Stevia is a natural sugar substitute with health benefits
Stevia
Updated Mar. 07th, 2022
The stevia rebaudiana plant is native to South America, where it has been used as a sweetener for hundreds of years. The leaf of the plant contains stevosides, a glycoside that gives stevia its strong sweetness.
Stevia is safe to use in diabetes. A non-caloric sweetener, it does not cause elevations in blood sugar the same way table sugar and other natural sugars do. It is low on the glycemic index.
Some studies are even suggesting it may be used in high doses to treat type I and II diabetes by helping to lower blood sugar. The research is not conclusive and has not yet shown a lowering effect on HbA1C, a better long-term measure of blood sugar levels. Stevia has also been shown to have minor blood pressure lowering effects, but again, the research is not conclusive. Stevia does not cause tooth decay.
Stevia can easily be used as a substitute for sugar in baking. Keep in mind it is more sweet than sugar, so you most likely will want to use less. It can be used to sweeten teas or coffee, and has been added to a number of supplements, in order to improve taste, without compromising nutrition.
Stevia, unlike many other sugar alternatives, is completely safe and relatively side effect free. Some individuals have reported nausea, bloating, dizziness and some numbness associated with long-term use. These side effects subsided as soon when the product was discontinued. Individuals who have an existing ragweed allergy may also be allergic to stevia. Stevia is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, as currently there is not enough research to confirm its safety. If you are currently taking medication to lower blood glucose or blood pressure, be cautious to monitor these readings when using stevia long term.
Stevia is sold in powdered form, either in individual servings, or in bulk. It can also be found in a liquid form, either in a base of alcohol or an alcohol free version.
This is used fairly steadily in place of regular sugar. It does have a slight bitter taste as compared to sugar, so I use less than a recipe calls for.
Hello, Sharon,
Stevia is a great sugar substitute in baking. If you'd like to discover new healthy recipes, check these ones out:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/healthy-recipes/
I love stevia!! It is such a great thing that stevia is becoming more well known and more used in natural products as a result due to its many benefits, several of which you discuss. My favorite reasons to love stevia for health are that it is not cariogenic (very unlike sugar) does not have adverse effects on the human gut microbiome and does not have adverse effects on human blood pressure. I am very happy that stevia tastes good to me. Interestingly, some people feel stevia has a metalic, unpleasant taste. I wonder why this is (genetics perhaps?) and if there are vareties of stevia that do not do this (perhaps there is a removable compound or component that does this!)
Hello Rachel,
It's nice to hear that you enjoyed reading about stevia and learning more about your favourite sugar alternative with us. This excellent sugar alternative is easy to use and to most, doesn't offer much of a taste. There are more great sugar alternatives including monk fruit and xylitol, which also offers oral health benefits, but is toxic to dogs. If you'd like to learn more about other natural sugar alternatives, read through this article, https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/sugar-and-alternatives/
Have a healthy day