What is Stevia?

What is Stevia? 

Stevia is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar and is a
composite native plant to South America

• Genus Stevia, S. Rebaudiana
• Cousin of the yellow mum
• Leaves are the source of the noncaloric sweetener
• Recent position paper by Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics reviewed 5 studies and it showed minimal to No effects on blood glucose and insulin

Stevia is also marketed as Truvia...is it the Same

• Erythritol- sugar alcohol
• Rebiana- HALF of one percent of Truvia is Rebiana (which IS a molecule of stevia plant)
• Rebiana is 200-300x sweeter than sugar…Truvia is only 2x
• Natural flavors  are listed in the ingredients, but what is the origin?

I'll review the basics of the most popular "non sugar" natural and artificial sweeteners over the next couple of weeks and then discuss the pros and cons....

Until next time...Wishing you Well,

Traci Miller, RDN