Quick Look: Is Stevia the Most Gut-Healthy Non-Nutritive Sweetener? [Video]

Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia rebaudiana plant (also known as Candyleaf), offers a calorie-free alternative to sugar. Its popularity is driven by a growing awareness of the potential health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption, such as the increased risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. (1)

As health-conscious consumers seek sugar alternatives, a key question arises: Does stevia’s positive impact stop at reducing calorie intake, or could it also improve gut health? 

On Apr. 11, 2024, Dr. Layne Norton (Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences) published a video on his YouTube channel, breaking down a 2024 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Nutrition that evaluated the effects of stevia and sucrose-sweetened beverages on the human gut microbiome (HGM). Norton also discussed artificial sweeteners impact on gut health. Check out the complete video below: (2)

The randomized controlled trial comprised two groups: controlled and stevia. Participants in the stevia …