Stevia and Intermittent Fasting: What You Need to Know
Intermittent fasting has become one of the most popular diet trends in recent years and it’s no surprise why. It’s a great way to lose weight, improve your health, and boost your overall well-being. While fasting is a great way to improve your health and lifestyle, there are some concerns about what foods you can and can’t eat during a fast. One of the biggest questions is whether stevia is allowed during a fast.
Early research indicates that the moderate use of stevia during a fast is unlikely to significantly impede any of the potential benefits of fasting. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind before adding stevia to your fasting diet.
Does Stevia Break a Fast?
In theory, no, stevia will not break your fast. Having said that, we wouldn’t recommend using it while fasting for a few different reasons. The main issue is that stevia has been shown to increase hunger, which can make it more difficult to stick to your fast. Additionally, some people experience nausea, headaches, and other side effects when consuming stevia.
Technically speaking, no, stevia does not break a fast. Because stevia doesn’t contain any carbohydrates, protein, or fat, it won’t cause an insulin spike or trigger the release of other hormones that could break your fast.
Just remember that while stevia does not affect intermittent fasting, add-ins like milk, sugar, cream, and other ingredients that contain calories can end up breaking your fast. If you’re adding stevia to a beverage or recipe while fasting, be sure to check the nutritional information to make sure you’re not accidentally consuming any calories.
Benefits of Using Stevia While Fasting
Fortunately, consuming stevia in moderation does not break a fast. In fact, it is unlikely to interrupt or reduce any of the benefits of fasting (including weight loss, improved metabolic health, and enhanced mental clarity). Additionally, stevia can be a great substitute for sugar and other sweeteners, which can help you to reduce your sugar intake and stick to your fasting goals.
Conclusion
We’ve got good news! Yes, you can use stevia while intermittent fasting. As it contains zero calories, stevia is practically the only sweetener you can use while fasting without breaking the fast. Just keep in mind the potential side effects of stevia and be sure to stick to moderate amounts. If you’re looking for a way to sweeten up your meals while fasting, stevia is a great option.
Is it permissible to consume stevia while intermittent fasting?
Stevia has no calories and probably won’t affect your metabolism in a major way, so it should be safe to consume in moderation while fasting.
Does consuming stevia while fasting disrupt the fast?
Many people take care to ensure they don’t eat or drink anything while fasting to keep the autophagy process going. Fortunately, consuming stevia in moderation won’t cause you to break your fast and won’t interfere with the benefits of fasting, including ketosis.
Is there an artificial sweetener that can be used during intermittent fasting?
The conclusion is that certain artificial sweeteners can be consumed while fasting, however, not all of them. Those like Stevia, Splenda, Equal, etc. that are calorie-free and won’t cause any insulin change or impact on your blood sugar levels are appropriate to add to beverages such as coffee and diet soda.
Is it possible to consume coffee that has been sweetened with stevia while fasting?
If you can’t handle black coffee, try using Stevia in the Raw as a no-calorie sweetener to add a bit of sweetness without affecting your insulin or blood-sugar levels.
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