Many years ago in America, if you wanted to make a food or drink sweeter, there was only one option: sugar. Now that the prevalence of diabetes and obesity are at all-time highs in the United States, people are turning toward different types of sweeteners. Natural sweeteners like the herb stevia, which comes from a South American plant, can help you to enjoy the sweet taste in your favorite foods and drinks, without taking in empty calories.
Definition
Stevia Plus is a specific type of Stevia sweetener product made by the brand SweetLeaf. It is sold in health food stores nationwide and online from the SweetLeaf website. According to the SweetLeaf website, Stevia Plus not only contains the stevia herb, but it also has added inulin, a fiber that helps to keep you feeling full. Stevia Plus can be purchased in a 4-ounce shaker bottle or in a box of individual serving-size packets.
Uses
The herb stevia has a variety of uses, as does Stevia Plus. Stevia Plus is safe for use in cooking and baking, according to the SweetLeaf website. Therefore, you can use it to make lower-calorie cookies, pies, cakes and baked goods. You could even use Stevia Plus to replace small amounts of sugar in main dishes such as sweet and sour chicken. Stevia Plus can also be stirred into drinks like iced tea, the same way as sugar.
Benefits
There are several nutritional benefits to using Stevia Plus as a sweetener. Stevia Plus has no calories, according to the SweetLeaf website. Anyone who is trying to lose weight may want to choose Stevia Plus over regular sugar or honey, since they both contribute calories and can lead to weight gain when consumed in excess. The Mayo Clinic also states that stevia does not raise blood sugar levels, which makes it a better choice for diabetics than sugar.
Sweetness Comparison
Even though Stevia Plus does not contain sugar, it is much sweeter than sugar and can therefore be used in smaller amounts. The Mayo Clinic explains that the stevia herb is naturally hundreds of times sweeter than sugar.
Drawbacks
Though the Mayo Clinic states that stevia is “generally regarded as safe,” there are still possible safety hazards of using Stevia Plus. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group that focuses on health, recommends against using stevia. The organization explains that a plant component in stevia called stevioside may cause damage to the reproductive system when consumed in high doses. Stevioside also has the potential to interfere with carbohydrate absorption, altering a person’s metabolism. The Center for Science in the Public Interest states that further research needs to be done on the stevia herb before people start consuming sweeteners like Stevia Plus every day.
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