Artificial sweeteners provide sweetness in the diet without adding calories. Stevia is a type of artificial sweetener that is generally safe. Although there are some concerns about Stevia-related side effects, it does not appear to cause any problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome and may be better tolerated than other sweeteners, such as sorbitol.
Stevia
Stevia is a non-nutritive or artificial sweetener, which means that it cannot be used by the body as a form of fuel and adds no calories to your diet. Stevia comes from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, which is native to Paraguay and Brazil. Purified extracts of the leaves of this herb have been used as sweeteners, as have certain constituents of the Stevia plant, such as stevioside and its derivative steviol.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a disorder that is marked by pain and cramping int he digestive tract as well as changes in your bowel movements. It is not known what causes irritable bowel syndrome, though this condition may be caused problems with intestinal muscles or with sensitivity to stretching and movement. Intestinal infections and emotional stress have also been linked with triggering or exacerbating the signs of irritable bowel syndrome.
Stevia and IBS
Highly refined Stevia extracts are "generally recognized as safe," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These highly refined extracts can cause nausea and a feeling of fullness but otherwise cause very mild side effects. Whole leaf Stevia and crude extracts have not been approved due to some concerns about their effects on blood sugar, the kidneys and the health of your cardiovascular system. Although Stevia can cause some gastrointestinal side effects and IBS is a disorder of the digestive tract, there are no documented problems regarding Stevia use and IBS.
Considerations
In some cases, artificial sweeteners can exacerbate cramping and bloating. This may not actually be a problem with your irritable bowel syndrome, however, and may instead be a sign that your digestive tract has trouble with a particular food. If you find that your symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are worse when you consume Stevia, try a different artificial sweetener and see if your symptoms resolve.
