** From someone with hypoglycemia here.
Any sugar substitute is exactly the same as sugar to your body. Caloric intake wise, of course, these sweeteners are really not much better. Your brain is trained to release insulin when you ingest sugar. When you ingest stevia your brain still thinks your ingesting sugar, so it releases insulin. When there is no sugar for the insulin to work on it goes to work on the sugar(glucose) in your blood. This will cause low blood sugar and you won't feel well at all. These substitutes are also linked to obesity and other diseases because they trick your body's learned natural functions. Some studies report clinical testing results of weight gain due to the fact that the body attempts to store the sugar when your brain tells your body that you've eaten sugar. The body then stores whatever it can as fat. There are several research studies on natural substitutes. Google is your friend. Basically, I've been diagnosed with blood sugar issues, so I know more than I want to about the subject. My advice is to educate yourself and don't believe anything you read. Do what works for you and what makes you feel well.
