Aniela Dybiec
Aniela is a writer who loves art, makeup, and magick. She is also an amateur illustrator, a wellness fan and a vegetarian.+ info
Stevia was first presented as the best non-sugar alternative to refined sugars. It has zero calories and it is up to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. So the expectations as to how it could help manage weight loss and diabetes management were high.
Stevia is derived from a South American plant called Stevia rebaudiana. The compound with makes stevia sweet is called steviol glycosides. It can be found in baked goods, candy, yogurt, and drinks and it can also be used in baking at home. But is it actually safe to eat?
Stevia is generally recognized as safe, this doesn't include the stevia leaf or crude stevia extracts because they haven't yet been approved for use in food by the FDA.
Stevia does not raise blood sugar levels, it has zero calories, and it is a safe sugar alternative for those with diabetes.
Stevia is sweet but it does not taste exactly like sugar, but the fact is that no substitute will taste like sugar. As it is much sweeter than regular sugar, I would recommend using a little amount of stevia and adjusting if necessary.