Stevia is an herbal natural sweetener found in South America. It is about 30 times sweeter than sugar and has no caloric value. It is not absorbed by the digestive system so it does not affect blood sugar levels, making it an appropriate sweetener for diabetics. Stevia has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and is categorized as a "natural, non-toxic" sweetener.
Stevia Basics
Stevia is derived from a small, green plant called Stevia rebaudiana found in South America. It is a natural, calorie-free sweetener that is 30 times sweeter than regular sugar. It is calorie-free because the human digestive system cannot metabolize the form of sugar found in the Stevia plant. Therefore, it is not absorbed into the blood and does not affect blood sugar levels.
Uses of Stevia
Stevia is found as a pre-packaged sugar substitute and as an additive to foods. SweetLeaf and Truvia are two common brands of Stevia products. Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co. have both used forms of Stevia to sweeten their beverages. Most commonly though people use Stevia in the pre-packaged form in the place of sugar to sweeten foods and beverages.
Stevia Versus Sugar
Unlike sugar, Stevia does not raise blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is an appropriate sweetener for diabetics. However, it is much sweeter than sugar, 30 times more, so you do not need to use as much Stevia to obtain the same sweetness as sugar. These are the conversions to substitute Stevia for sugar: one packet of SteviaPlus or four to six drops of SteviaClear liquid Stevia equals teaspoons of sugar; one and a half to two packets of SteviaPlus or six to nine drops of SteviaClear liquid Stevia equals 1 tbsp. of sugar. Liquid Stevia comes in a variety of flavors to add to beverages.
Using Stevia in Recipes
Stevia can be used in the place of sugar in beverages, breads and muffins, desserts, jams and jellies, soups and sauces. Just keep in mind the conversion of sugar to Stevia when cooking with it. Using Stevia reduces the calories in foods, especially in baked goods like cookies, cakes, and pies. You can find plenty of Stevia recipes from the Stevia and Truvia websites.
Stevia Side Effects
Studies have been conducted over the years to find any potential negative side effects of Stevia. According to the results of these studies, there have been no harmful side effects reported from the use of Stevia. Besides the fact that using Stevia can help control blood sugar levels, it also has been used in South America to alleviate heartburn. The results of other studies demonstrate that Stevia helps lower blood pressure. Therefore, Stevia is a safe, beneficial sweetener to use in place of sugar.
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