Nuva is a type of natural sweetener made by DWS Inc. that uses stevia as the base ingredient. Nuva, just like stevia, is a zero-calorie sweetener. According to the manufacturer, the primary difference between Nuva and stevia is the taste. You can find stevia sold in several different variations, but many users of stevia complain about the aftertaste of the sweetener. DWS purports to have overcome the aftertaste problem associated with stevia, manufacturing a stevia-based sweetener that does not have an aftertaste.
Overcoming Taste Factor
Both artificial sugar substitutes, such as Splenda and NutraSweet, and natural sweeteners, such as stevia, have unpleasant aftertastes associated with the use of the sweetener. Manufacturers of artificial and natural sweeteners attempt to make sweeteners that taste as good as sugar. The makers of Nuva purport to have found a combination of ingredients that gets rid of stevia's aftertaste. Rebaudioside A is the sweetest extract from the stevia leaf and has the least bitter taste of any part of the stevia plant. According to DWS, Rebaudioside A gives Nuva a more palatable flavor and eliminates the aftertaste.
How to Use Nuva
Nuva is a sugar substitute that does not have any known side effects. You can use Nuva to replace sugar in foods and beverages. The FDA issued a no-objection ruling for Rebaudioside A, clearing the way for full FDA approval. When using Nuva as a sugar replacement in recipes, you will need to use other fillers because it takes substantially smaller amounts of Nuva to equal the same amount of sugar recommended in a recipe. To replace the bulk of sugar when cooking, you can use fruits or other liquids. Nuva is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar.
A Better Alternative
Diabetics can use Nuva to replace processed sugars, but nondiabetics can also benefit from replacing processed sugars with Nuva. Your body responds to excess sugar by increasing insulin levels and storing fat. This also produces a sugar high, a temporary burst of energy from the simple sugars you consume, then a subsequent energy crash. Nuva will not create the ups and downs of sugar consumption and withdrawal commonly associated with processed sugars.
Losing Weight With Nuva
You can also use Nuva as a sweetener to facilitate weight loss as part of a diet regimen. An effective diet will normalize your blood sugar levels. Without normalizing your blood sugar levels, you will experience the feeling of hunger or a need to eat because your body wants to increase your blood sugar levels. This produces sweet cravings. When you replace sugars with Nuva, your body will use other sources for energy such as fat or complex carbs, which provide longer sustainable energy than simple carbs such as sugar and can benefit your overall health, facilitating weight loss.
References
- SweetNuva.com: Nuva
- "Stevia Rebaudiana: Nature's Sweet Secret"; David Richard; 1999
- "Stevia: The Genus Stevia (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants -- Industrial Profiles)"; A. Douglas Kinghorn; 2001
- "Stevia: Nature's Sweetener (Woodland Health)"; Rita Elkins; 2007
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