Stevia Benefits and Side Effects

Native to Central America, South America and Mexico, Stevia is from a genus of plant with 240 species and the scientific name Stevia rebaudiana. It is increasingly used as a sugar substitute, grown for its sweet leaves that can be 30 times sweeter than table sugar. According to WebMD, stevia has been used as a sweetener and a medicine for hundreds of of years.c

Stevia can be grown in many parts of the United States. It does not survive in winter or in areas where the temperatures freeze, but the leaves can be dried for use in winter.

Stevia is a natural sweetener from the stevia plant that doesn't break down and has the ability to withstand temperatures from very high to very low. Unlike other alternative natural sweeteners, like maple syrup or date sugar, stevia can be substituted for sugar in nearly any recipe you can think of requiring temperatures of 400°F (200°C) or lower.c

This South American herb has been used by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for centuries. It was not discovered by the wider world until researchers came to Paraguay in 1899. Japan started cultivating it as an alternative sweetener in the early 1970s.

Some people grow the plant and dry the leaves themselves to use in teas and baking. Several companies now carry various extracts in liquid and powder forms, Truvia for instance, with various bulking agents in the form of the powder, usually maltodextrin or erythritol. This allows for a greater variety of uses than as a dried herb, for example to sweeten coffee or hot chocolate. It can also be used in baking because it does not lose its properties when heated.

Stevia comes in powdered and liquid forms, both of which can be used when baking. Note that the liquid version contains some alcohol.c

Simply follow the following conversion chart:

1 cup of sugar = 1 tsp of powdered or liquid stevia
1 tbsp sugar = 1/2 tsp of powdered stevia/6 drops of liquid stevia
1 tsp sugar = 1/16 tsp of powdered stevia/2 drops of liquid stevia

If you replace the sugar with the powdered form of stevia, you must add 1/3 cup more of the recipe's liquids to create the same bulk effect the sugar would have. Try adding applesauce, apple butter or plain yogurt to maintain the healthy nature of your dish.c On the other hand, using the liquid form will require you to decrease the liquids in your recipe by a third cup. 

With no calories, stevia is a great sugar substitute for those looking to lose weight. As WebMD attests, since stevia does not raise blood sugar levels, it is also a wonderful sweetener for diabetics.c c

Stevia doesn't raise blood sugar levels, but may make cells more sensitive to insulin and increases glucose tolerance. Since the body doesn't metabolize the glycosides of the stevia leaf, there is no caloric intake when ingesting stevia, making it ideal for individuals looking to lose weight without losing the sweetness in the foods they enjoy.c