What is Stevia?

We learned in Cut the Sugar, that we need to make changes to reduce the sugar in our diets. I am so excited to see more and more Stevia products on the shelves. This is great news for people wanting a zero calorie, healthy sugar alternative.

What is Stevia exactly? 

Stevia is actually derived from a plant. It is related to a daisy and ragweed (I’ll take the daisy, thank you!). The Stevia plant can be found in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina and it is cultivated in China. You can even grow it yourself if you want! Stevia has zero calories and is 200 times sweeter than sugar without affecting blood sugar. Since it is sweeter than sugar, a little goes a long way! You also don’t want to over do Stevia because there can be too much of a good thing, then it will taste bitter.

Some studies showed that consuming other artificial sweeteners increased sugar consumption and eating, but not so with Stevia. People who consumed a meal with stevia instead of sugar did not eat more and had lower blood sugar following meal (Win, win!). 

Stevia is more than just a sugar substitute: Livescience.com says that “stevia also served as a treatment for burns, colic, stomach problems and sometimes as a contraceptive.” Pretty neat stuff here!

Is Stevia Safe? 

100daysofrealfood.com explains that not all Stevia is created equal.  read more