What Happens if I Take Too Much Stevia?

November 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for stevia extract is 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, and exceeding this limit is possible, especially with the high sweetness concentration. For those who take too much stevia, a range of side effects can occur, from mild gastrointestinal issues to a bitter aftertaste, prompting a need to understand the signs of overconsumption.

Quick Summary

Overindulgence in highly purified stevia extracts can lead to digestive discomfort such as bloating and gas. Some blended products containing sugar alcohols may cause more pronounced gastrointestinal problems, while extreme, long-term overconsumption may pose other health concerns. The key is moderation within recommended guidelines.

Key Points

Digestive Discomfort: Excessive intake, particularly from products containing sugar alcohols like erythritol, can lead to bloating, gas, nausea, and diarrhea.
Bitter Aftertaste: Consuming too much stevia can result in an unpleasant, lingering, and bitter aftertaste due to its potent sweetness profile.
Drug Interactions: Stevia's ability to lower blood sugar and blood pressure can interact with medications for diabetes and hypertension, potentially causing levels to drop too low.
Not all Stevia is Equal: Highly purified stevia extracts are safe and regulated, but unrefined or whole-leaf stevia has insufficient safety data and is not FDA-approved for food use.
Adhere to ADI: The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for purified stevia extract is 4 mg/kg of body weight, and staying within this limit helps avoid most negative side effects.
Gut Microbiome Concerns: Some studies suggest high stevia intake might negatively impact the balance of beneficial gut bacteria, though more human research is needed.

Common Side Effects of Stevia Overconsumption

While high-purity stevia is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA, exceeding the recommended daily intake (ADI) can lead to a few distinct side effects. The most common issues are digestive and are often linked to additives in stevia products rather than the steviol glycosides themselves.

Digestive Issues

Many commercially available stevia products are not 100% pure stevia extract. To add bulk and reduce the intense sweetness, manufacturers often blend it with sugar alcohols like erythritol. When consumed in excess, these sugar alcohols can cause significant gastrointestinal distress. Symptoms can include:

Bloating
Gas
Nausea
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramping

Bitter Taste

One of the most immediate and noticeable effects of using too much stevia is a lingering, bitter or licorice-like aftertaste. Since stevia is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, it's very easy to add more than is necessary to achieve the desired sweetness. This can quickly ruin the flavor profile of food and drinks. The bitter taste is more pronounced in lower-quality, less refined stevia products.

Potential Drug Interactions

Excessive stevia intake can also be a concern for individuals on certain medications. Stevia has demonstrated the ability to lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. This can be a benefit when used in moderation, but when combined with antihypertensive or anti-diabetic medications, it could lead to dangerous drops in blood pressure (hypotension) or blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Always consult a doctor if you are on medication and considering significant stevia use.

Long-Term Effects and Unrefined Stevia

The potential health risks of excessive, long-term stevia consumption are less clear and require more research, but some preliminary studies raise questions. It's crucial to distinguish between highly purified stevia extract (which is regulated and approved by the FDA) and crude or whole-leaf stevia, which are not.

Impact on Gut Bacteria: Some animal and preliminary human studies suggest that high intake of stevia might alter the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. While the long-term human implications are still being studied, an unbalanced gut can lead to various digestive problems.
Organ Health: Older animal studies using very high doses of crude stevia have raised concerns about potential impacts on the kidneys and liver. However, more recent studies involving purified stevia have shown no harm, and in some cases, potential benefits for kidney health. Still, excessive intake, especially of unrefined forms, remains an area of caution.

Refined vs. Unrefined Stevia: A Comparison

The version of stevia you consume plays a major role in potential side effects. Food and drug authorities approve and regulate high-purity extracts, but crude forms and whole leaves are not.


Feature	High-Purity Stevia Extract	Crude Stevia Leaves/Extracts
Approval	Approved by FDA as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe).	Not approved by FDA for use as a food additive.
Refinement	Highly refined and purified to contain 95%+ steviol glycosides.	Minimally processed; contains all compounds from the leaf.
Safety Profile	Extensive safety research at recommended doses.	Insufficient research; concerns about impact on kidneys, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems.
Additives	Often mixed with sugar alcohols (erythritol, etc.) or dextrose/maltodextrin.	Typically sold in its raw form or as unstandardized extracts.
Common Side Effects	Digestive issues (bloating, gas) from added sugar alcohols.	Possible adverse effects on organs, though not well-researched for humans.
Sweetness & Flavor	Very intensely sweet, less bitter than crude forms.	Can have a more pronounced, bitter licorice-like aftertaste.

Conclusion: Moderation is Key

Consuming too much stevia, especially products blended with other sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can cause uncomfortable digestive side effects like bloating, gas, and nausea. Exceeding the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 4 mg/kg of body weight is possible but difficult for most people due to stevia's intense sweetness. While purified stevia has a robust safety record, less-refined versions have less supporting evidence and may pose risks. The best approach is to use stevia in moderation, be aware of the total intake from various sources, and pay attention to how your body reacts. Those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or low blood pressure should consult a healthcare provider to avoid dangerous interactions. For most, a sensible intake means avoiding any negative consequences. For more on the health benefits and risks of stevia, read about research and conclusions from global food safety committees.

: https://www.ingredion.com/na/en-us/company/expertise/the-stevia-institute/stevia-is-safe-for-human-consumption

Frequently Asked Questions

While a toxic overdose of stevia is highly unlikely, consuming excessive amounts can lead to uncomfortable side effects like digestive upset, including gas and bloating. This is often due to the added sugar alcohols found in many blended stevia products.

Stevia itself does not typically cause diarrhea, but many stevia products contain sugar alcohols like erythritol, which can have a laxative effect if consumed in large quantities and are a common cause of digestive issues such as diarrhea.

Yes, some studies show stevia can have a blood pressure-lowering effect. While this may be beneficial for some, individuals with low blood pressure or those taking blood pressure medication should be cautious with high intake and consult their doctor.

No, crude stevia extracts and whole stevia leaves are not approved by the FDA as safe food additives due to insufficient research on their health effects. Only high-purity stevia leaf extract (over 95% steviol glycosides) is considered GRAS.

For purified stevia extract, the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is 4 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. Consuming significantly more than this, especially over a long period, is considered excessive and may increase the risk of side effects.

The bitter aftertaste is a result of over-sweetening. Because stevia is so much sweeter than sugar, it's easy to use too much, which can overwhelm your taste buds and leave a bitter or licorice-like flavor. Using a high-purity, quality brand can minimize this effect.

Early studies raised concerns that steviol glycosides' molecular structure, similar to steroids, could affect hormone production. However, current evidence in humans is not sufficient to suggest that purified stevia acts as an endocrine disruptor, and more research is needed.