Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia? - PaleoHacks.com

Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-17T17:46:35Z

One new thing that I added to my diet that I had never previously consumed is stevia. Ever since going LC/Paleo, I have used pure stevia powder as my primary sweetener. I have been putting it in coffee, whey protein PWO drinks, recipes, and even tried "Zevia" soda alternatives.

Apparently stevia is a vasodilator, and while that may be a good thing for some people, it might also not be for others.

I have never figured it could be giving me trouble, but I did some looking around and many people do in fact report some oddball side effects with stevia. It's supposed to be the best, most pure and natural non caloric sweetener available. I still believe it probably is, but now I am wondering if Stevia is messing with my blood flow enough to make me feel like I have some kind of heart problem when maybe I don't.

btw... I use a very pure stevia powder from Stevita. It's guaranteed to be at least 95% pure stevia crystals. (no fillers). But it should be noted that I do not consume stevia in large amounts. Usual dose in coffee and/or PWO drink is about 1/8 of a teaspoon at a time. So I really never have anything above 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon on any given day.

Has anyone else felt any unwanted symptons with stevia?

Answer by Senneth for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-17T18:36:56Z

This may be unrelated, but I noticed after a few week long trials, that Stevia makes me sweat a ton -unrelated to my temperature. (For example I will be chilly in my office, but sweating). Normally I hardly sweat at all -even when I am hot.

Answer by Namby Pamby for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-17T18:51:33Z

Wow, that's great. That explains why stevia might be hypoglycemic. Also, if I have Raynaud's syndrome, I should have coffee with stevia, since coffee will vaso-constrict, while stevia will vaso-dilate. This will neutralize caffeine's constricting effects on microvessels.

Also, has anyone taken enough stevia to check if vasodilation works well enough down there for the macrocapillaries to perhaps supplant viagra or cialis?

Answer by Grottenolm for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-17T20:06:42Z

I bought some organic powdered stevia to experiment with (green tea-ish powdery looking stuff) and it makes me feel sick every time without fail. Symptoms include headaches, tiredness, just want to sleep and can't get any work done. Luckily since then I've given up the taste for added sweetness.

Answer by jessecurry for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-17T20:23:47Z

Whenever I consume stevia I feel awful. Sharp headache, pain behind the eyes, slightly dizzy, upset stomach. I've only tried it 3 times, but each time I've had the same reaction.

If I need a sweetener I just use honey or sugar; but I try to limit my sweet intake as much as possible.

Answer by January for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-18T02:50:24Z

Stevia made my throat burn and itch, every time (I stopped using it, obviously). Doesn't matter what formulation. I can tell if it's in my food just based on the intense reaction. It's not totally benign; plenty of people have adverse reactions to it.

Answer by Evelyn aka CarbSane for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-18T11:03:41Z

I've been sort of surprised by the rise in Stevia usage in the LC community. Stevia has a long history in Chinese medicine for treating diabetes. It apparently stimulates insulin (which is inconsistent with LC theory). Insulin is a vasodilator so it is possible you are experiencing this.

Answer by Josie for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2011-10-18T12:13:18Z

It gives me diarrhea.... -_-

Answer by jo60 for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2012-05-05T17:14:43Z

I use it only when I use my organic vanilla cut back from 5-6 to 2-3 drops maybe 3-4 times/week. Have not found any effects but was definitely stalled when using splenda and sugar alcohols in no sugar added Wethers.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/sisson/sisson41.1.html

Stevia A two-year randomized, placebo-controlled study of Chinese patients with mild hypertension (which a rather large swath of society probably suffers from) found that oral stevioside intake significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Patients either took a 500 mg capsule of stevioside or a placebo three times a day

Answer by sophia for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2012-09-29T09:22:02Z

it gives me diarree and sleeping problems.

Answer by Melissa for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2012-12-28T03:16:52Z

My husband tried Truvia for the first time on Christmas Eve morning. (One of Truvia's main ingredients is stevia.) He has hay fever and is allergic to ragweed, so perhaps that is why he reacted to stevia, and like the woman with lips that looked like she had had bad collagen injections, his lips ballooned so that they resembled Homer Simpson's protruding muzzle. At first his upper lip swelled, and he had an enormous blister on the inside of it. Then the blister popped and the inside of his upper lip was raw and painful. We also noticed that he had several red, raised patches on his torso. He took benadryl, and the swelling lessened a bit, but we didn't know what was causing the allergic reaction, and he put Truvia in his coffee again on Christmas morning. His upper lip was still swollen and raw, and as the day wore on, his tongue began to swell, his throat began to ache, and then his tongue blistered. He has been in agony, and he finally went to the doctor today (two days after Christmas) where he was given a shot and prescribed prednisone and some kind of mouthwash compounded with lidocaine.

Answer by GrassyArse for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-02-20T02:28:21Z

I posted last year asking if anyone had experienced dizziness after Stevia use (as I did).

Turns out that I'm not alone!

Answer by Anne Murray for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-03-25T16:03:07Z

I experience Dizziness and my heart skips beats, using Stevia... Anne Murray

Answer by Maria for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-05-16T22:01:32Z

me too, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks that become worse with increased use.then it takes a few days for the symptoms to go away. I am not allergic to anything, just very mild hayfever occasionally

Answer by ivymcivy for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-05-16T23:20:33Z

If anybody reading this thread (an old one, I know) has the inclination to grow stevia - it is SUPER easy and a couple of leaves in a drink gives alot of sweetening power with virtually none of the side effects from using the highly processed and concentrated stuff. When you use it in "sugar" form, you are getting a huge whallop of it. I imagine our paleo ancestors would have just chewed a couple of leaves for a treat. That's how I make my mojitos - a few leaves of stevia and mint muddled in the bottom of a glass then top with rum. YUM.

Answer by Rodney for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-05-29T01:46:33Z

It didn't happen at first, but after using organic stevia a few weeks, I noticed my throat would burn/itch and I'd cough up slag for hours and hours. Of course if I took an oral med like Bendadryl-which was my first clue-it got better. I had to stop using it... must be allergic to the ragweed, etc., used in it. Another "magic bullet" sugar substitute used, measured and found wanting. Had to discontinue use.

Answer by Cory151 for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-05-29T05:08:42Z

I love Stevia, never had an issue with it and have been using it daily for almost 3 years.

Answer by Stephanie Wood for Stevia a Vasodilator? Anyone experience adverse symptoms from consuming Stevia?

2013-06-08T16:59:17Z

I developed hives at the back my neck and ears 6 days ago and it it now spreading to the front. I have been using Stevia for about a month. I didn't love it at first and so wasn't using it everyday but now quite like it and have been using it in my coffee or tea twice a day in the last week or two. I am trying to figure out the hives... guess I will give it up and see... too bad if that is it.