05/03/2026
Stevia: The Not-So-Sweet Side & Its history as Birth Control
I grew it many years ago. Let's be honest, nobody is walking around chewing on a stevia leaf & those tinctures & powders you buy from a store shelf is far from what nature provided.
For all those who keeps trying to replace a sugar addiction with something else, "but what about stevia?" Or "what about monk fruit?"
Here's your sign. Anything processed & packaged for sale is not real food in real form & almost always has consequences. Stevia was the newest trend because it doesn't spike glucose like normal sugars or sweeteners.
There is ALWAYS a downside to manipulating nature. Always. If you aren't chewing on a home grown stevia leaf, or eating a real piece monk fruit (food miles be damned) , you're falling for convenience to uphold a larger issue that is now causing blood clots & heart disease.
Did you know that historically stevia was used for birth control? So if you're trying to conceive, it's double the trouble.
This is a hot topic in the carnivore world right now with the brand LMNT because their flavored products contain maltodextrin, while not being listed on the ingredients label. (Just drink sea salt or their plain flavor, if you must).
Maltodextrin is linked to intestinal inflammation, high blood sugar, may also cause a rash or skin irritation, asthma, cramping, or difficulty breathing. The primary sources of maltodextrin will be corn, rice, and potato, but manufacturers may sometimes use wheat which is even more hilarious since it's being used in Keto, low carb and gluten free processed foods.
Maltodextrin & erythritol don't have to be listed on ingredients labels if they fall below a percentage of the total ingredients & producers know this.
Just like pharmaceuticals, it sometimes takes years for studies to prove the link between illness, medications & food yet we still fall for the newest, easiest thing. Ever so blindly.
So, moral of the story. Real foods in real forms. Seasonally. Locally. Ditch the sugar & sugar substitutes, no more excuses.
Want more fun facts on stevia?
Reported negative effects:
-Digestive issues: Some people get bloating, gas, or nausea. The sugar alcohols in stevia blends like erythritol can be the culprit.
- Blood pressure & blood sugar: Stevia can lower both. Good for some, but risky if you’re already on meds for hypertension or diabetes.
- Hormone concerns: Raw stevia leaf and whole-plant extracts contain stevioside, which has shown reproductive effects in some animal studies.
- Allergic reactions: All plants have defense mechanisms & everyone reCts to them on different levels. If you’re sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae family like ragweed, marigolds, or daisies, stevia is definitely not for you.
Important note: FDA-approved stevia sweeteners use highly purified rebaudioside A, not whole leaf as well as there being a GMO stevia approved for market.
Finally, History as birth control:
Indigenous Guaraní people in Paraguay and Brazil traditionally used stevia tea as a contraceptive. Women would drink concentrated whole-leaf tea daily to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Grow your own if you choose to but you may want to focus on the real problem at hand. Become fat adapted & you won't need a sweet crutch at all, they ALL have their issues when it comes to our health.
