Stevia 101: Everything You Need to Know About Stevia.
Stevia is a natural, zero calorie sweetener that is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia plant. While there are nearly 240 varieties of the stevia plant, the one that is used to make stevia-based sweeteners is called the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, sometimes referred to as sweet leaf.
What makes stevia sweeteners unique is that they are 200 to 350 times sweeter than sugar but have zero calories. This very fact entitles stevia-based sweeteners to be called the healthiest sugar replacement options.
Stevia has a multitude of characteristics that qualify it as the best natural sweetener. Some of these characteristics are listed below:
100% Natural Sweetener
Zero Calories
Zero Carbohydrates
Zero Glycemic Index
Vegan
This means that stevia can be incorporated into many recipes without increasing the number of carbohydrates. Studies have shown that it can help with blood pressure levels and even weight loss when combined with other lifestyle changes. For this reason, it has been embraced by the health conscious community as a healthy alternative to artificial sweeteners and sugar.
As more and more people are switching to a healthier lifestyle, stevia-based sweeteners are gaining popularity as a natural sweetener and a zero-calorie sugar alternative.