amount.

Noreenmarie1234

LOL, no. If you look hard enough they have found a "link to depression" for just about every single thing you can think of.

unknown

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bbell1985

I use it and I'm just as depressed as I've been since I was 12.

W8WarI

Stevia, etcetera for me causes headaches, hunger & constipation!

screamsnthings

https://www.livestrong.com/article/477769-stevia-side-effects-nervous-system-psychological/

goldthistime

I read in the article linked below that if you are allergic to things like ragweed (there’s a whole list), you shouldn’t consume stevia.

We’ve added monk fruit into our sugar substitute repertoire. (Hence the article Stevia vs Monk Fruit). I can’t buy it in my local grocery store yet, I have to get it from a health food store, and it’s more expensive than stevia, but I feel comfortable mixing it up a bit. I still have some sucralose around too.

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/monk-fruit-vs-stevia

nighthawk584

i can't stand the aftertaste of Stevia.

youngmomtaz

Interesting. I use stevia, monk fruit, and erythitol when I bake or consume sugar free things. I probably consume each in a small serving once a week. No weird side effects. But give me a coke sweetened with aspartame and I have a headache immediately. Sometimes it will even trigger a migraine.

moonangel12

Wheat is a depression trigger for me (gluten ataxia), so I definitely agree that different foods do different things to different people’s bodies!

I can do stevia in small amounts and have gotten used to the flavor (but I still can’t stand it mixed in with tea bags/loose tea - blech!). One Zevia soda every other day or so, sipped on, not guzzled is OK. A little TruLemonade sprinkled in my unsweetened tea is OK as well.

I have tried to get used to monk fruit, that flavor is far worse to me... almost gag worthy. Different palates as well!

mbaker566

i've been depressed no matter the sweetener i use; sugar, stevia, or artificial. my symptoms are not better or worse either way

bb_twins

Not sure if this is just propaganda or hype or actual scientifically-sound information - but I have read and heard that a lot of the side effects of artificial sweeteners are because your body doesn’t know it’s not sugar (glucose).

paperpudding

Your body isn't a knowing entity - it doesn't know anything.

I'm sure some people get side effects from some artificial sweeteners. I have known people for whom aspartame is a migraine trigger.
I've known other people who get migraines from MSG - migraine triggers are varied and individual.

But that's the same with natural foods - people get hives from oranges, anaphylactic reactions to seafood, peanuts, etc

If that is you,sure, avoid the problem substance. Obviously.

For everyone else, consume or don't consume according to personal preference.

amy19355

bb_twins wrote: »

Not sure if this is just propaganda or hype or actual scientifically-sound information - but I have read and heard that a lot of the side effects of artificial sweeteners are because your body doesn’t know it’s not sugar (glucose).

My experience says it is true - when i first switched to splenda , two packets was plenty in my 16oz cup of coffee. a year later, I was adding 6 packets to the same cup of coffee to achieve the 'correct sense of sweet'.
It took a friend observing this change and speaking up. I stopped using it that day and learned to like my coffee black with no sweetener.

I can't say enough for the benefit of cutting refined sugar and sugar substitutes out of my food. I get my sweet fix from fruit mostly, but enjoy ice cream once in a while. The less sugar I consume, the smaller a portion I need to satisfy the sweet craving. that's me. might work for others.

momwish007

I am using stevia sweeteners for years. I don't think that it has any health side effects.
https://www.highratedgabru.com/monk-fruit-sweeteners/

paperpudding

amy19355 wrote: »

bb_twins wrote: »

Not sure if this is just propaganda or hype or actual scientifically-sound information - but I have read and heard that a lot of the side effects of artificial sweeteners are because your body doesn’t know it’s not sugar (glucose).

My experience says it is true - when i first switched to splenda , two packets was plenty in my 16oz cup of coffee. a year later, I was adding 6 packets to the same cup of coffee to achieve the 'correct sense of sweet'.
It took a friend observing this change and speaking up. I stopped using it that day and learned to like my coffee black with no sweetener.

I can't say enough for the benefit of cutting refined sugar and sugar substitutes out of my food. I get my sweet fix from fruit mostly, but enjoy ice cream once in a while. The less sugar I consume, the smaller a portion I need to satisfy the sweet craving. that's me. might work for others.

yes I know this is old bumped up thread

but yes, I think this is just you.

My husband has used Equal sweeteners for years - hasnt changed from 2 tablets per cuppa in all that time.

and most people who like one or two tsps of sugar in cuppa's dont progress to more - if they did you would have lots of older people having 5 or 6 tsps per cup - but you don't.