Most stevia sweeteners in supermarket contain approximately 99% erythritol, dextrose or maltodextrin and less than 1% stevia. The amount of filler isn't shown on the label but over 99% is most common.
This means you're primarily consuming sugar alcohols or corn-based fillers, not stevia. And your body processes them very differently. Here's what they actually are:
1) Erythritol: a sugar alcohol made from corn starch that ferments in your gut, which is why many people experience bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort. Recent studies have also raised questions about erythritol's cardiovascular effects.
2) Maltodextrin: a corn-based filler with a higher glycemic index than table sugar. Not ideal if you're watching your blood sugar.
3) Dextrose: literally just glucose. It's sugar, rebranded. So your "sugar-free" stevia actually contains sugar.
Takeaway: if you've tried "stevia" and experienced digestive issues, you weren't actually experiencing pure stevia — you were reacting to fillers.