![Does Stevia Break a Fast?](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/does-stevia-break-a-fast.jpg?output-quality=75)
Because stevia does not contain any carbohydrates or proteins that affect insulin secretion or blood glucose levels, it does not break your fast.
Intermittent fasting is the most popular diet trend followed worldwide. Fasting has various health benefits, such as weight loss, improved lifespan, and reduced cell inflammation.
The glycosides of stevia are not broken down in the small intestine. Because stevia does not affect the insulin response in the body, it does not affect your fasting.
What is stevia?
Stevia is a zero-calorie natural sweetener that is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It is a plant native to Brazil and Paraguay.
The stevia plant is rich in natural compounds called glycosides that are made as the base component of steviol, with multiple glucose molecules linked to it. This makes steviol glycosides 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar.
Stevia contains a natural plant molecule called glycoside that performs various functions, such as fighting against inflammation and oxidative stress.
Glycosides of stevia add sweetness without adding any calories to the diet. Although they vary from regular sugar and sweeteners, they are digested by gut bacteria into metabolites. These metabolites are excreted as feces or absorbed by the bloodstream and later excreted in the form of urine.
The body cannot absorb natural stevia; therefore, it is called a zero-calorie sweetener.
Intermittent fasting is the most popular diet trend followed by many people. Fasting has various health benefits, such as making your body flexible, helping in weight loss, and having a thinner body.
How is stevia processed in your body?
Carbohydrates in foods are broken down into simple glucose molecules and absorbed into the small intestine. These molecules then increase your blood sugar levels.
Glycosides of stevia are not broken down in the small intestine but are moved into the large intestine. The stevia glycoside is broken down into glucose molecules inside the large intestine. Gut bacteria do not absorb these molecules even if little amounts of glucose are absorbed. Instead, they are excreted either through feces or urine.
Stevia does not affect the insulin response or blood glucose levels.
Glycosides of stevia
- Stevioside
- Rebaudiosides A, C, D, E, and F
- Steviolbioside
- Dulcoside A
What are the nutritional values of stevia?
Five grams or one teaspoon of stevia contains:
Nutrient | Amount |
---|---|
Carbohydrates | 1 gram |
Fat | 0 grams |
Sodium | 0 mg |
Calories | 0 |
Sugars | 0 grams |
Proteins | 0 grams |
How is stevia used?
Over 5,000 products use stevia as their ingredient worldwide. It is primarily used in Asian countries and South America. It is mainly used in the following products:
- Ice creams
- Desserts
- Sauces
- Yogurt
- Soft drinks
- Pickled foods
- Bread
- Chewing gum
- Candies
- Cakes
- Seafood
- Prepared foods
![](https://images.medicinenet.com//images/slideshow/foods-that-arent-as-healthy-as-you-think/foods-that-arent-as-healthy-as-you-think-s1-bulletproof-coffee.jpg)
SLIDESHOW
Foods That Aren't as Healthy as You Think See Slideshow5 health benefits of stevia
- Helps regulate diabetes: Stevia regulates blood sugar levels. Because it is a natural sweetener that does not have calories and increases blood sugar levels, it can be added as a sugar substitute for people with diabetes.
- Helps manage weight: There are various reasons for obesity, such as lack of physical activity and high food intake, fats, and sugars. The intake of added sugars contributes to 16 percent of the total calories in the American diet. Stevia contains zero calories and no sugar, which helps in weight loss.
- Pancreatic cancer: Stevia contains various sterols and antioxidants such as kaempferol. Various studies have reported that kaempferol helps reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Blood pressure: Stevia contains a few glycosides that help dilate the blood vessels. They also help in increased excretion of sodium and urine output. Few studies have reported that the stevia plant has cardiotonic properties that help reduce blood pressure and regulate heartbeat. However, a few studies have reported that stevia does not affect blood pressure. Further research is required to confirm the effect of stevia on blood pressure.
- Children's diet: Stevia helps regulate obesity in children, as increased calories and added sugars are linked to obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Various stevia products are available in the market that contains low added sugars. This may allow children to eat foods such as sweets and drinks with zero calories while associated with a low-sugar diet.
What are the side effects of stevia?
It is safe to consume purified glycosides in recommended amounts, which means the FDA has approved that it is safe to consume stevia.
Significantly few people experience the side effects of stevia, such as:
According to the WHO, the acceptable dose is 4 mg of stevia per one kg weight.
Moreover, stevia is safe for pregnant women when consumed minimally.
https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/stevia/
https://steviabenefits.org/benefits-of-stevia/
https://foodinsight.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stevia-sweeteners/
Top Does Stevia Break a Fast Related Articles
Body Blood Sugar Levels
High blood sugar can be a sign of diabetes or prediabetes. The drugs that treat it sometimes cause low blood sugar too. WebMD helps guide you through the effects of both.High-Sugar Fruits
Sugar content in fruit varies. High-sugar fruits include mangoes, pears, grapes, cherries, bananas, figs, and watermelon. Low-sugar fruits include avocados, guava, raspberries, cantaloupe, papayas, and strawberries.Does Natural Sugar Count Toward Daily Intake?
As per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, natural sugar does not count toward the daily intake because fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and there are no reported negative health effects associated with natural sugar in produce.Food Cravings Slides
Learn which food cravings can wreck your diet. Whether your craving something creamy or crunchy, sweet or salty, food cravings are a risk to your waistline. Learn to make better food choices for your health.13 Ways to Stop Sugar Cravings Fast
The root causes of sugar cravings are most often lifestyle-related. You stop sugar cravings by making lifestyle-related changes, so there's usually no quick and easy way to reduce them.How Do You Do Intermittent Fasting?
An estimated 73.6 percent of the adults aged 20 years and older are overweight. Intermittent fasting focuses on the pattern of eating that involves eating in a specific time window and fasting in the remaining period of the day.stevia
Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana plant. Stevia is used as a zero-calorie alternative to sugar and it is used to reduce blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and aid weight loss, however, there aren’t enough scientific studies to support many of these uses. Common side effects of stevia include nausea, bloating, dizziness, numbness, and allergic reaction. Avoid using stevia if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.Sugar Addiction
Learn about sugar addiction to see why we often crave sweets and binge on carbs. Learn how sugar affects the brain and get tips to combat your sweet tooth so you can lose weight.Sugar Quiz
Sugar lurks in surprising places. Take the Sugar Quiz to learn of the many ways sugar sneaks into your diet and see what you know about sugar and artificial sweeteners!What Are the Health Benefits of Fasting?
Fasting is defined as a period of partial or total restriction from all foods or selected foods. The health benefits of fasting include a decreased resting heart rate, decreased blood pressure, improved pumping action of the heart, increased insulin sensitivity and reduced LDL cholesterol, fasting insulin and inflammation.What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Too Much Sugar?
When you eat too much sugar you increase your risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart issues, some cancers, and damage to the liver.Why Does My Blood Sugar Fluctuate So Much?
Even if you keep an eye on what you eat and take medications as prescribed, you will likely see your blood sugar fluctuate due to some factors beyond your control.