You can use stevia the way you would table sugar. To include it in some of your favorite foods and drinks, you can: Stevia contains compounds that can help reduce blood pressure. One study focused on blood pressure measurements for 174 Chinese patients who were taking a stevia-derived supplement. A double-blind, randomized trial with placebo controls was conducted over a 2-year period, and participants took 500 milligrams of stevioside three times daily. ( 1) Over the course of the trial, researchers measured the blood pressure of both the patients in the stevia group and the patients in the placebo group. Stevia is sometimes combined with other sweeteners, which can also mute the bitterness. One popular brand contains stevia and xylitol, a sweetener with about half the calories of sucrose (sugar). Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a reliable marker for increased risk of developing heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. ( 3)

Is stevia healthy? Stevia is considered a relatively healthy sweetener for a variety of reasons. For starters, it provides a similar sweetness to sugar without the calories. It is also all-natural, making it safe to use in a variety of special diets. In terms of the glycemic index, stevia has a glycemic index of 0, which is the lowest value a food item can receive ( 19 ).Stevia, as a non-nutritive sweetener, does not contain any calories which makes it a very appealing option for people looking to cut down on calories from added sugar. It’s available in a few variations of two different forms — liquid and granules — to fit whatever your needs are.

I am looking forward to trying this out, as I am using Trader Joes Stevia Extract I will pay attention to the commenters who mentioned using 3/4 tsp for that version of stevia extract (non liquid). Certain types of stevia are blended with other ingredients, which may increase blood sugar levels or cause digestive issues for some people. Those who want to sweeten their food, beverages, batters, and more with a liquid instead of a powder they have to stir or mix in. The main difference is that stevia is natural, not synthetic. The reason artificial sweeteners exist in the first place is to sweeten food and beverages without adding calories or adversely impacting blood sugar. SweetLeaf Stevia ®Sweetener provides the best of both worlds – naturally sweet plants with no calories, carbs or glycemic index. Ashwell M. Stevia, nature’s zero-calorie sustainable sweetener: a new player in the fight against obesity. Nutrition Today. 2015;50(3):129-134. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000094If you have concerns about how stevia products are processed, research the brand you enjoy. Water extraction, along with crystallization and purification, is the most common processing method for making the leap from a green leaf to a white powder. ( 17) Maybe if I work at it enough, I can come up with some other fancy flavors, but for now, this is fitting the bill. Stevia is a nonnutritive sweetener. This means it has almost no calories. If you’re trying to lose weight, this aspect may be appealing.

For fast, easy use, nothing beats the convenience of SweetLeaf. Add a few drops to your shake, smoothie, or hot beverage and move on—no need to worry about granules not dissolving and sludge, grit, or residue. Who Should Buy Stevia Related: The Best Types Of Supplements For Performance, Weight Loss, And Health] Best Granular Stevia Similarly, stevia is considered a nonnutritive sweetener, meaning it’s virtually calorie-free ( 3).

Compounds in stevia may also help with cholesterol levels. A different study in animals was conducted using the same compounds from stevia. This study found that stevia decreased the amount of oxidized LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad cholesterol”) in the blood; if it affects humans in a similar manner, stevia could open another avenue for dropping heart disease risk factors. ( 4) What are the best ways to consume stevia? Stevia can be consumed in a variety of ways including in beverages, in yogurt and in baked goods. Does stevia have calories? Stevia is a natural sweetener with no calories, documented health benefits, and a long history of medicinal use in South America, where the plant originates. It’s a popular alternative to artificial sweeteners among people who care about the health effects of ingredients like sugar alcohols. This is good news, because nearly a quarter of American adults and about half that many children used sugar substitutes regularly in 2012. ( 22) Splenda Stevia Liquid Sweetener is made from the sweetest part of the leaves from the Stevia plant. It tastes like sugar without the calories. Simply squeeze in your preferred amount of sweetness, anytime, anywhere! Splenda Stevia Liquid Sweetener is especially great for sweetening drinks. The Splenda brand has always been committed to bringing you great taste with less calories. Now you can enjoy the great taste of Splenda Stevia Sweetener in the convenience of a liquid sweetener. Just squeeze in the sweetness!