Xylitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols made from plant products. They have fewer calories than sugar. In 1991, the FDA refused to approve stevia as a sweetener as an additive in foods. However, in 2008, after the purification process was developed and patented by Coca-Cola, the FDA approved the stevia extracts as GRAS. If you plan to use large quantities of stevia at a time (for cooking or baking), it might be beneficial to note how much sugar alcohol would end up in each portion. Other than that, this is a great option for those that are looking for granulated stevia. Costing roughly one penny per serving, BetterStevia is a relatively affordable supplement — a perk for anyone on a budget.

Lailerd N, Saengsirisuwan V, Sloniger JA, et al. Effects of stevioside on glucose transport activity in insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle. Metabolism 2004;53:101-7. View abstract. FlavDrops are super-easy to take with you wherever you go — at home, in the office, or on the move — so you’ve always got your favourite flavour at your fingertips. Gregersen S, Jeppesen PB, Holst JJ, Hermansen K. Antihyperglycemic effects of stevioside in type 2 diabetic subjects. Metabolism 2004;53:73-6. View abstract. However, more recent studies have shown that stevia does not seem to impact blood pressure. Further research is required to confirm this benefit of stevia. 5) Children’s dietsYang, P. S., Lee, J. J., Tsao, C. W., Wu, H. T., and Cheng, J. T. Stimulatory effect of stevioside on peripheral mu opioid receptors in animals. Neurosci.Lett 4-17-2009;454(1):72-75. View abstract. Stevia is considered a diuretic, meaning that it increases the speed at which the body expels water and electrolytes from the body in urine. Because the kidney is responsible for filtering and creating urine, researchers initially thought that long-term consumption of stevia could damage the organ.

In fact, many varieties on the market are highly refined and combined with other sweeteners — such as erythritol, dextrose, and maltodextrin — which may alter its potential health effects. If you’re looking to cut calories but keep your sweet tooth happy, replacing sugar with natural sweeteners may be worth investigating. Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant — but not all stevia products are created equally. When comparing different stevia products, it’s important to keep an eye out for a few key differences. Liquid vs. SolidJeppesen PB, Gregersen S, Poulsen CR, Hermansen K. Stevioside acts directly on pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin: actions independent of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+-channel activity. Metabolism 2000;49:208-14. View abstract. Stevia is an all-natural sweetener that some people prefer to use instead of artificial sweeteners for a variety of reasons. Many opt for it because it is naturally occurring in the stevia plant or because they don’t tolerate other sweeteners well and have gastric distress. Farhat G, Berset V, Moore L. Effects of Stevia Extract on Postprandial Glucose Response, Satiety and Energy Intake: A Three-Arm Crossover Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(12):3036. View abstract. Tomita T, Sato N, Arai T, et al. Bactericidal activity of a fermented hot-water extract from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni towards enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Microbiol Immunol 1997;41:1005-9. View abstract. Those who want to stay on the more affordable end of the stevia market. Despite being rather cost-effective, there are still cheaper options on this list.